The Essential Guide to Choosing the Perfect Fly Mask for Your Horse

With different styles, colours and varying levels of protection now available, finding the perfect fly mask for your horse is no longer an easy task.

For many horse owners the confusion results in the purchase of a lesser quality fly mask, and often less effective mask that may mean compromising on protection, fit, or in some circumstances both.

Buying the cheapest fly mask in the shop can, in the long run, prove to be more costly as a less effective fit is likely to result in more losses and more damage in the field, thus reducing the lifespan of the fly mask and increasing the likely need to repurchase throughout the season.

So before you hit the tack shops for your summer essentials, be sure to keep reading for our top tips of what to consider before buying a fly mask…

Full Face Fly Mask

A full face fly mask is a great option if your horse is very sensitive to flies and midges, or if you need to protect your horse’s muzzle against the sun. For all-round protection, the Field Relief Max Fly Mask provides over 70% UV protection and is made from a durable mesh to keep flies at bay.

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Fly Mask with Ears

Horses that are susceptible to irritation from midge bites often benefit from the additional protection a fly mask with ears can offer, but look carefully at the shape of the ears on the mask you are considering. Are they horse-ear shaped? Too often fly masks misjudge the actual shape of the horse’s ear, making them too straight or floppy and therefore easier for the horse to remove. Take a look at the Field Relief Midi with Ears and see how an ergonomic ear shape can make all the difference to the fit of your fly mask.

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Fly Mask without Ears

Many horses find that a fly mask with ears to be an annoyance, which encourages them to rub and thus displace or pull their mask off completely. Many horses simply cannot tolerate anything touching their ears. Look for a fly mask with adjustable fastenings behind the ears so the fly mask doesn’t have to be put on over the head and ears.

For horses like this, a visor style like the Field Relief Midi is ideal for providing a high level of protection along with a secure fit.

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Muzzle Fringe

Designed with a simple hook and loop attachment, the Field Relief® Muzzle Fringe attaches easily to all fly masks in the Field Relief® Range. Ideal for horses who might not like a traditional nose piece or cover, or need protection from the flies and midges without the UV protection.

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Detachable Nose Piece

Designed with a simple hook and loop attachment, the Field Relief® Detachable Nose Piece attaches easily to all fly masks in the Field Relief® Range. Ideal for horses with pink or sensitive noses, who need UV protection, or those who are extremely sensitive to flies or midges around their muzzle.

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What else is there to consider?

How do I Find the Best Fly Mask for Fit?

As a general rule, we would recommend for you to base the size of your fly mask on the size of your horse’s bridle. This is certainly the case for the Field Relief range of fly masks, but will also give you a good starting point for other brands.

Regardless of make, your fly mask should fit snugly (two fingers) around your horse’s face with no gaps over the poll or around the nose. Excessive space in these areas will make it easier for the fly mask to shift on your horse’s head, or pull off completely. To help with this, look for a fly mask with stretch seams and plenty of adjustability; the Field Relief range all feature stretch seams for a secure fit, with the Midi (with and without ears) also boasting hook and loop adjustment over the poll as well as under the cheeks for a more tailored fit.

How Should a Fly Mask Fit around my Horse Eyes?

Contrary to the snug fit needed elsewhere on your horse’s head, your fly mask should allow for plenty of room over the eye area. Vets agree that a mesh sitting directly against the eye has the potential to rub and cause damage to the eye and surrounding skin. Not only this but too tight a fitting mask may mean your horse’s eyelashes catch against the mesh, causing significant discomfort to your horse when blinking.

Be sure to choose a fly mask that provides some kind of structure over the eye area, and that you are confident it will not collapse down onto your horse’s face through the course of the day. For an example of what to look for, the Field Relief range of fly masks have all been designed with strategic darts over the front of the mask to ensure a stable, roomy fit with good clearance over the eyes.

Does UV Protection Really Matter?

Horses with little or no skin pigmentation around their eyes and muzzle are going to be more susceptible to the effects of the sun. Like pale-skinned humans, exposure to the sun can cause squinting, watery eyes, sunburn, and in the long-term has the potential to develop in to cataracts or even cancer. A UV protective fly mask helps to block some of this damaging radiation from reaching the skin. In the short term, this helps to make your horse more comfortable, help to prevent sunburn, and could help to militate against more serious ailments in the future.  The Field Relief range are tested to block out over 70% of harmful UV rays.

Does the Colour of a Fly Mask Make a Difference?

There has been wide debate over recent years as to what the most suitable colour for a fly mask is, however there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that the colour makes any difference to the effectiveness of the fly mask. Many argue that a fly mask with a darker colour mesh is best as it provides a ‘sunglasses’ effect for photosensitive horses, but conversely it can be argued that as dark colours absorb heat a lighter coloured mask is best to reflect radiation instead. These may be points worth considering when purchasing a new fly mask, however there is no scientific evidence to support the significance of either theory.

Can I leave my Horse’s Fly Mask on Overnight?

Generally, a horse doesn’t need to wear a fly mask at night. If your horse has an eye condition and has been advised by a vet to wear a fly mask overnight, Field Relief fly masks can be left on 24/7. 

For horses out 24/7, we recommend making sure you check your horse regularly and allow him time without the mask to prevent the risk of rubbing.

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