Fly Sheets 2014 – Lots of Improvement

Fly Sheets 2014 – Lots of Improvement
Manufacturers are learning that we want
affordable, durable fly sheets.
F
ly sheets are
great for horses,
as they do make
it more difficult for
flies to bite. It won’t
stop them from buzzing around or landing
on the horse, however. That’s nothing
new when it comes to
fighting flies.
While chemical fly
sprays often have a
killing ingredient, the
effect isn’t immediate
- you rarely see a fly
land on a horse wearing fly spray and then
drop dead. Herbal fly
sprays deter flies, too,
The Shires sheet was our overall favorite.
but they still land and
annoy the horse (and horse owner!).
Pal fly traps also will help stop the
To actually reduce fly activity
biting flies.
on your farm, consider using fly
But fly sheets help, too, and many
parasites. Ask anyone who has ever
of the sheets boast UV protection as
used these insects correctly - that’s
well, which is increasingly imporextremely important and every
tant. For mosquito patrol, you’re
time we’ve heard of a failure we’ve
going to need the finest mesh you
learned of something done incorcan find and, even then, it’s virturectly - and they will tell you the
ally impossible to cover every speck
difference was dramatic. The Horse
of the horse’s body to stop mosquitoes. They’ll
bite anywhere.
When using
a fly sheet on
your horses,
you need to
take into account the temperature and
humidity prior
to dressing
them. Profuse
sweating and
possible overheating are real
concerns. Think
about it – if it’s
100 degrees in
the shade, you
probably want
We loved the material of the Professional’s Choice sheet.
as lightweight
clothing as you can
find.
The second drawback to fly sheets is
their propensity to
cause shoulder rubs,
even when the sheets
fit well. This may
well be caused by the
sweat and trapped
heat coupled with the
sheet sliding around
as the horses move
about. Despite flies
being at their worst
in hot temperatures,
we usually left sheets
off and fly masks
on until it became
cooler. Often we used
sheets overnight as
protection from mosquitoes and
gnats and removed them when it
became too hot.
In our trial, the PVC-coated nylon
sheets helped the horses stay cooler,
it seemed, but they had a much
longer break-in period before they
conformed to the horse. We consider that as a comfort factor. The
polyester mesh that just flows over
the horse as soon as you put it on
appears more comfortable to wear.
But they aren’t as durable as PVCcoated choices.
In this trial, we noticed the fly
sheets really trended toward extreme protection. Many we tested
included neck covers, belly coverage and very fine mesh to protect
from smaller insects and UV rays.
And the Bucas Zebra print sheet
has some validity to the “stripes
confuse flies” research from a few
years ago.
We find two main types of fly
sheet on the market:
PVC-coated woven nylon: These
are usually lightweight but stiff till
broken in. We find they’re more
likely to cause rubs, so we prefer
that these sheets have lining at the
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Fly Sheets
Sheet
Cost
Comments
MicroMesh Poly Mesh
Bellyband Fly Sheet
Schneider’s Saddlery
www.sstack.com
$49.99
300 Denier poly mesh, 80% UV protection. Two-buckle front, fleece withers, gussets, nylon lined shoulder,
elastic leg straps and stainless hardware. Great value. Matching fly mask available. 64”-86” The matching neck
cover is $28.99
Horse Sense Fly Sheet
SYRVet
www.syrvet.com
$43
Lightweight mesh. Two buckle front, single girth surcingle, elastic leg straps. No lining on shoulders, no tail
flap, no nylon in shoulder. 69”-84” White or Purple.
High Spirit Screen Fly Sheet
Intrepid International
www.intrepidintl.com
$59.99
100% nylon mesh. Double front buckle, shoulder gusset, belly band, tail flap, leg straps and fleece withers.
Extremely durable and lightweight. Excellent choice for hot weather turnout. Great price. XS- 69. SM-72”. MD
75”. L78”. XL 81
D-Tech Ripstop Mesh Euro
Fly Sheet
Schneider’s Saddlery
www.sstack.com
$59.99
Shiny rip-stop nylon mesh. 65% UV protection. Double buckle front closure, fleece withers, nylon lined
shoulder, gusset, elastic detachable leg straps, tail flap. Stainless hardware, a departure from the usual brass
colored Schneiders hardware. Perfect lightweight cool sheet for hot weather. Excellent value with all the
necessary features at a great price. Matching fly mask available. Neck opening runs large. 66”-86”. Neck cover
costs $22.49.
