Tell me about Fly Sheets

[BK6756]

I’ve never used fly sheets before, mostly because I lived in Texas and always felt it was too hot to have anything on them, no matter how thin/breathable.

Now I’m in Ohio and I was thinking a fly sheet might serve 2 functions- help keep off the flies and also keep my horse cleaner so I don’t have a complete muddy mess to groom every day. My horses love to roll and the mud is never ending here!

Is this a stupid idea? If not, what is your choice for a soft, breathable fly sheet that won’t cause rubs on a thin-skinned TB? Preferably something affordable since I would need at least 2 per horse in order to wash them.

[SugarCubes]

I’m in MO and our summers get pretty brutal, I have been using these fly sheets for the past ~4 years and just had to order new ones this year (I was impressed they lasted that many seasons) https://www.statelinetack.com/item/amigo-mio-combo-fly-sheet/E004817%2054%20BRZ/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=Cj0KCQjwitPnBRCQARIsAA5n84nNjPi0pldvGefA7qpAJw7pRjlSWUkMryW97xDo3LPvZmG6vgsWqyMaAo4REALw_wcB

It’s a super fine mesh and is very lightweight and you can’t beat the price.

[bluepece2]

I wouldn’t use it to keep them clean, mine rolled in their fly sheet and it was nasty! Had to hose it down and put it to dry.
i used them last year because the horse flies were BAD here. So far so good and I’m leaving them off until needed because our barn staff has to put them on and it adds to their already very long turnout routing. My horses don’t mind

[CanteringCarrot]

I can’t say that they help keep them clean. Some materials may ward off some of the dry dusty dirt, but usually the dirt permeates the sheet. Especially because horses are experts at being dirty. I’ve hosed down a horse in a fly sheet when both came in caked with dirt. Two for one, clean the horse and sheet. The sheet always dries quickly so it’s no big deal to hose them down and leave it out while you ride or something. Some people even put a wet fly sheet back on. If the weather is right, it will dry on the horse in no time.

I really avoid using fly sheets as it can make them hotter, potentially rub, or create other issues. I like to let them have some time in their life without clothing on (blanketed all winter), but our stable is surrounded by swamp-ish land so the bugs do get bad as summer comes. I’ve been using the Rambo Fly Buster few awhile now and find it to be durable and not too hot. Some of the cheaper options (Amigo) aren’t bad. However, if your horse is rough or in group turnout buying cheap my end up the same as buying expensive when you have to replace it. There are also differences in material. The Rambo is stiffer, yet still soft, but not clingy so the airflow is decent.

I don’t think you need two. The horse will survive without the sheet while you wash it. A good rinse with a hose and maybe a bucket of soap will do. Then a proper wash in a machine at the end of the year. It doesn’t need to be clean like new all the time.

[WildGooseChase]

I live in Michigan so we use fly sheets for most of the summer. They definitely make a difference for the more sensitive horse, but they can also be bad. If it’s super hot, humid and sunny, I tend not to put them on.

I use Kensington brand fly sheets, but didn’t want to invest in one just yet for my growing two year old filly, so she is in a second hand, SmartPak sheet that I got for a steal. Once she stops growing, she will get a Kensington.

I wash mine when they get pretty bad, but otherwise leave them alone. A good rinse is usually good enough to get them clean, especially the Kensingtons.

[dynamite0319]

I live in North Texas and I have used fly sheets every summer I’ve had horses here, so going on 15 years. I do switch my horses to night turnout after Memorial Day and they are in the barn with fans and no fly sheets during the day, but the fly sheets are almost non-negotiable for me. I’ve tried the Weatherbeeta Comfitec, the Fly Turtle, and Baker fly sheets and I prefer the Baker ones hands down. I liked the Fly Turtle at first, but it stretched out really badly and then didn’t fit well. I have 4 horses; 2 TBs, a QH and a WB and none of them have successfully torn up a Baker. Some of my fly sheets have been in use for 5 years!
And they do help keep them cleaner, but it is by no means a guarantee.

