There are numerous fly masks for horses on the market, and many horses can be seen wearing one during the summer months. Fly masks aren’t only useful for wearing when your horse is in the field though — there is a whole range of fly veils for wearing while being ridden too. All of these products are designed to play a useful role in preventing nuisance flies and other pesky bugs irritating the horses you are responsible for taking care of. For ultimate protection in the field, use a fly mask alongside a fly rug and fly spray too.
Some fly masks for horses cover the full length of their head from tips of the ears to bottom of the muzzle. These have the additional benefit of offering protection from sunburn for pink skin and white noses. Sun and flies can pose a health risk to any horse, but wearing a fly mask can help to protect their delicate skin and keep those pesky bugs at bay.
Have you noticed that flies tend to congregate around your horse’s ears when you’re riding? I find them a particular nuisance when I’m hacking in my local forestry. If I trot on, I can even see them flying along behind us! I used to ride a Warmblood who was particularly irritated by flies buzzing around his ears, and wearing a fly veil made a big difference. If you choose to use one as well, it can help to keep annoying little flies and midges from getting in your horse’s ears and annoying them.
I’ve rounded up some of the latest fly masks and fly veils for horses below, to help you choose which to buy.
Shop for fly masks for horses
Premier Equine Comfort Tech Lycra Fly Mask
This fly mask provides 360-degree protection from annoying flies for horses. Its easy pull-on design is strapless for safety, and the breathable four-way stretch Lycra material offers comfort. It is a close fit to help prevent bugs and flies crawling under the mask and causing irritation. A horse’s sensitive eyes and ears are protected by a flexible durable mesh that is breathable and lightweight.
RRP £18
Colours: Green, grey, blue, red, wine or navy
Sizes: S-XL
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Buying in the USA? Purchase here
Mark Todd Fly Mask Without Ears
This mask is made from a fine mesh material that offers a horse’s face protection from flies. It doesn’t cover the ears or the horse’s muzzle, but it does have a fleece binding for extra comfort. The mask is held in place with two touch-and-close fastenings that are secured on the underside of the mask.
RRP £12.99 (US$9.44)
Colour: Grey. Sizes: Pony, cob, full
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Buying in the USA? Purchase here
Weatherbeeta Comfitec Deluxe Fine Mesh Mask
A superbly fitting mask that protects a horse against flies and offers a 60%+ UV block. Its fine mesh allows for full vision and its double darts ensure a great fit. Features include adjustable double touch tape tab closures, soft fleece binding for additional comfort, air stream ear design to allow airflow and stretch fleece poll design for extra security. It covers the horse’s ears and nose for full protection.
RRP £23.99 (US$30.95)
Colours: Black/ turquoise
Sizes: Mini, small pony, pony, cob, full or warmblood
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Buying in the USA? Purchase here
HY Equestrian Lycra Flex Fly Mask
This is a mask for horses who need a high level of protection from flies and bugs. The Lycra Flex Fly Mask is made from a breathable stretch material for a custom fit and to ensure that no unwanted intruders find their way underneath it. It is a pull-on mask that features mesh ears and eyes to help with airflow, and eye darts to ensure clearance of the face, thus avoiding irritation.
RRP £13.99
Colour: Navy. Sizes: Pony, cob or full
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Bucas Buzz-Off Zebra Fly Mask
The clever use of zebra stripes on this mask is proven to help keep flies away from a horse’s face. The lightweight mesh material helps to protect a horse from annoying pests. The mask is held in place with a single touch and close strap.
This fly mask for horses is also available with an extended nose as well as a deluxe version with clear panel over the eyes.
RRP £19 (US$36.95)
Sizes: XXXS-XL
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Buying in the USA? Purchase here
Equilibrium Products Field Relief Max
This mask provides effective relief from flies and the sun while remaining extremely comfortable for any horse. It offers in excess of 70% UV protection and coverage from ears to nose, plus darts to keep it away from the eyes, and stretch binding around the face for a close fit. It also boasts padding at the nose and brow and horse-shaped ears for extra comfort.
RRP £34.50 (US$44.37)
Colours: Black/ orange, grey/ yellow
Sizes: Donkey, horse or pony
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Buying in the USA? Purchase here
HY Armoured Protect Full Mask with Ears and Nose
Made from lightweight mesh material with bamboo lining this mask offers protection to the face, ears, nose and eyes. This mask features darts that ensure good clearance off the eyes, a luxurious faux fur panel on the browband area and soft fleece edging.
The double-sided touch-tape fastenings hold the mask securely in place during turnout, and the mesh panels around the eyes and nose protect from UV rays.
RRP £28.99
Sizes: Small pony, pony, cob, full, X full. Colour: Black
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Shop for fly veils for horses
The shape and fit of a fly veil is vital for your horse’s comfort. You’ll need to consider whether your horse has particularly large or small ears and how the ear bonnet fits under the headpiece of your bridle. Most veils don’t have any attachments to hold it in place and rely on your bridle to hold it securely in position, so check that it comes far enough under the headpiece, with excess material extending out from the back.
Fitting advice
Research that looked at pressure distribution beneath an ear bonnet and its effect on equine locomotion was carried out by Dr Russell MacKechnie-Guire from Centaur Biomechanics and concluded that there are three things to consider when fitting an ear bonnet:
- Ensure there is no braiding on the ear bonnet that runs underneath the bridle’s headpiece.
- Make sure the veil fits your horse’s ears. A horse’s ear can move 180 degrees using 10 different muscles, so if the bonnet is too small it can restrict ear movement.
- Check if the fly veil has raised the bridle headpiece, which can alter the height of the bit in your horse’s mouth and cause discomfort.
Felix Buhler Fly Veil Coin
This is a classic crochet fly veil featuring double decorative piping with colour-coordinated metallic thread. The ears are made from a stretchy material for a more comfortable and flexible fit. Two elastic hook-and-loop fasteners attach the fly veil to the headpiece.
RRP £10.90
Colours: Dark turquoise, fog, light denim, lipstick, purple or sapphire
Sizes: Pony, cob or full
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Veredus Fly Fringe
This handcrafted crochet fly fringe is made from washable and breathable cotton and features the Veredus logo at the front. The ears are made from a stretch fabric for your horse’s comfort and to enable flexibility and movement of their ears.
RRP £55.99
Colours: Black or grey. One size
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Hy Equestrian Exquisite Stirrup and Bit Collection Fly Veil
This fly veil is finished with gorgeous rose-gold braiding and delicate bit-and-stirrup detailing to the front, making it ideal for everyday use or smart enough for wearing for best, such as at a competition (but check the rules first). This close-knit crochet fly veil features breathable ears, allowing your horse to stay cool and protected from pesky bugs.
RRP £12
Colour: Navy. Sizes: Pony, cob or full
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
Protechmasta Fly Veil with Soundproof Ears
This fly veil combines a ceramic infused lining, which is scientifically proven to assist blood circulation gently and safely, helping to ease muscle tension and aid relaxation, with beautiful satin-and-glitter rope piping. The lightweight and breathable design, with air mesh to the body of the fly veil and soundproof ears, prevent noise distractions and aid concentration. A deeper section behind the ears gives a secure fit.
RRP £39.99
Colour: Burgundy. Sizes: Pony, cob, full or X-full
Buying in the UK? Purchase here
