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Fly protection for horse’s legs

We know as much as anyone that summer is a great time to be riding outside with your equine friends. We love it, the horses love it, everyone is happy. However, despite summer blessing us with great weather and the perfect conditions for riding, it also means the beginning of fly season. 

Flies aren’t just a nuisance around this time of year, they can also be a concern for the health of your horses too. Granted, their bites can be itchy and irritating, but they also have far worse consequences. 

The presence and build-up of flies can cause a whole range of nasty problems, including things like swamp fever, also known as equine infectious anemia. They tend to group around the legs and face, and try to drink the fluid in horses' eyes that comes from the irritation of their arrival. They also carry bacteria, which they can deposit onto the horse. This can lead to a wide range of problems in the long term. 

The important point we’re trying to make is that flies are a serious problem, particularly if you don’t take the necessary steps to protect your beloved animals. The eyes, ears, and legs are normally the areas that flies tend to target most. 

However, horses attempt to defend themselves by stomping to shoo the flies away. Although it’s great to see our horses stand up for themselves, this can sometimes lead to injury. Generally, the best way to protect them is via protective clothing like fly boots. 

Best fly boots for horses

We can’t really answer what the best fly boot is for a horse. This all depends on the horse itself, its environment, size, etc. However, what we can tell you is certain things to look out for and the best things to keep in mind when shopping for some. 

Firstly, look at the material of the boot. Given the fact that flies tend to be around during the warmer months, you need a material that is breathable, so the horse doesn’t overheat. It’s all well and good protecting your horse, but not if you give them heatstroke in the process. The material should also be sturdy enough to keep the flies away! You can also keep an eye out for other features like fleece lining and UV protection too. 

Secondly, look at the style and fit of the boot. This decision should come from your horse itself. If your horse doesn’t like wearing boots normally, then its best to opt for a tighter fit. This will minimize the chance of them slipping out of the boot, which leads to irritation and exposure to flies. 

Next we have durability. This should be pretty obvious, but important to discuss nonetheless. Fly boots are often worn out over a period of time, so try to slow down the process with a durable and sturdy product. We suggest looking for boots that are made from a durable mesh. This will help to slow down the wearing process. 

Lastly, price. You can spend as much or as little as you need to with fly boots. However, there are so many options available on the market that you’re bound to find something suitable at any price point. 

Other tips for the product

Again, for the seasoned horse owners, this may sound pretty obvious, but we shall mention it anyway. Typically, fly boots aren’t worn when riding your horse. This is due to the fact that they cause interference when riding. Therefore, we suggest taking them off for your ride. Of course, this exposes your horse’s legs to potential bites. However, if you apply a good quality fly spray to the desired area, you should be fine. 

You should also take good care when washing and drying the boots. We all know flies love smelly material. If you let the fly boots become stinky and messy, then flies will become attracted to them even more. Make sure to clean them at regular intervals, hosing down the dirt and mud before drying in a sunny area. Placing them in a normal dryer is likely to damage them, which is a big no-no if you want full protection from the product. 

Fly masks

We did mention at the beginning of the blog that flies target the mouth, eyes and ears too. Therefore, it’s important to cover that area. The easiest and most effective way to do that is via a fly mask. 

A fly mask will allow you to protect your beloved horse and its sensitive areas from the dangerous presence of flies. This will cover the eyes, face and ears in most cases. Don’t worry about visibility either, fly masks are normally a semi-transparent mesh material which means your horse can still see clearly. 

The science behind fly masks is pretty simple. We humans can easily shoo flies away from our faces, but horses don’t have that luxury. Flies can sense this weakness, causing them to target various areas of the face. They can also group together in the eyes of horses, which is very distressing and dangerous too. 

Not only are fly masks beneficial for the protection from flies, but they also help to protect their eyes from sunlight. Some fly masks have UV protection built-in, meaning their eyes are protected from the harsh sun rays that come around in the summertime. 

Our advice

Firstly, ensure you purchase the relevant protective gear for your horse. Their physical and mental health is paramount to a happy and healthy summer. Also, we suggest adopting some other behaviors that will ensure you provide your horse with the best life they can possibly have. 

This includes things like access to clean drinking water, shade, and salt lick for nutrients too. You should also make sure to check your horse’s vaccinations are up to date, as well as regular weight checks. These simple tips will help you to keep on top of the horse’s health, giving you peace of mind they’re living their best life.

Our second piece of advice is to purchase fly-catching products that are designed to take care of the annoying fly population. The Ranch Fly Trap is proven to deliver excellent results in farms and ranches across the world. 

Don’t leave the health and happiness of your horse to chance. Grab yours today via our website - All orders are designed & shipped from USA.