Horses are one of the few animals out there that happen to be widely loved across all breeds, but when it comes to caring for these remarkable creatures, a conscious and deliberate effort is equally important. One of the significant challenges faced by horse owners is the persistence of flies. Horses are known to be plagued by all kinds of flies, and these pests can constitute a nuisance to both horses and horse owners, leading to health complications that no one should ever have to deal with in the first place.
Due to these reasons, you need to keep your horses safe from fly bites. Even flies that do not carry life-threatening diseases tend to cause other issues that may be detrimental to your horse’s wellbeing. Hence, while fly bites can be extremely painful, they are a leading cause of unhealthy summer sores in wounds and major triggers of skin allergies as well.
Regardless of all these potential issues, every horse owner’s best strategy is to prevent the flies from being a problem in the first place. This can be done by ensuring that the horses are well-equipped with the necessary protective gear. However, too many horse owners tend to overlook the importance of these items, one of which happens to be a horse’s fly mask.
What does a fly mask do?
As the name rightly implies, a fly mask is useful for protecting your horse’s face, eyes and ears from all kinds of fly and insect attacks. The skin around a horse’s face is generally more sensitive and prone to irritation when plagued by these pests, leading to more severe issues. However, a good fly mask is the perfect preventive mechanism, and some of these masks even come with UV protection.
If you are worried about your horse having a bit of difficulty seeing through a fly mask, then don’t be concerned. Good fly masks are made from a fine mesh that ensures that your horse’s vision is not impaired in any way.
Why do I need to get a fly mask for my horse?
1. To Ensure Comfort
A comfortable horse is a happy horse, and a mask can ensure that your horse is free from all the discomfort that comes with insects hovering around its face. While human beings are fully capable of driving flies away from their faces, horses cannot do this effectively. They are only capable of this when they are in herds, and in such situations, they collaboratively use their tails to chase away the flies from each other’s faces. However, when a horse is kept in isolation, flies could keep them constantly distressed, which is why they would need proper intervention from the horse owner to have any hope of staying healthy.
2. To Prevent Infections and Allergies
Flies and other insects could cause a horse to develop certain infections and allergies, which a mask can easily prevent. This is because flies are generally attracted to the moisture around the horse’s eyes. Hence, bites from flies and gnats could lead to infections which could put your horse at risk. Fly masks work exceptionally well for horses that suffer from aural plaques. When used in combination with a fly repellent for the other parts of the horse’s body, it would keep your horse free from most insect-based infections.
Is a Fly Mask Difficult To Clean?
Fly masks may get dirty from time to time, leaving you with the responsibility of cleaning them. However, the benefits of getting one far outweigh the costs. The cleaning commitments that come with getting a fly mask are very minimal.
Nonetheless, fly masks do need regular cleaning if you have an active horse. This is because dirt, grime, and other debris from breathing and sweating could get lodged in the fly mask, leading to unwanted irritations for your horse.
How to clean a fly mask:
While cleaning the fly mask, it’s important to use antibacterial agents like mild disinfectants along with water to rinse the mask thoroughly, then air dry right afterward. It is also advisable to have a spare fly mask available for your horse to keep your horse protected while the alternative fly mask is being cleaned.
Things To Consider When Getting a Fly Mask
When getting a fly mask, it’s essential to make sure it perfectly fits the horse’s head. When a horse’s fly mask is too tight or too loose, it could cause problems like skin irritations.
When selecting a good horse mask, it is also vital to ensure that the mask does not obstruct your horse’s eyesight. As a horse owner, you can check this by testing the mask to see if the horse can comfortably blink through it. Once you can ascertain that the horse is comfortable with blinking, then the mask is most likely a good fit. Masks that are not ideal sizes tend to obstruct the horse’s vision and lead to several complications down the track.
If your horse’s fly mask has ear coverings, it’s vital to ensure that the ear coverings allow your horse to move its ears in all directions and without restrictions comfortably. When the ear covering of a fly mask has adequate space, it prevents skin irritations caused by constant friction.
Lastly, it is essential to ensure that the fly mask you select comes with a muzzle that goes right under your horse’s cheekbones. Masks that have this feature tend to provide better protection compared to masks with shorter muzzles. It is advisable to go for a fly mask with an elastic muzzle that allows you to quickly dress up your horse while giving room for fluid jaw movements, helping keep your horse comfortable.
Conclusion
In summary, a fly mask is a great way to keep your horse happy and healthy. However, it is essential to remember that a good fly mask is not determined by its inherent quality and protective features alone but ultimately by how comfortable it makes your horse feel.
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