Fly Rugs and Waterproof Fly Rugs for Horses

Horse fly rugs, also known as fly sheets, are essential for horse owners looking to protect their horse or pony from biting insects and UV rays. These specialised horse rugs are designed to keep flies and other pests at bay, ensuring your horse stays comfortable during the summer months when flying insects are prevalent. The best fly rugs for horses are lightweight and breathable, and often feature neck covers that sit over the ears for full coverage and belly bands for improved protection.

Why Use a Fly Rug?

Fly sheets for horses serve multiple purposes:

• Protection from Biting Insects: The primary function of a horse fly sheet is to shield your horse from flies, mosquitoes, and other biting insects. This prevents irritation and reduces the risk of diseases transmitted by these pests. Sufferers of sweet itch will benefit from wearing a fly rug as it can prevent the reaction to the midge bites from taking hold.
• Sun Protection: Some fly sheets also offer UV protection, shielding your horse’s coat from harmful sun rays. This can be particularly useful for light-skinned horses who burn easily but also, for preventing dark-coated horses from overheating.

Waterproof Fly Rugs: Combining waterproof design with protection from biting insects

A waterproof fly rug combines the benefits of a traditional fly sheet with the added advantage of waterproofing along the spine which is a fabulous design for changeable weather. This type of rug ensures that your horse remains dry during unexpected summer showers while still protecting from biting flies. A waterproof fly sheet is particularly useful for horses and ponies that are turned out in unpredictable weather conditions and can prevent your horse from developing chills.

Key Features to Look For

When selecting a fly rug or waterproof fly rug, consider the following features to ensure optimal protection and comfort for your horse:

1. Lightweight and Breathable Fabric: Choose materials that allow air circulation, keeping your horse cool in the summer heat. Some sweet itch rugs are made using a denser fabric to prevent any insects from penetrating, whilst thicker than a mesh fly sheet, these materials are designed to breathe keeping the horse cool.
2. Detachable Neck Cover: A fly rug with a detachable neck offers versatility, allowing you to improve the level of coverage based on the weather and the needs of your horse. On sweet itch rugs, many neck covers extend to the poll and sit over the ears for further coverage.  Combining your fly rug with a fly mask will ensure your horse is fully protected.
3. Belly flaps: Many of these rugs feature a belly panel with three surcingles for full protection of the horse's underside, a favourite place for biting bugs! Belly bands and flaps provide extra protection against insects and often feature in the design of sweet itch rugs where protection is key to prevent the condition from taking hold.

Sweet Itch Rugs

For horses who suffer from sweet itch, complete ear-to-tail is advisable to prevent the reaction to the fly bites from taking hold as it can be a terrible condition to resolve once fly season starts.  Sweet itch rugs tend to be made using a denser, woven fabric to ensure bugs cannot penetrate the fabric with their bites.  Many of these rugs feature a high UV protection to keep your horse cool and prevent coat bleaching.

Investing in a fly rug or waterproof fly rug is crucial for protecting your horse from flies and the elements during the summer months.