I don’t usually use fly sheets as fly season is short lived here and really not too bad. I am wanting to protect my dark seal brown from fading (copper and zinc is already added). Any time I’ve used a fly sheet in the past, the tail flap would rub out the top of their tail. And the ones with a neck cover flattened and eventually rubbed out the mane. Are there any fly sheets that don’t rub out all the areas that require braiding?
My guy wears the Rambo Protector sheet. I added a piece of spandex to the top of the tail area bc it was starting to break the hair a little. Easy addition. Solved the problem. The only other place I’m starting to notice a small amount of hair breakage(and there just isn’t much I can do about it) is where the sheet comes over the crest. Probably about a 1/4 inch of mane that is starting to thin. I do wonder that if I would have gotten another size down if the tail piece(which is actually slick) would have landed in the correct spot preventing the ‘rubbing’. Instead, the sheet is a little too big and the top of it hangs down over the first few inches of tail. He measure as a size 75, we ordered a 72…neck cover is about 6 inches too long. Sheet is about 3 inches too long. But it stays on well and has held together fantastically. So, I put the spandex in and called it good.
My guy has to be clothed 24/7(turned out/stalled) so I would assume both of these places wouldn’t be as big of a deal with a horse that could have it off at night or when they are in the barn. Haven’t had any issues with shoulder rubs or hip rubs. His mane is still very full, and while flat immediately after I take the cover off, it fluffs right back up once I brush it. The neck cover does have slick material covering most of what touches the mane. If your horse’s mane is short, it will cover all of it.
I will add, I say the neck cover is about 6 inches too long…really, when his head is down and he’s grazing, it covers almost his entire neck still, which is awesome. When he puts his head up, his ears disappear :lol: and, so far, he has kept his stunning mahogany bay color too…but it’s still really early in the season. Lol.
I also have the Rambo Protector. I have no rubbing issues but I did have to size down. I’m not sure on its level of UV protection. Night turnout and not leaving sweat on the horse are good ways to avoid fading.
I use the Rambo too. I think mine is a Protector but I got it used so am not 100% sure on the model. I have used it for 2 summers. My horse is out about 23 hours a day unless it is really just too stinkin’ hot then he is in the stall with a fan. It is off in the stall. It has gotten a lot of use and is still in good condition and does not rub his mane or tale. He is a chestnut OTTB.
Carson wears a 78 in most brands. For any of the Horsewear brands (Weatherbeeta, Rambo etc…) he is a 75. So you may need to size down.
I have a Bucas fly sheet and haven’t had any rubbing, but the belly band was way too small for my Morgan. I ended up just taking it off and putting surcingles on. The fit of the sheet and it rubbing could definitely have to do with the brand and what breed of horse you have. For example Weatherbeeta always rubbed my mare’s shoulders but my Bucas ones never do.
Thanks for the suggestions. Sounds like I need to look at the Rambo. I don’t have a barn to put him in, only a run in shed and I have no desire to do turn in/out. I may need to figure out a warm water solution for bathing since I only have cold. Though last year I was pretty good about rinsing sweat off after he was worked. He still managed to fade to a sooty buckskin (and not a pretty one). I was a bit late at adding copper and zinc last year so considering he’s been on it since then with no break, maybe I’ll get better results? Either way, I still want a sheet to back up my improved nutrition plan. So that if shows are a go and I can manage to get him broke enough, his coat doesn’t look like garbage if I take him out in public :winkgrin:
