field relief

[No_Angel]

anyone used a field relief mask?
do they just protect form sun burn or help to limit dust/pollen intake?

[carthorse]

As far as I know they won't limit dust or pollen intake but do protect from the sun & flies. I use them for both of my boys - they fit well, I've never found flies in them & it's very rare that they come off in the field. I had to take the nose cover off JIm's though because no matter how much I shortened it it irritated him & he kept trying to rub it off.

[Iron Maiden]

My old cob used to wear one to keep the sun off his nose. The mesh it's made of has pretty big holes in it so I can't see how it would be able to filter out dust or pollen. Very good at catching horse snot though - I had to scrub it every day because it was so disgusting!

[Dreamchaser]

I had also heard they were able to limit dust and pollen and because of that I was thinking of getting one for Dolly. So I'm also interested in the replies!

[Rarah]

Last summer I tried 2 types.

This one, which she took great pleasure in removing :rolleyes:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/gokartbandit/10-06-06_1104.jpg

and one for her nose only, which is similar to this one that I ride in
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/gokartbandit/02-07-06_1503edit.jpg

I found the nose net one stayed on better -it attaches to a field safe headcollar, but I also found that they got pretty grimy after a day in the field.

The main reason for me using one is Logic's ickle pink nose that gets easily sunburnt.

[Rarah]

Very good at catching horse snot though - I had to scrub it every day because it was so disgusting!


Ha Ha - I was trying to think of a nice way to explain this...... :D

[Jessey]

I got one for Bo last year, I found it fitted pretty well and kept the flies out well, but after some time of wearing it 24/7 it did start to rub him on his jaw. I'm not sure it keeps pollen out but certainly kept the sun off Bo's nose so it didn't burn.

[puzzles]

The Equlibrium face masks are the only ones i am aware of that can protect from flies, UV rays, direct sunlight, dust and allergens in the air - all in one costing a respectable and worth-every-penny £20-25 (for the full face mask including ears).
Equilibrium specifically provide protection from allergies (head shaking; pollen, direct light and dust), flies and sun beautifully.
they look good, fit well (in my experience) and i now would use no other... and they actually work (yay!)
:-)

[No_Angel]

thanks puzzles, so they actually help keep out dust/pollen?

he has a net relief nose net, i was hoping these would be similar so he could have protection in the field aswell.

[puzzles]

yes, they really do work! :-) check out the Equilibrium website at:
http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/
the masks come with a built-in nose net.

[No_Angel]

thanks, ive looked at the site before but couldnt see anything about dust/pollen on there, only sunburn.
He has his nose net for being ridden in and its made to stop pollen/dust getting to him while being ridden, I wondered if the fly masks were the same weight? of mesh as the nose nets. Tried looking for one today but non of the tackshops had fly masks in.

[puzzles]

Equilibrium make a fly mask which can be worn whilst being ridden, but with no nosenet as they also make a nosenet for riding work.

[No_Angel]

im looking at the full fly mask with attached nosenet for him in the field, which will hopefully protect against dust/pollen when in the field.
He already has the ridden nose net for when im riding him.

[Jessey]

Not sure if its just on my guys (have used the mask on all Bo, Jess and Phoenix) but I found the nose bit wasn't a very snug fit though it did curve round a bit - I would have thought dust and polen would easily get into the nose through gaps round the net, also I would think that the mesh is too course to catch the dust etc
Could you not stick with the nose net you have and attach it on to a field safe head collar?

[Dreamchaser]

I think I will be buying one as well then for my own headshaker!

I was looking at the one with the mesh that goes over the nose. I really wouldn't think that it would do much to help, other than just protecting the nose against a sun burn. Am I correct about this? It also looks a bit loose. If it doesn't do anything to help with headshaking, I'm most likely going to buy the fly mask without the nose attachment.

ETA: Is there any real difference between the Max Fly Mask and the Midi Fly Mask other than the nose attachment on the Max Fly Mask?

[puzzles]

Harry 9ex-racehorse i feell in love with) was a terrible headshaker, helepd with a net.

[Jessey]

Is there any real difference between the Max Fly Mask and the Midi Fly Mask other than the nose attachment on the Max Fly Mask?

I only have the max, but I think the only difference it the nose bit - which is removable and held on with velcro so you can convert it to a midi if need be :D

[carthorse]

The max one is longer so covers more of the face than the midi & is made of a slightly different mesh that offers more sun protection. I found Jim was less likely to take off his max one (once the nosenet was removed, he didn't like that at all) though in fairness the midi only came off occassionally & he was kept with a playful 2yo.

[Laura+Phantom]

Don't know about dust/pollen but I use the field relief muzzle protector on Phantom's big pink nose with great success. He ripped the velcro off once in the whole summer, and it was easily re-stitched. Didn't notice any flies on him either. I would have like it to be more shaped though...

It's very generous on him, he's 14hh.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/LAUZ45/Phantom/phantomnoseguard.jpg

[Portia]

Personally the field relief has worked well for me - fits B, and seems comfortable as she doesn't attempt to rub it off. Suupose it depends on the head conformation and is a matter of trial/error!

I struggle to see how any of the masks will have much of an effect on pollen/dust etc whilst the animal is grazing, most pollen grains are very very fine and will pass straight through any mask (read about HEPA filtration on a Dyson if you own one!).

Riding masks DO appear help some horses in that that they reduce the direct airflow into the nostril, so irritants such as dust and pollen don't blast right to the back of the nose whilst the horse is being worked - offers some relief for head shakers - the best ones if needed for that purpose would be those that curve around the top of the muzzle...snot-catchers as IM put it!!

[puzzles]

i read yesterday that there is a facial disease associated with headshaking - and not as rare as many think either.

[Mareish]

I had the field relief for many years until I discovered the crusader mask by casharel - wont change me now :)

[Dreamchaser]

Does the Cashel mask do the same thing as the field relief will do? The cashel mask will be FAR cheaper for me, as the only real way for me to get a field relief is to buy it from the UK, which makes the shipping rather expensive!