[jonem004]

Yes! Flysheets! I need one with a narrow neck opening but a huge shoulder gusset in a 72, but for a small diameter barrel. Basically, my horse is a dachshund. Thoughts?

[Mac123]

In MO I didn’t use them unless the horse had a major sensitivity to the bugs. It’s just too hot and humid and even the lightest fly sheet traps heat.

In CO it’s so dry that I do use them, but only while they’re out on the grass where the bugs are the worst. The lack of humidity makes them trap less heat, but it’s still hot here. I’ve also yet to find one that doesn’t rub or put pressure on their withers, so I’m not a fan of leaving them on all day. So they go on for their early morning grass turnout, and then come off when they come in to the dry lot for the rest of the day.

Regardless, they won’t help keep them clean. Fly sheets are made of a fine mesh (not a cotton or other fabric) so the dirt will go straight through if the horse has a roll.

[kashmere]

I prefer stiffer ones to the super silky material, and I prefer belly-band style. I have a Rambo defender and a Weatherbeeta (not sure of the style). The Weatherbeeta sits more nicely on my mare. She is a brick house and the Rambo tends to slide back on her.

FWIW I only use it during peak blackfly season. Once the blackflies die off a bit and it’s more big giant horse/moose/deer flies they seem to be less useful. Those big suckers also seem to be able to get underneath the sheets and wreak havoc.

[eq6375]

I’m in south Florida and I keep a fly sheet on my horse every night in turnout and she’s in her stall with a fan during the day. I use the weatherbeeta ripshield sheet. It’s not soft, in fact it’s kind of stiff, but she doesn’t get rubs even though she has sensitive skin. It breathes well too. She’s also a serial blanket shredder but she hasn’t managed to rip this one yet

[GrumpyMare]

I’m in central Kentucky. We have been very wet the last two years and have ginormous horse flies. I keep Fly sheets on my more sensitive horses and my son’s show pony.

My trail Rocky Mountain is a diva and can’t stand flies biting her so she prefers to be head to tie covered in mesh. This year she has a foal, so no fly sheet for now though. I had both her and my son’s pony in the Amigo Evolution sheets, and despite the hot humid weather in Kentucky, they were never sweaty underneath. The fabric is very soft and protected against fading. One sheet did not survive past the summer and the pony is actually wearing hers a second summer with some tears that don’t affect the sheet’s function since it has two layers in some areas.

My son’s new horse is a paint with a ton of white so I wanted to protect her from sunburn and flies. I bought the Smartpak Ultimate fly sheet with a 3 year warranty. It has some minor tears pretty pretty quickly in the non-mesh areas but it doesn’t affect the function. I’m hoping I can exchange it for a new one at the end of the season. She is a playful young horse and not used to wearing sheets. It is a stiffer mesh but does not seem to be rubbing her anywhere.

I’m still deciding which sheet I like better overall. I really love the look and softness of the Amigo Evolution sheets.

[MustangTwist]

I don’t know about everyone else, but the flies are pretty awful on the west coast right now. Lots of horses in our barn are in fly sheets, but when it’s really hot (i.e., over 100) a lot of people will take them off. It just depends if the horse is more sensitive to heat vs. bugs…

I’m on a quest to find a good fly sheet, ideally with a belly guard, that is light and breathable but relatively sturdy (meaning it should last at least one season w/ a horse that is easy onclothes). I got the WB ComfiTech Ripshield (I think it’s the same one @eq6375 mentions above) which seemed to check all the boxes based on the online reviews, but alas, my horse sweats in it if the weather is above 85 degrees which means I basically can’t use it for most of the summer. It’s a shame as it seems like a very nice sheet.

Right now he’s in a cheap Horze sheet (w/ no belly guard) I got for maybe $50 which is light and airy, but already has a small tear. I’ll most likely purchase another fly sheet by the end of summer. If anyone has recommendations - preferably under $100 or close to it - that would be great!