I have 2 horses I have been thinking of going the UV fly sheet route on, a black who I would like to keep from fading (and hopefully a white sheet will deflect the sun enough to keep him comfortable) and a bay who strongly dislikes flies. BUT, we get crazy hot here…as in, we have had 117 degree days the past 2 summers. Is that too hot for them to be wearing sheets? I don’t want them suffering more than they already do! Would also appreciate recommendations for good sheets.
TY!
Do you get dry heat or humid heat? That makes a huge difference, I’ve noticed.
I’ve tried a ton of fly sheets. The Saratoga fly sheet has been the coolest in my experience. It’s also not extremely durable though. The Kensingtons are basically bulletproof, but can get hot.
[QUOTE=sublimequine;6893287]
Do you get dry heat or humid heat? That makes a huge difference, I’ve noticed.[/QUOTE]
It’s dry, and it lasts and lasts…the 115-117 degree days are rare, but 100-110 is extremely common.
[QUOTE=KiraSophia;6893319]
It’s dry, and it lasts and lasts…the 115-117 degree days are rare, but 100-110 is extremely common.[/QUOTE]
I’ll let someone else chime in then. I’m in central IL, and we never have dry heat. :lol:
Last year I told my non-horsey husband about the fly-sheet debate in the heat. His comment - “The Arabs wear white clothes in the desert to keep cooler, of course it will help keep horses cooler. The sun won’t be beating down on their backs.” Just sayin’…
[QUOTE=Jackie & Starlette;6893544]
Last year I told my non-horsey husband about the fly-sheet debate in the heat. His comment - “The Arabs wear white clothes in the desert to keep cooler, of course it will help keep horses cooler. The sun won’t be beating down on their backs.” Just sayin’…[/QUOTE]
Those Arabs stay in their expensive air-conditioned houses and malls.
The fly sheet and UV sheets don’t work in humid Florida. Tried that.
I have one of these from Cashel:
http://www.cashelcompany.com/Product.aspx?DepartmentID=1&CategoryID=32&ProductID=10631
What I like about it is that’s a bit stiffer than other sheets I’ve seen, so doesn’t cling to the hair. Very lightweight, silvery, seems to have good air flow.
While I live in the PNW now, I grew up in Arizona and think it would do well in dry heat.
I live in hot humid Va. My mare lives out 24/7. I get my fly sheets from Schneider’s. I like the softmesh ones which don’t rub. The soft ones are not terribly durable, thats why I get the Schneider’s brand as they are less expensive. I usually have two to three sheets so I can change them out to repair and wash. The barn manager has often mentioned to me that he will see my mare out grazing while the other horses are in the shed. So she seems to be comfortable( the main reason she wears one is for the flies. When I take it off, I don’t notice her being anymore sweaty the the other horses without sheets. I can usually get a couple of seasons out of a sheet and then I replace it.
I was always anti fly sheet thinking they made them hotter. One of my horses has developed sweet itch and needs a fly sheet on most of the summer and honestly, he is cooler with it on. I don’t know how much of the coolness is due to him not having to constantly swat flies and activate his muscles to keep the flies off but it really has helped in the heat. When its extremely hot, they are inside with fans anyways but mine seem happy with fly sheets on overall in the summer 
Timely thread, I was just about to post the same question. Any comments on the Rambo sheet? Is it worth the money? Any other comments on the kensington? Anybody else want to post reviews on fly sheets that are cool yet tough enough for turnout?
[QUOTE=Meadow36;6899671]
Timely thread, I was just about to post the same question. Any comments on the Rambo sheet? Is it worth the money? Any other comments on the kensington? Anybody else want to post reviews on fly sheets that are cool yet tough enough for turnout?[/QUOTE]
I have the Rambo Protector (the Fly Buster is not legally sold in Canada) - dry heat mostly highs of 40C, some 45C days - only use the sheet when the flies are at their worst & have not used the neck (suspect the whole sheet would be coming off then 
) … haven’t noticed any behaviour effects or that the horse is any more sweaty.
Most of the other horses have the soft fabric type sheets which were all various degrees of torn within a couple weeks (group turnout), some of those horses were definitely rather sweaty under the fabric which does not breathe as well as the Rambo.
I bought the Rambo as it was the only sheet that fit (started with much lower cost sheets) but it’s going on year 3 :yes:
The one I have (& all the sheets I’ve seen) is stiffer than it appears in the promotional photos - I’ve washed the sheet a few times now & haven’t noticed much difference.
At 100+ degrees, it’s all just heat. :lol:
If the horses had shade or you could hose them off once a day, I would go for it. Stomping flies and constantly fretting about them can make a horse just as miserable as terrific heat.
When it tops 90 here I ask for my boarded ones to go out at night if possible. At home they have shade, aggressive fly control and a horse porch that is bedded with cedar so the flies are minimal.
I would love to use a UV type sheet… Unfortunately with the heat and humidity they end up sweating under the sheet and then they start growing fungus and they end up bald which is worse than bleached out lol.
Not the tribal Arabs who are riding in the desert…air conditioners are not that portable.
[QUOTE=WildandWickedWarmbloods;6893551]
Those Arabs stay in their expensive air-conditioned houses and malls.
The fly sheet and UV sheets don’t work in humid Florida. Tried that.[/QUOTE]
I use Kool Coat sheets, and have had good luck with them in Arizona.
:eek:
Sorry … I forgot this was an old post I was reading.
I have 2 OTTBs and live the fungus life 
It is all about keeping them clean and washing the sweat off ASAP. Clean like lots of baths type clean. My one goes out in the Rambo Protector fly sheet at night and is in during the day. My other guy is pasture boarded and he is going to wear one as soon as this godforsaken rain stops!!! If there is a chance of rain, I don’t have them wearing fly sheets because… fungus… I haven’t had a problem with the stall boarded one getting any fungus under the sheet. We will see about the pasture boarded one- this is my first summer with him
We are in hot/humid VA.
Check out the Schneider’s Mosquito Mesh.
I have a lot of fly sheets for my sweet itch guy and one is a Shires Sweet Itch Combo Fly Sheet supposed to keep them cool. At 90 degrees he was dripping sweat. That said, he was dripping sweat without it too - he’s black! So, there’s that…
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