Tempest Fly Sheet
Shires Equestrian
www.shiresequestrian.com
$69.99
Very lightweight reflective mesh. Double front buckle, nylon lined chest, tail flap, rope tail cord. No leg straps,
but there are D rings for them. No fleece at withers. We preferred this one for hand grazing, hand walking or
stall use, but the manufacturer said it is designed for turnout with extra stitching at the spine to keep it in
place. 60” – 87”
SmartPak Classic Fly Sheet
SmartPak Equine
www.smartpakequine.com
$79.95
Very light poly weave. 95% UV protection. Surcingle front closure, nylon shoulder, large tail flap, stainless
hardware. Rope tail cord. No fleece on withers. No leg straps. Good value. 69”-84”
Soft Interlock Mesh Bellyband
Combo Sheet
Schneider’s Saddlery
www.sstack.com
$79.99
Full-featured attached neck sheet with stretch panel. 300 denier poly mesh , 80% UV protection, two-buckle
front with Velcro assist. Bellyband with stretch insert in surcingles. Nylon lined shoulders, gussets, reflective
stripes and elastic leg straps. Tremendous value. Held up great. Matching fly mask available. 68”-86”
Big Fella Mosquito Mesh Fly
Sheet
Schneider’s Saddlery
www.sstack.com
$81.99
Generous draft size nylon mesh sheet. 60% UV protection. Very tight weave to protect from small insects. VFree withers relief system. Double buckle/ snap front. Lined shoulder, fleece withers, reflective stripes for easy
sighting at night. Matching fly mask available. 84”-94” Excellent choice for hot weather protection of drafts and
large horses. Neck cover is $29.99.
Centaur Got Flies? Body
Shield Fly Sheet w/ Belly
English Riding Supply
www.englishridingsupply.
com
$89.95
Lovely silky soft poly mesh. Attached neck with stretch panel. Belly band with two surcingles. Shoulder
gusset. Double front buckle. Elastic leg straps. Generous tail flap. Really nice product at a great price. Extreme
protection. One of our favorites. Runs large. Matching fly mask available. Pony 60-64. Cob 66-70, Horse 72-74.
Lg. Horse 78-82. XL Horse 84-86”
WeatherBeeta Airflow
Standard Neck Fly Sheet
WeatherBeeta
www.weatherbeeta.com
$99.99
Soft polyester mesh with tight weave. Two-buckle front, fleece wither, standard shoulder gussets, removable
belly closure, oversize Freestyle tail flap, elastic removable leg straps. Available in pony and horse sizes, 48”-87”
(in 3-inch increments). Solid construction.
Mosquito Mesh Flyshield Fly
Sheet
Schneider’s Saddlery
www.sstack.com
$104.99
Tight nylon mesh to protect from mosquitos. Full-featured sheet. 60% UV protection. Nylon lined shoulders,
fleece withers, V-tek V-free higher coverage of withers. Extends up onto mane, deep cut sides. Reflective
stripes, removable leg straps and two buckle front closure. Matching fly mask available 68”-86”. Neck cover is
$29.99.
Shires Fly Sheet
Shires Equestrian
www.shiresequestrian.com
$119
Silky soft reflective poly mesh. Very tight weave. Detachable neck cover. Double buckle front closure, shoulder
gusset, lined chest, large tail flap, belly band, nylon mane guard in neck cover. Elastic leg straps. Well made and
beautiful to look at. Nice enough to take to a show and use as an extra scrim. Natural color with navy trim and
tan stripe. This sheet held up well and provided excellent protection against small biting insects. 66” – 84”
Professional’s Choice Fly
Sheet
Professionals Choice
www.profchoice.com
$119.95
Polyester rip-stop nylon. UV protection. Lined shoulder, fleece withers. Double buckle front closure. West Coast
style surcingles and leg straps. Very tailored and fit best on a QH type build. Extremely durable and breathable.
Matching fly mask available. Ideal choice for warm climates. Leg protectors also sold. 68”-84”.
Cashel Lightweight Fly Sheet
Cashel Company
www.cashelcompany.com
$126.95
Reflective, lightweight mesh. 70% UV protection. Lining in shoulder with gussets and darts to tailor-fit to
horse and help prevent rubs. Wide belly protector with hook-and-loop closures. Elastic leg straps. We had
the Crusader Lightweight sheet in our trial. (Also available is the Eco Fly Sheet, which is vinyl coated poly
with fleece lining at withers and adjustable straps at a lower price.) Very nice sheet that kept cool even in hot
weather. Matching fly mask available. Sizing: 57/59, 66/68,70/72,74/76,77/79, 80/82, 83/85.
