Flysheet Thoughts - Removing The Tailpiece

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

I have noticed that when my horses wear their flysheets, they don’t swish their tails as invigorated as they do when they don’t wear them.

I love flysheets, but I also want them to exercise their tail muscles which are connected to their sacrum muscles (to simplify), which I want as strong as possible as they are 23 and 25.

I am going to cut off the tail pieces so they work their backends more.

Any thoughts? I started down the research rabbit hole and have not come up with a good answer yet except how all is interconnected, but it makes sense.

[GraceLikeRain]

Ultimately your horse and your sheet so go for it.

Seems like a loose connection at best but if it helps you feel at peace, doesn’t seem like any harm. Two considerations: in many designs the tail piece helps stabilize the rear of the sheet so you may have more slippage and an exposed tail head can be prime eating grounds for some of the tiny biting types.

[NaturallyHappy]

I cut the tail flap off of all of mine. The weight seems to pull the fly sheet back and make it tight in the chest. No problem…

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

I was leading to how it would help their spine/muscles/bloodflow if they could actually do the full tail swish.

Like I said, rabbit hole

[SolarFlare]

@Jackie_amp_Starlette

I have noticed that when my horses wear their flysheets, they don’t swish their tails as invigorated as they do when they don’t wear them.

Maybe they aren’t swishing their tails as much because the fly sheets are keeping the bugs off them?

[emeraldcity]

This was my thought… They also don’t tend to swish their tails all winter when there aren’t bugs.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

Actually, mine do low level swishes. And it may be the sheets keeping the bugs off, but they evolved to swish more actively than not.

And they tend to get itchy tail head because it gets hot here and they get sweaty.

I don’t like using spray if I can avoid it, which is why I started with the sheets.

Winter no swish thought…hmmm

[Simkie]

@Jackie_amp_Starlette

And they tend to get itchy tail head because it gets hot here and they get sweaty.

I don’t have sheets on mine, and they still have itchy tails. I don’t think that’s a function of the tail flap.

I did remove the flap on one horse’s winter blankets, because it made it harder for her to lift her tail out of the way when she peed. I was able to pick out the stitching, rather than cut it off. Take a look & see if that’s an option for your fly sheets. You can always sew em back on if you want, if you can remove them intact.

Although I do agree that less swishing–in amount and seriousness–is a good thing, and a sign your sheets are doing the job. Think about what you want? No reason to swish? Or an active tail? You can achieve the active tail by just taking off the sheets entirely.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

I like the sheets on because of bugs

And I was just going to post about my mare in heat and the grossness of the sheet

But here is the question - is it better for the horse’s health/muscles/spine to be able to swish freely?

[trubandloki]

@Jackie_amp_Starlette

But here is the question - is it better for the horse’s health/muscles/spine to be able to swish freely?

I would think that if you want them to build up more swishing muscles that you would appreciate the extra weight of the tail flap, since that would cause them to build stronger muscles.

I personally apply things so my horses will swish less. I figure all are happier with less frantic bug chasing tail swishing.

[Simkie]

@Jackie_amp_Starlette

I like the sheets on because of bugs

And bugs cause swishing. Fewer bugs on the horse = less swishing.

I really doubt that the few ounces of fabric is what’s causing your horses to swish less. Being a lot less bothered by the bugs makes a lot more sense.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

Yes, but are they getting the tail exercise they need?

I did ask my farrier, and he wasn’t sure either LOL! Since I have an extra set of sheets, I think I will do an experiment.

[trubandloki]

@Jackie_amp_Starlette

Yes, but are they getting the tail exercise they need?

Still getting more tail exercise than they get all fall and winter.

How do you plan on them getting tail exercise during months with no bugs?

[colorfan]

I get what you are saying about the tail muscles. Manx cats have issues so similar thought train? However, in some areas there is more winter so fewer bugs. Here, with 9 months of winter and 370 days of wind per year our local horses would swish their tails much less than horses that live in warmer less windy climes.
I have never heard of horses with tail muscle/sacrum issues.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

Fall here has bugs. Once the weather changes, we do more riding so yes more exercise. Since the tail is used for balance, and winter (snow here, and mud), they will exercise it to keep stable.

Found this about tail muscles:

" The sacrocaudalis muscles are again subdivided into medial and lateral components. The coccygeus muscle connects the sacrotuberous ligament (a broad ligament originating from the sacrum and tuber sacrale that inserts onto the tuber ischium, providing stability to the pelvis) to the first few coccygeal vertebrae."

Hence my thoughts if they can swish, will the stacrotuberous ligamnet/coccygeus muscles be stronger, and help avoid some sacrum issues?

From The horse’s tail - The Horse Hub

[FjordBCRF]

Another voice here that if they have a fly sheet on, they should be swishing less. That’s the whole idea.

If you’re worried about tail engagement, I’d err on the side of incorporating exercises like tail lifts, (gentle) tail pulls, backing up, hill work, and ground poles in your regular routine. Those should all help activate the entire rear end including the sacrum. Talk to your body worker if you have one on exercises you can do if you that worried.

[endlessclimb]

You could always just annoy the snot rockets out of them for some period of time every day. Use brushes they don’t like, poke them with the hoof pick, do exercises they hate or find hard.

Juuuuuust kidding.

[Simkie]

@Jackie_amp_Starlette

Yes, but are they getting the tail exercise they need?

Yes, I imagine they are.

But if you want them to have more, pull the fly sheets and don’t spray them.

The more the flies bother them, the more swishing you’ll see.

If you WANT swishing, stop preventing the flies from bothering them.

[cayuse]

I’d rather have my horses not swish than be bitten, especially in mosquito areas.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

First of all, I would leave the flysheets on and remove the tailpieces. They get bit more on the sides/belly/neck (my sheets are full belly/neck coverage) than their tails.

I do fly spray when I put them out without sheets but as we all know it doesn’t last very long.

Stop implying I am turning them out to be devoured by insects! But it is COTH and there are those who insinuate no matter what.

It was going to rain (hopefully) so I put them out this afternoon (after the farrier) and videoed them swishing side to side, lifting their tails. Much more action than with the flysheets. Now, the sheets are from Smartpak and the tailpieces go down almost to their hocks, maybe that is part of the issue.

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FYI, the closest butt is my 25 year old mare, and the further butt is my 23 year old gelding. Have had both since they were 6 respectively.

I wonder if we see more SI issues because they can’t swish all day like they should.