Proper Use of a Fly Mask?

[VAHorseGurl]

After doing some reading on the aural plaque that Harriett has in her ears, I'm trying to decide if leaving a Fly Mask like this one, http://www.smartpakequine.com/images/product/Kens_FlyMaskEars_Pink.gif on Harriett all the time, especially at night, is appropriate?

I guess what I am asking is; is leaving a fly mask on at night going to hurt Harriett's eye sight? I won't leave it on while riding, but am considering one of these http://www.smartpakequine.com/images/product/17005_Blk.jpg.

[dwblover]

My horses would NOT have any ears left if they were out at night without their fly masks. We live on the coast in SC and sand fleas are no joke!!!:mad: I've been out there at night with them and I've never seen them look/act like they have any trouble at all seeing. In fact, I have the exact Kensington fly mask you posted on one of my guys (except it's blue, wouldn't want to embarrass the man). They are great and last forever.

[trubandloki]

I see nothing wrong with a horse wearing their mask at night.

I assume you will take it off daily and make sure it not causing any rubs and that it is not clogged up with dirt. Those are really the only two issues as long as your mare is comfortable wearing it.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

When my horse used to go out at night I would turn him out with his fly mask on and he seemed just fine. Besides if he didn't like it I bet he would have found a way to take/rip it off. :lol:

[WorthTheWait95]

One of my guys has bad eye allergies and uveitis. He wears a fly mask 24/7 from May through September and they are turned out at night in the summer. He has been doing that for the 12 years I've owned him and will be 21 in just one week. He has no trouble seeing and his eye sight hasn't been affected at all.

[VAHorseGurl]

Thank you everyone! I had recently been chastized by someone for mentioning leaving a fly mask on 24/7, so I wanted to check with a more knowledgable crowd. :)

Trub, yes ma'am, I'll certainly check it daily and clean it often. I will also be adding a cream the Vet is going to prescribe for the aural in Harriett's ears.

Again, THANK YOU guys!! :D

[Simbalism]

My horse wears her fly mask 24/7 in the summer and I have even ridden in it when the gnats are paricularly bad. Usually I have her wear one of the ear net things like you showed in the picture except the ones I use have fringe around the bottom.

[mypaintwattie]

My horse wears a mask 24/7 in the summer, and at night during the winter. It offers protection from the flies and keeps her from rubbing her face at night- she is really good at getting lacerations around her eyes. I've never had any problems with the kensington or supermask rubbing, and she can see just fine.

[Huntertwo]

I have the same mask (minus the ears) and leave it on my mare 24/7 except for rain.

She has a light skinned face and I noticed that she was getting *burnt* this winter from all the snow glare. She has been wearing it since winter day and night without a problem.

The Kensington masks really hold up well too. And with the double Velcro enclosure, it has never ever come off.

[Hampton Bay]

I would get the Cashel mask. I just odered the Kensington with ears for my gelding, and the ears are so stiff that I ended up having to cut them off. The horse can't move his ears, and it annoyed him so much that he would rub the mask off. In my case, I didn't need the ears. In your case that would render the mask useless.

The cashel has a soft fabric for the ears so it is much more comfy.

[Mia412]

My horses wear them 24/7 in the summer since they're out all the time. I have 2 for each horse, so I can always have a clean one to replace a gross one. Then I hose the dirty one off & hang it up until I have to switch masks again.

We check everything when the beasts come in to eat, then send them back outside!

[bit-o-honey]

Like the previous posters, I've left the fly masks on at night and they are fine. One caution - in the rain, the water makes a kind of film on the mesh and then it IS hard to see through. Dunk the mask in some water and then try to look through it yourself, you will see the effect! I leave the mask off if there are showers at night.

[mhtokay]

well, it says on the box (last time I bought one) to remove at night. I imagine it's much harder to see through at night and if it rains, of course. I see horses with them on all the time. I take them off at night, if I"m using them.