Fly Rugs- Too hot?

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xx-laura-xx

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Sep 2, 2006
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Sunderland/Durham border.
Well ive had a problem with my horse over the past few weeks since we have now found out he is very sensitive to some type of fly, coming out in pea sized lumps all over his body which are weeping and he is constantly scratching them meaning he has open sores which attract more flies. The vet suggested a fly rug as fly repelants and antihistermines are useless and I have bought a new weetherbeeta rug, including neck and belly cover. It needed to be the thicker type as a) he is constantly in the wars and i need it to not rip too easily and b) he needs one that will ensure no flies can get through.

The question is will he be too hot in a fly rug with neck cover all day. Obviously as he is sensitive to flies he needs it on but i am still worried he may overheat :o Surely fly rugs are designed to be cool?

This is the type of rug he has: (except his is green!)
http://www.speedyequestrian.co.uk/acatalog/info_66149.html

Am i just being stupid or should i take it off for certain parts of the day and risk him having another reaction:confused:
 
ye lots of people are against fly rugs cuz they say it makes the horse too hot

but i imagine in your case its for the best & is better than no fly rug

i dont think it wil have that much effect on them tbh, as even the thicker ones are very breathable

my horse is bay and she has a white fly rug, and actually think she is kept cooler by the rug reflecting the heat!
 
I'd go for it; perhaps you could keep it on at dawn and dusk, when the flies are at their worst and it is cooler, but put just fly spray on between 11-3, when the heat is worst, if you can? If you aren't able to do this, then fly rugs are made to have good ventilation so it should be ok ... is it possible to check your orse during the day (or ask your YO to do it) to check if your horse is sweaty/too hot?

x
 
It really is a catch 22, too hot or get eaten alive.

He is checked every day anyway, but i will definatley be checking him twice for the first few days to make sure he isnt too hot.

Today when i first put it on he was hot in it, but it was roasting anyway and was already boiling before i put the rug on, soo it was hard to tell whether it made him any hotter than he already was. Im particulally worried about this heat wave business but i suppose if needs must, as flies dont go away once it gets abit hot and the woman in the shop was saying its designed to be worn in hot weather.

Its a case of the second he gets bitten it comes up in a lump which he then itches until it weeps, and i am trying to avoid it at all costs as once the lump is there more flies are attracted!
 
If anything Daffy stays cooler in his fly rug - he's black and it's white, so it goes some way towards reflecting the heat. Also, it's a fabric mesh and so it's great for wicking any sweat away if he does get warm.

Global Herbs do a supplement called "Fly Free" - I've not tried it personally, but I'm looking into it, perhaps for next year as I don't know how quickly the effects are seen.
 
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