How To Choose the Best Fly Sheets for Horses

Fly sheets are lightweight mesh blankets that offer a barrier against bugs while allowing airflow to keep your horse cool.

Horse fly sheets are available in a variety of styles with different features, such as:

• Closed front
• Buckle front
• Tail cover
• Attached neck covering
• Surcingle belly band
• UV protection
• Waterproofing

Horse fly sheets come in a variety of colors and patterns—some of which do more than just look good. Designs, like zebra stripes and camouflage, may actually deter bugs. Research shows that zebras attract fewer flies than horses, likely due to their striped coats, making horse fly sheets with a zebra print a natural repellent.

Deciding when to use horse fly sheets depends on your horse, the environment he lives in, and your management practices. Consider these questions:

• Does my horse seem irritated by bugs?
• Does my horse have turnout and for how long?
• How bad is the insect population?
• What is the weather like at my barn?

While fly gear is one way to keep horses comfortable during peak insect season, good manure and property maintenance practices are equally essential to decreasing the bug population. Even barns with good sanitation can experience more significant insect populations because of their location.

Horse fly sheets provide a barrier against biting insects, but bugs can still bite a horse and have the potential to spread disease. Work with your veterinarian to decide which vaccines are right for your horse.

Any horse can wear a fly sheet, but not every horse may need one.

Here are some factors to consider when deciding if your horse needs a fly sheet:

• Hypersensitivity to bug bites such as bald patches, excessive rubbing, or itching
• Excessive leg stomping and excessive tail swishing
• Skin conditions like sweet itch
• Bald spots from itching related to insect bites
• Sun sensitivity like coat bleaching or sunburns on white and light-colored areas

A fly sheet may help keep your horse cleaner, but dust can filter through mesh material; and if your horse lies in mud, manure, or urine, it can soak through.

The biggest benefits of using horse fly sheets are reducing:

• Sweet itch
• Skin allergies
• Bumps, welts, rashes, and skin irritations
• Sun-related skin injuries

With so many fly sheets to choose from, how do you know which fly sheet is best for your horse?

Here’s a list of top-rated horse fly sheets to consider:

• TuffRider Comfy Mesh Horse Fly Sheet is a budget-friendly option that offers 50% UV protection and shoulder lining to prevent rubbing.
• Mio Horseware Ireland Mio Fly Sheet features an attached neck cover and longer tail flap for ear to tail coverage.
• Rambo Flybuster Vamoose No Fly Zone Horse Fly Sheet includes a lining on the shoulder and mane to prevent hair loss, provides 65% UV coverage, and is made with self-repairing fabric, increasing its durability for horses that are hard on blankets.
• Kensington Protective Products Protective Sheet offers lightweight protection against bugs and UV protection ranging from 50–74%. It’s padded wither, lined tail flap and chest area reduce rubbing.

Choosing a fly sheet for your horse depends on several factors, including your horse’s needs, the climate you live in, and level of insect activity.

When choosing a fly sheet consider:

• Durability: This is especially for horses who play during turnout
• Fit and size: Sheets with darts, pleats, or gussets allow for more movement
• Bug protection level: Mesh size varies; the finer, the greater the protection against tiny insects
• Airflow: Finer mesh reduces airflow and may cause excess sweating in hotter climates
• Nylon lining: A lining helps to reduce rubbing or chafing
• UV protection
• Insect repellent treatment: Repellents added to the fly sheet material can help to deter mosquitoes and potentially ticks (note: pyrethrin used in these treatments is toxic to cats)

Buying a well-fitted fly sheet is important to prevent rubs and slipping. A poorly fitted horse fly sheet also offers less protection.

Fly sheets fit similarly to other blanket styles. To determine the size horse fly sheet, follow standard blanket fitting advice, which includes:

• Measuring from the center of the chest to the middle of the tail. The inches tell you which size to buy.
• Measuring the distance between the withers and the poll if you’re buying a sheet with a neck cover.

Are fly sheets worth it for horses?

Yes. Fly sheets can offer protection against biting bugs and help reduce skin irritation, allergies, sunburns, and coat bleaching.

When should you put a fly sheet on a horse?

Outfit your horse in a fly sheet during turnout to add a layer of protection during peak insect activity. Some insect species are more active during the day and others at night.

Consider when your horse is outside and the bugs on your property to determine when to put a fly sheet on your horse.

Do horses get too hot in fly sheets?

Sometimes. Fly sheets are made of lightweight materials, making them a good option day or night for most of the warmer months. During times of high heat and humidity, a fly sheet may cause a horse to overheat.

Monitor local weather conditions, know your horse’s body condition score, and evaluate your horse’s living space for a natural breeze, shade, or fan to aid in cooling.

Is it OK to put a fly sheet on a wet horse?

Fly sheets are made of mesh and not waterproof, so if a horse wears a fly sheet in the rain, she will get wet. While it won’t necessarily hurt the horse, a fly sheet hinders the coat’s natural evaporation.

Can horse flies bite through fly sheets?

Yes. Horse flies have sharp mouth parts that can pierce a variety of fabrics and even bite riders wearing heavier materials like jeans.

This content was medically reviewed by Kaela Schraer, DVM.