Fly Sheet on nursing mare?

[Ysabel]

This may seem like a stupid question to some … but can I put a fly sheet on my broodmare? Will it interfere with the foal nursing? I have put them on my foals before, but have always been leery of using them on my mares… but I would really like to start so long as it doesn’t cause any problems.

We briefly tried to put one on a mare last year - but that resulted in the foal panicking when she didn’t recognize her mother. This year, if they are okay to use, we will put it on the confines of a stall first. :winkgrin:

[Kerole]

I have done this in the past. I have never had a foal not recognise its mother!

The foals are around a month old before I try this. I worry that the foal may get its head in the leg straps but no problems have ever arisen. They learn quite quickly to duck their heads up under the rug.

I used to rug the mares if they were to be shown with the foal. These days I don’t go looking for trouble. My mares have not needed summer covers so I have left them off.

[Daventry]

As a rule, I don’t, as I always worry there is going to be an accident with the foal and the leg straps.

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

I had to winter blanket my late foaling mare last year. Did not want to, but HAD to. The bugs here are so bad in the spring and summer that I have to sheet them.

[Dalemma]

I personally don’t like using blankets with a nursing foal so much of a risk of the foal getting caught and panicking. If you absolutely need to use a blanket I would remove the leg straps.

Dalemma

[Kerole]

Out of interest, has anyone had an incident involving leg straps and a nursing foal?

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

No

[Wits_End_Eventing]

We do

We put blankets/fly sheets on mares all the time. Have one mare that only seems to want to get pregnant in the fall so almost always have a fall foal and baby nursing over the winter. Haven’t had any issues. We make sure to use a blanket with a tail strap but don’t use leg straps, that would worry me.

[Blackmare]

[QUOTE=Kerole;7582691]
Out of interest, has anyone had an incident involving leg straps and a nursing foal?[/QUOTE]

I haven’t bred for a while but used to every year. No incidents. Ever. Brands used: Kensington, Baker, Rambo.

[Ysabel]

Thanks - everyone. I am going to buy the Amigo brand because they don’t have leg straps.

[Derid]

We need to use fly sheets here as the tabanids (green heads, dear flies, horse flies) are ruthless, and the biting gnat-like flies (certapognids, mosquitoes) drive the horses into a frenzy.

We use the fly sheets with a belly protector, and remove the leg straps. I think they are Shires, ……so far so good. They have lasted years, four or five seasons so far and they don’t shift when the mares roll.