I'm torn about using fly masks in large pastures and would love your thoughts.
Harley wears a full face Cashel fly mask so his pink nose gets sun protection. But I have stuck my head in those fly masks, and none have great visibility. My horses are out on a large pasture, and go through a kind of gully to get to the back field, which means running through rocks and water (there's a little stream), and trees. I have limbed them pretty well so there aren't any branches sticking out, but it is darker in there. Harley is 19, and I can see that when he runs with his mask on, he wants to turn his head to see better. I also picked up a fly mask for Kodak, and am getting her used to wearing it.
But then yesterday, Harley was wearing his mask and came in with a bloody nose. I cleaned him up and found a small nick by his nostril. Sure, it might have happened without the mask on... but I wonder about the wisdom of putting them out in such a large area, with so much varied terrain, wearing something that does obstruct their visibility. I have seen them half-hanging off Harley's head too because sometimes he manages to rub the ears off.
My horses have access to their stalls 24/7 so they can come in if the flies get really bad (there are almost no flies in my barn). I always keep hay in their stalls too so they don't feel they have to go to the pasture because they're hungry.
So what are your thoughts?
Harley wears a full face Cashel fly mask so his pink nose gets sun protection. But I have stuck my head in those fly masks, and none have great visibility. My horses are out on a large pasture, and go through a kind of gully to get to the back field, which means running through rocks and water (there's a little stream), and trees. I have limbed them pretty well so there aren't any branches sticking out, but it is darker in there. Harley is 19, and I can see that when he runs with his mask on, he wants to turn his head to see better. I also picked up a fly mask for Kodak, and am getting her used to wearing it.
But then yesterday, Harley was wearing his mask and came in with a bloody nose. I cleaned him up and found a small nick by his nostril. Sure, it might have happened without the mask on... but I wonder about the wisdom of putting them out in such a large area, with so much varied terrain, wearing something that does obstruct their visibility. I have seen them half-hanging off Harley's head too because sometimes he manages to rub the ears off.
My horses have access to their stalls 24/7 so they can come in if the flies get really bad (there are almost no flies in my barn). I always keep hay in their stalls too so they don't feel they have to go to the pasture because they're hungry.
So what are your thoughts?
