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Lola
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 1999 - 10:27 am: |   |
I always have my mare's fly mask removed for night time turnout, but there are 2 ponies at our barn who are owned by one of the instructors that have thier fly masks left on at night. How advisable is this? Can the ponies see okay with the masks on at night? If it doesn't really cause a problem I would leave my mare's on at night too so that she isn't bothered by the early morning flys. |
The Advisor Vet, RN Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 1999 - 6:14 am: | |
Hello Lola,
A difficult question to which no one knows the answer. It may even depend on the phase of the moon. The safety of the practice whould also depend on how safe the environment, how familiar your horse is with it, and what his behavior pattern is like. We occassionally leave them on at night and have had no problems.
DrO |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 1999 - 10:26 am: | |
This is another case of the horse coping with whatever it has too.
I take the fly masks off at night as they reduce light by 30-40% and interupt focus a little.
It makes the world appear darker and foggy to the horse, most just cope with it, some already have problems in low light conditions and end up walking around as if blind.
If the yards are in perfect order and the fly's are bad then it should be ok.
Just be aware that it does have an effect on their vision and decide yourself if there is a risk or not based on the yards. |
Roxanne
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 1999 - 8:31 pm: | |
I have heard it is not advisable, at our barn we take them off. But in the horse world no horse is the same. They say it is also not advisable for the horses to wear them in the rain because the webbing becomes clogged with water and also reduces sight. |
laura
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 7, 1999 - 12:59 pm: | |
Can you ride w/a flymask on? Or is it better to take it off? |
The Advisor Vet, RN Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 8, 1999 - 5:05 am: | |
Considering a horse may stumble at anytime while riding with a mask off, and that a mask will compromise his ability to see to some, even if you believe small, degree, I think it will make dealing with uneven terrain more difficult and a stumble more likely.
I vote for off.
DrO |
Diane B.
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 8, 1999 - 12:47 pm: | |
Dr. O. Please don't hate me... but I belong to a trail-riding club and a lot of us members ride with one on all summer long. It really helps to keep the horses calmer when they don't have to battle the biting flies. My horses have never had stumbling problems because of it.
There are a few members, though, that won't wear one while riding, probably for that reason.
Maybe it depends on the horse and the type of mask.
Just my experience... |
The Advisor Vet, RN Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 9, 1999 - 7:03 am: | |
Hate you? I love fools as well as smart folks, and even smart folks who sometimes act foolish. I just am not sure where I fall in that list.
It just is a known increase risk but I have no doubt there are some very careful horses traveling known trails that would have no trouble with it. But I also know some horses that can't seem to mange that without stumbling even without a mask. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
DrO |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 9, 1999 - 8:54 pm: | |
The Version of the fly mask i use are called Bug Eyes, cause that is what they look like.
They are made of lycra and have bulging mesh eye covers. The reason I use this model is so the horse has the maximum of uninterupted vision. The Lycra sits flat against the nose and the mesh is stitch with very small overlaps. The bug eyes ones would be the best for trails as the horse comfortably runs around the paddock with them on. As long as the trail is not exceedingly nasty you should have no problems. Just be carefull on cloudy days, and trails with low contrast. |
Emily French
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 10, 1999 - 7:06 pm: | |
Darren- Where, pray tell, did you find such a
mask, could you post the manufacturer info or how
I could get my hands on one. It sounds perfect for
my appy |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 11, 1999 - 11:27 pm: | |
Well there are bucket loads of them at the local horse supplies store. :-) I think they are manufactured here in Australia.
I will have to do some digging around to find who makes them and where they sell them.
I will post the details as soon as I get my hands on them. |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 1999 - 7:20 pm: | |
Ok Info for Everyone about the fly masks.
The BUG EYE's Fly masks are distrubted by Weatherbeeta (sp), I am asuming that they are available overseas.
They cost $18 AUD, they are made of Lycra with plastic fly mesh over the eyes, It is hard to find two the same colour.
Here is what they look like Photos of BUG EYE's
Links are cool ehh :-)
I know I shouldn't write this here but, Thanks Guys for the recent drawings of horse teeth at 30 years of age my mare now hates you because I want to check her teeth :-) |
Elisabeth Scherer
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 6, 2000 - 3:52 pm: | |
We own a 12yrs. old QHmare who due to an self-accident during night (there is doubt about how it happened, it just was there the other morning) is now blind on one eye. She is a wonderful gentle horse, trained as a barrel racer. We don't ride her ever since this happened. Experiences and recommendations with a halfblind horse are welcome. Thank you for your comments, much appreciated. |
Emmy Miller, PhD
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 6, 2000 - 5:23 pm: | |
Hi, Elisabeth,
Please don't think of your one-eyed horse as "half-blind". I know that it's a new injury and very distressing to you, and that your horse will need some time to adapt. She can see very well with just one eye. There's an excellent article in this month's Practical Horseman about horses' vision and what/how they see.
I have had my one-eyed horse, Robert, for eight years now. He lost his eye in a pasture accident before I got him, but I am told he adapted very quickly. We jump, trail ride, fox hunt (well, one time!) and have recently taken up eventing. My trainer also uses Robert for beginner walk/trot lessons because he's so safe and dependable. Most people never even realize that Robert only has one eye.
You may notice that you have to compensate a little on the steering. Robert is missing his right eye, so I have to keep my right rein just a little more firm or he will drift to the left. And it's really important when approaching from a right hand turn to the jump that he's in straight and has plenty of time to see the jump. Otherwise, there's really no difference.
So, enjoy your horse. She sounds much to nice not to ride. Good luck and keep us posted.