Continues on the next page
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Exselle Fly Bye Fly Sheet
Interpid International
www.intrepidintl.com
$129.49
Soft reflective poly mesh infused with repellent. Lasts 2 yrs. or 25 cool-water washes. Removable neck, two
buckle front closure, shoulder gusset and flank gusset. Belly cover. Stainless hardware. Adjustable nylon tail
cord with snaps. Long tail flap with elastic keeper. This sheet is well made with so many different adjustments
and features it stood out well above many of the others. It is designed for ease of use and excellent fly
protection. 66”-84”
Buzz Off Full Neck Fly Sheet
Bucas/Toklat Originals
www.toklat.com
$145
Fine reflective poly mesh. Attached neck and removable belly pad. Bucas Power Front padded closure. Sheet
made from one continuous piece of fabric. Excellent craftsmanship and design. Stayed in place well. Leg straps
included. Tested on large draft and would fit warmbloods as the fall is deep and the cut generous. Matching
fly mask available. Non-metal hardware. No lining in shoulders. 69”-86” Price drops to $100 without the neck
piece.
WeatherBeeta Supa-Fly Insect
Shield Detach-A-Neck Fly
Sheet
WeatherBeeta
www.weatherbeeta.com
$149.99,
solid;
$159.99,
plaid
Lightweight polyester mesh infused with the insect repellent Permethrin 0.52% that last through 25 washings.
Two-buckle front closure, full tail flap, nylon shoulders, mane protector, nylon lining inside tail flap, gussets
and detachable neck. Removable belly band with adjustable elastic surcingles. All the bells and whistles with
complete horse protection. Plastic front clip closures, but we didn’t have any breakage issues. 60”-84” (3-inch
increments)
Bucas Buzz Off Zebra Fullneck
Sheet
Bucas/Toklat Originals
www.toklat.com
$180
Fine reflective poly mesh, Zebra pattern to repel insects, sheet made from one seamless piece. Attached neck.
Elastic removable belly piece that fits close to horse. Power Front closure with padding. Leg straps inc. 69”-84”.
Matching fly mask. No lining in shoulders. Non-metal hardware.
Kensington Draft Protective
Fly Sheet
www.kensingtonproducts.
com
$199.99
1000x2000 denier Textilene. 78% air permeable. 73% UV protection. Very heavy duty fly sheet that also comes
in horse, pony and mini sizes. Padded withers, lined chest, detachable leg straps. Removable belly straps with
West Coast-style snap and D closure. Kensington has a strong reputation for making very durable sheets that
are a good choice for horses tough on their wardrobe. Matching fly mask available. Draft 90-96; Draft, $159.99
Horse Neck Cover $49.95
shoulder. However, they are less
likely to snag or rip during turnout
than the polyester sheets. Overall,
these sheets were cooler for the
horses.
Polyester mesh: These fabrics
are softer but heavier than the PVC
sheets, but we’ve found they tend to
snag and tear more easily. Overall,
these sheets appeared to be more
comfortable for the horses, but
we could be anthropomorphizing
things, thinking these sheets would
be more comfortable for us.
Of the 19 fly sheets in our trial,
you can’t make a bad choice. If budget is your primarly concern, you
can run down our chart, choose
one solely by price and get through
the summer. We weren’t unhappy
The D-Tech Ripstop Mesh Euro Fly Sheet earned Best Buy.
with any sheet in the trial. But,
after a brutally hot and humid 2013
summer, we do have our favorites
and top picks:
Under $100
Over the years, we’ve found consistent high quality at a good price
from Schneiders Saddlery, and
these sheets are no different, from
the draft-size specialty Big Fella
Mosquito Net Fly Sheet to their terrific D-Tech Ripstop Mesh Euro Fly
sheet. We appreciate the variety of
options Schneiders offers in fit, plus
we’ve found they offer exceptional
customer service with an up-front,
detailed warranty statement http://
www.sstack.com/Schneiders-Blanket-Warranty
D-Tech Ripstop Mesh Euro Fly
Sheet – A top performer for us,
as temps soared into the 90s. The
white reflective nylon weave fabric
kept the horses cool and held up
under tough turnout conditions.
It is a very economical choice at
$59.99. (Please note the neck opening is large in these. You may need
to order a size down.) This sheet
did not let us down and handily
outperformed many more expensive products.
