What's the coolest fly sheet on the market?

[Renn_aissance]

The last time my horse wore a fly sheet, it was an OG Rambo Protector with the approximate fabric hand-feel of a window screen, and it was so hot and inflexible that I sold it on eBay two weeks later.

What’s new on the market that is suitable for a horse with anhidrosis in the hot, humid mid-Atlantic? I’m looking to cover him from poll to tail because his tolerance for bugs has decreased substantially with age. The Schneider’s Mosquito Mesh looks like a good fit in every way except the literal (Schneider’s does not tend to be a good fit on his body.)

Those in hot, humid climates, what did a good job for your horses last summer?

[lenapesadie]

My anhidrosis horse has done well in his Kensington here in NW FL. This year he has a new Rambo Flybuster. IMO the stiffer materials are less hot than soft, clingy ones. YMMV. I dunno about your area in the mid Atlantic but where I am, everything but in the shade under fans is too hot during high summer.

[Renn_aissance]

@lenapesadie

everything but in the shade under fans is too hot during high summer.

Tip says that’s too hot, too.

Interesting about the stiffer fabrics. I guess they tent up away from the body and provide air flow if the mesh is big enough?

[lenapesadie]

Tip is right!

Yes I think it’s the airflow under the fabric that helps some. For my guys, fit is a big issue too. But I accept that I’m the crazy blanket lady that nit picks fit of horse clothes.

[NaturallyHappy]

I did the same thing w Rambo fly sheets. I called Horseware to order something else. The person I spoke w said it took her fly sheet about 3 weeks to soften up and fit properly. My complaint was flies were getting up under it and then were trapped. Valley Vet has them on sale. I may try them again….

[endlessclimb]

Stiffer materials all-the-way for coolness.

Especially if your horse is dark, even if they look a little sweaty in a fly sheet, the lighter color mesh is reflecting sun away, versus their coat color which would absorb the rays. Unless it’s outrageously hot out, I would imagine it’s a wash.

[lenapesadie]

I have this season’s Rambo Flybusters and they draped pretty well out of the bag. I got mine from Valley Vet bc SLT was out of stock in the sizes I needed

[NaturallyHappy]

That’s good news. I even wondered about putting them under turnout sheets to break them in🤷🏼‍♀️. I really like the V front on those Rambo’s.

[MapleFarm]

I got the Turtle Neck Fly Turtle last year and it’s my current favorite. The neck lays better than others I’ve tried. Honestly, in Virginia in the summer, my drafts are under fans but the stiffer ones are a lot cooler than the soft ones, so I use them in early and late summer.

ETA: the main thing I like about this one is that the shoulder isn’t 2 layers of fabric. They sweat less due to this.

[cbg]

I like the Fly Turtle - https://www.turtleneck.biz/products/fly-turtle/

The mesh is very fine and relatively light weight, and the neck has some sort of elastic so it doesn’t gape. And it kind of balloons over the shoulders so there’s no rubbing.

It seems well constructed but I can’t speak to how it holds up because I sold the horse it was bought for before it had been worn a ton. But I am planning to get these fly sheets for my others this year.

[Renn_aissance]

I do like the look of the fly turtle. Could you or @maplefarm comment on the fit relative to other brands- body types and sizing?

[lenapesadie]

My horses carried in with their usual daily dust bathing rituals and the sheets broke in quickly. The horses stay pretty clean under the fly sheets so that’s a bonus.

[Knubbsy]

For my mare who is on field board in Maryland - she sweats less with the SmartPak Ultimate Fly sheet (which is stiffer) than a very loose, soft Horze Defender Combo (it’s also rubbed her withers, so I had to add a bib which meant she would sweat more). I did like the Fly Turtle but wanted the warranty of the SmartPak.

[NaturallyHappy]

I also thought about trimming the lining of the shoulder back a little somehow to make them cooler. I haven’t unpacked the new ones yet to look and see if that is feasible. I’m a terrible seamstress but I can tack loose pieces down-or use gorilla tape😀.

[lenapesadie]

I kinda like the lined shoulders. Granted I live in the devil’s armpit, but horses outside are going to sweat naked or otherwise and I think the lining protects against rubs that might occur with a sweaty shoulder and the outer mesh. They won’t wear the sheets once we get into real heat, but I can see if a person wanted to use a fly sheet in high summer how trying to minimize the liner might be an attractive option

[cbg]

Mine fit true to size. The horse I bought it for was a normal body, low withered 75/76 and the 76 Fly Turtle fit well. I borrowed it for a night for my higher withered horse that wears a 78, and even though the 76 was a little short, because of how the shoulders poof, it wasn’t too tight.

I don’t have the sheet in front of me but I think the elastic in the neck is adjustable (like you can pull it a little snugger) so my guess is that this sheet would probably fit a variety of shapes.

But my horses are all of a somewhat similar WB-type body, so I don’t know for sure how it would fit on something with a really different build.

[MapleFarm]

The fit seems to be pretty typical. My mare is quite large (draft cross, 86/87", 18.2) - and it fits the same as my Rambo winter blanket. The shoulder is a bit tight for her, but as cbg mentioned, the elastic is adjustable. I have it at the very end of the elastic, but she really is pretty big. The length is correct, though, so it would just be a bit better for her if it was deeper/wider in the shoulder.

I don’t worry as much about rubbing in the shoulders without the second layer of fabric…the summer is mostly spent lazying about - I worry more in winter blankets when they move more! But, this of course would depend on your individual horse.

It is roomy in the hind end and long in the body (the length from topline down). I like this because unlike my schneiders blanket, it kind of “wraps” around her belly to provide some protection there. The straps are elastic so isn’t tight around the belly though it may look it in images, as opposed to other sheets that hang down low on the sides.

[Renn_aissance]

Thanks. Mine is a 75 Rambo (78 Amigo and everything else) built like a pony. @MapleFarm it sounds like you’ve gone with your horse’s “Rambo size” and it worked for your horse?

I do like that it goes under the belly. We have some species of nasty biting insect that just eats his underline. The real problem is his sheath, but there is not a sheet on earth that will help with that… we’ll stick with the Swat.

[skipollo]

We have both the Rambo Flybuster and the Rambo Protector and have no issues when ours getting too hot underneath until it’s in the mid 90s, in which case any fly sheet will probably be too hot. I used Shires Tempest fly sheets for a few years, and they’re definitely more affordable and softer, but after using the Rambo last summer, my horse definitely stays cooler under that vs the softer clingier fabric. He didn’t roast under the Shires but is more comfortable in the Rambo.

The stiffer material keeps the sheet from clinging and keeps the horse cooler, which has already been discussed above. Ours hung pretty nicely right out of the bag but do soften a little bit after a few weeks of wear.

They also wash really nicely and line dry within a few hours.

We’re very happy with both of ours and will repurchase if they wear out, get ripped, etc.

[NaturallyHappy]

Thank you!