Rambo is the best. It sits out from the protruding warmblood eyes so no rubbing.
Cashel is 2nd best.
All the others fold onto the eyes and cause rubbing.
My horses are all turned out together and like to play.
With that said, these are the brands I’ve tried and how they’ve held up:
Farnam SuperMasks: Doesnt even last 12 hours, mesh and velcro destroyed.
Cashel: Holds up very well, had one for a few years put they rub or pull it off quite easily.
Absorbine: Came free with purchase of fly spray concentrate purchase. I was pleasantly surprised, it’s held up very well however the stretchy breathable material has stretched all the way out making it hard to adjust. But in the heat it didn’t leave sweat marks on the face like the fleece lined masks do leaving me to believe the material truly is breathable.
Kensington: These have held up the best and the velcro is still tacky after using for multiple seasons. The sizes seem to run a little large as my 6year old is was still using his yearling size up until a month ago when it finally disintegrated.
I have also used the bug eye version, used it a couple of seasons until it mysteriously disappeared.
I tried two Roma fly masks the first one didn’t fit the second one got a tear in an hour of turnout. I tried the Rambo which is way two big. I’ve ordered a cashel which fingers crossed fits but if this one gets ripped in a day like the last one I may be forced to give up. It’s playful three year olds that rip his fly mask off. I’ve bought four fly masks this year!
Another vote for Cashels. Only mask we’ve used for over a decade. They are generously sized.
I like Cashels. Supermask doesn’t fit mine that well.
Everyone in the barn loves Cashel, but I’m on my third one, trying to find both a decent fit (the horse-size is too small - the eye darts are too close together - and WB too large) and one that won’t rub (I’m trying the Quiet Ride as a turnout mask this week as their regular mask rubs spots - which may be related to poor fit).
I’d like to try another brand, but my mare has a very thick forelock and Cashel is one of the only brands I’ve found that addresses that.
I can’t keep the cashel on any of my horses. They just don’t fit. I’ve had good luck with the old supermasks but this year my one gelding decided he could get any mask off. He’s happily wearing the Rambo mask but in the cob size as they do run big. I love this mask and he’s very happy with it too. He just itchy and all the other masks came off as he rolled or itched. I’ll probably order a second for my other gelding.
Cashel Crusader Arab fits my 13.1 pony and my 15hh QH.
My lusitano has basically a cob size head, big jowl and broad forehead. I do not like the stiffer fly masks, and he can’t do ears because he gets them off. My favorite go-to is an Absorbine Fly Bonnet, horse size. Softer mesh tiny fleece band around muzzle with a bit of elastic, WIDE area around eyes, no ears. The snug muzzle is important to me here in Fl as sometimes bugs would get under and bite around his eyes. Current one is a year old.
These things are very hard to find, just got two from Chicks. Newer Absorbine model was the stiff plastic feel and touched his eye .
area.http://www.equiworld.net/0703/absorbine.htm
I bought an Absorbine mask as a stop-gap horse-needs-mask-NOW and it was the only thing in stock. That was two years ago, it’s held up great, fits well, is comfy for my princess-and-the-pea horse. Very pleasantly surprised. I’d like to get a Rambo or Noble Outfitters one because I do like the stiffer piece over the eye for comfort, but the Absorbine has really given a lot of bang for the buck.
Try the Rambo - they have sooo much room!
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The cashel horse size fit him beautifully! Unfortunately the three year old ripped it off him and dragged it into the manure and urine :(. How can I clean it? I want his eyes protected but keeping a fly mask might be hopeless
You can wash the mask - I put mine in the washing machine when they get really bad. As far as keeping it on, try putting a halter on over the mask. I did this for a while and it broke the habit of my smart Alec gelding who likes to to remove his pasturemate’s mask.
Just get a stiff brush and a hose. I put mine on something hard (I currently use the end of one those big blue plastic barrels or a muck bucket flipped upside down - really anything works). I just scrub for a few minutes while running the hose at low pressure then hang to dry on a fence. I have multiple Cashels (probably 10 hanging in my mares shed ready to go) as I clean mine daily (sometimes they just need a stiff brush). I can’t stand a dirty fly mask with all the junk built up - see it way too often and it blocks their vision (Yes I’ve seen some that bad on other horses).