Centaur’s Got Flies Body Shield
- This is a lovely sheet from English
Riding Supply that feels silky soft
to the touch. It provided extreme
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protection with an attached neck
and belly protector. The company
inserted a stretch panel at the base
of neck to allow the horse to graze
comfortably. There is nylon lining in the shoulders and over the
mane. This is a beautifully crafted
fly sheet that looks and feels wellmade. It tested perfectly both in
turnout and in the barn. At $89.95,
we think it is a steal.
a luxury fly sheet.
The various keepers and design additions made this
sheet easy to use. It
stayed in place and
offered complete
protection with a
generous removable neck cover. It
is constructed of
soft reflective poly
Over $100
mesh infused with
We had a three-way battle here.
repellant said to
These sheets featured tons of
last two years or 25
pluses, and one had the addition
cold-water washes.
of insect repellent into the fabric.
If you’re looking for
We were concerned about poscomplete protecThe WeatherBeeta SuplaFly has insecticide in it.
sible irritation from the repellent,
tion, this is a solid
though none of the test horses had
choice. Retailing
a reaction. It would be something to
for $115 to $130.
watch for when initially trying the
WeatherBeeta Supa-Fly - Another
Sheets without Repellent
product on your horse. (We would
mega-protection sheet including the
Professional’s Choice Fly Sheet
avoid use on horses known to have
repellent Permetherin. This sheet
– We love this fabric! It’s our favorallergic reactions to fly spray.) All of
is made of lightweight mosquito
ite fabric of all the ones in this trial.
these sheets are well-designed and
netting type mesh with tight weave.
It is extremely durable and still
solidly built, holding up extremely
Durable sheet with only a few
breathable/airy. Offers polyester
well to our band of equine testers.
minor snags during out trial. When
rip-stop nylon. Very tailored. We
combined with a fly mask, it offered
found it fit best on a QH-type build.
Sheets with Repellent
almost total protection. It has a
Ideal choice for warm climates.
Exselle Fly Bye Fly Sheet - All the
shoulder gusset and a fairly deep
Shires Maxi Flow Fly Sheet – This
bells and whistles you’d expect in
fall for bigger-bodied horses.
is a beautiful product. Everything
from the tailoring to the hardware
came out on top. It’s nice enough
to use as a scrim at shows with a
pretty, natural color and navy trim
with a tan stripe.
The polyester mesh fabric feels
silky yet breathable while offering
UV protection. The generous neck
cover is removable and has a nylon
lining to protect the mane.
We liked being able to remove
the neck cover, especially in hot
weather. The large belly protector
closes with two adjustable surcingles. Satin lining at the chest helps
prevent rubs. It is remarkably well
priced at $119.
Buzz Off Zebra Fly Sheet - One
of the more interesting products
we’ve ever seen. The reason Bucas
designed a sheet like this is because
the pattern of a zebra’s coat actually
repels flies, and we verified such a
research study does exist. And, we
were amazed to see the research’s
conclusion transferred to real life.
We noticed that there were fewer
flies bothering our test “horse in
Another airy sheet is the AirFlow from WeatherBeeta.
stripes,” although it is possible that
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it was the horse’s own chemistry.
That said, the test horse was a thinskinned Thoroughbred, a type usually considered a fly “delicacy.”
This sheet stands above the rest
in design and construction. Bucas
continues to use heavy duty Velcro
and stays ahead of the pack in their
commitment to high-end horse
wear. Same sheet without stripes is
called the Buzz Off Fly Sheet.
Bottom Line
This field trial was a wonderful
opportunity to see how the manufacturers are continuing to create
innovative products that keep the
comfort and protection of horses in
mind, while considering caretakers,
too, with easy-to-use choices.
We were especially impressed
with the budget products in this
trial, as manufacturers are picking
up on the need for a trend toward
more affordable horse products. We
saw our must-have features – detachable elastic leg straps, fleece
withers, surcingle elastic, and lined
shoulders – on all but a few sheets.
Among the standouts were the
Professional’s Choice fly sheet with
its unique, durable, lightweight
fabric. It is the sheet for the hottest
climates. And we have to mention
the Bucas Zebra sheet. That blackwhite stripe design makes a difference.
Overall, though, our favorites
came down to that elusive combination of fit, features and quality, with
Shires sheet providing all that and
more in their exceptional fly sheet.
Best Buy goes to the D-Tech
Ripstop Mesh Euro Fly Sheet. At
$59.99, it isn’t our least expensive
sheet in the trial, but it offers an
awful lot for the money.
We look forward to the spring
thaw and pulling these fly sheets
back out for a second year of testing.
Article by Contributing Writer Beth
Hyman.
Article from Horse Journal Online - www. horse-journal.com - Copyright ©2014