Emmy and Robert |
A.F.M. Hyde-Clarke
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 7, 2000 - 12:43 pm: | |
Not all horses will accept riding with one eye - my horse lost his eye at 17 years old. He was already a very highly-strung horse, and the loss of the eye was too much for him. I tried to ride him again some months after the operation but he really couldn't cope, just spun in circles trying to see every which way. So, he's retired and happy about being retired. He really does not see very well generally, and we have to make very sure that nothing ever changes in the paddocks. He's always led carefully through gates; there are never new fences, or new trees without him being shown them 2 or 3 times, no wheelbarrow left in the paddock, no brushes, no spades, etc.
And then he is fine, can play, canter around, etc.
But I would never stress him by insisting he should work. Every horse is different.
Just listen to your horse, and do the right thing for her. |
Dorothy Dayton
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 11, 2000 - 10:40 pm: | |
My 17 year old QH mare developed uveitis in her right eye 11 months ago. She has very limited vision in that eye, but I can ride her. Because of the uveitis, she wears a fly mask every day of the year to minimize the effects of the wind (we live near the coast in lower Delaware). I do not, however, keep it on her when she's out at night during the summer months as she shares the pasture with many other horses and the fly mask compromises her night vision.
Just remember that you have to be your horse's "eye" when you ride -- go slowly over new terrain and use other commonsense precautions -- and the two of you should be fine! |
Bridgett Mitchell
Member
Username: Sporty
Post Number: 47
Registered: 5-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2003 - 2:55 pm: | |
Hey Dr.O
You had talked about a fly mask with sunglasses in it for my paint mare. Do you have a brand name that I should get, or would any fly mask do? |
Heather Matthys
Member
Username: Equus
Post Number: 99
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2003 - 7:15 pm: | |
Horses In Black has a fly mask with "sunglasses" on it. It actually works a little like sunglasses because it is two layers of mesh over the eyes....makes it a bit darker. |
Bridgett Mitchell
Member
Username: Sporty
Post Number: 48
Registered: 5-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 9, 2003 - 3:08 pm: | |
Thanks Heather,
Do you know where I can get one of these? |
Heather Matthys
Member
Username: Equus
Post Number: 101
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 12, 2003 - 7:17 pm: | |
Individually, no. Mine came free with the HIB flysheet I ordered. Try contacting the HIB website or representative. I'm sure they must sell them individually as well....I just don't know where. If you can't find HIB, try Classic Cover-ups. I think the company is a subsidiary. Good luck! :-) |
Bridgett Mitchell
Member
Username: Sporty
Post Number: 49
Registered: 5-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 13, 2003 - 4:12 pm: | |
Dr O.
Did you have any other suggestions on this matter? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7582
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 14, 2003 - 6:22 am: | |
You can take a regular fly mask and sew in a dark panel of cloth that can be seen through, something like mosquito netting.
DrO |
Bridgett Mitchell
Member
Username: Sporty
Post Number: 50
Registered: 5-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 17, 2003 - 11:21 am: | |
Hey Heather,
I tried both HIB and Classic Cover Ups but I still can't seem to find the fly mask. What about any catalogs that may have them? |
Elizabeth Donahue
Member
Username: Paul303
Post Number: 305
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 18, 2003 - 1:00 am: | |
Bridgett: Are you looking for something like this? www.guardianmask.com |
Heather Matthys
Member
Username: Equus
Post Number: 102
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 19, 2003 - 11:31 am: | |
Hi Bridgett,
I got mine out of the Dover catalog, and it is still in there. Unfortunately, it is also still a "free with purchase of fly sheet" offer. There is another one on the next page..."Big Kahuna" done the same way, just in brighter colors. Looks like it may be another model done by the same company. Also free with fly sheet. Good luck with it....who knows, maybe you could use a fly sheet! :-) |
Taara Amrine
Member
Username: Goodie
Post Number: 20
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Jul 14, 2003 - 5:39 pm: | |
I have found a wonderful mask that I use for riding and a different version of it for barn use. They are by Cashel. The Crusader line has so far done a wonderful job of protecting my spoiled (no bug problems in WA compared to MN) horses from the new difficulty of living with these pesky things. Cashel has two different types of masks and the one for riding is specifically designed for easy sight. It even comes with ear covers so that I don't have a shaking and tweaking horse. My endurance baby loves his and my mare gets moody without hers. The only thing that I have found a problem with is the fastener on the jaw but an adjustment solved that problem. My endurance horse has a large jaw and short jowel area so the fastener was rubbing him raw. We just set the mask a little different and Viola!
If you would like to look at the masks they are at www.cashelcompany.com |
Taara Amrine
Member
Username: Goodie
Post Number: 21
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Jul 14, 2003 - 5:44 pm: | |
Oops! PS... I can also leave these masks on during the night and during rain and so far, no trouble (knock on wood). Like it it stated above though, every horse is different and they have to know their terrain in order to be safe. My horses live 30 min. away from me on our family farm and there is no one to pull masks every time it's needed. I had to find masks that would last, be reasonable in cost and would survive my horses. I have also found (when I tried the mask on myself) that these pasture masks aren't quite as dark as the other masks from Farnam I have tried in the past. |
Suzanne Moore
Member
Username: Suzym
Post Number: 385
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 - 12:38 pm: | |
During bug season I always use a mask called the Bug Off Riding Hood. It's made of very fine bee keeper's mesh - this mask is not intended for turn out! - and it covers the entire face and neck. I have ridden with it for years with no stumbling problems. In fact, my horse stumbled less because it kept the deer flies off his neck, whereas before he was driven so crazy by those boogers, he would trip while trying to dislodge them.  |
