Posted 2014-02-08 7:42 PM (#157383) Subject: Fly mask during travel
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Everton, Arkansas
What are the benefits of using fly masks on a horse while trailering? How many people are using them during long haul trailering? Pros and cons? Making a trip from Arkansas to Colorado this summer and was wondering if I should mask my horses for the trip.
Posted 2014-02-08 11:15 PM (#157389 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If you travel with the drop downs open and have no screens, the fly masks are necessary to keep your horses eyes protected from bugs, bedding and any other foreign materials.
Posted 2014-02-12 9:45 PM (#157458 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
Ditto what Gard said. I always use them because I have a stock trailer and want to avoid any possible debris that might end up in my horses' eyes. Just make sure they're well fitted, and check them periodically. I try to avoid traveling at night, but I do wonder how my horses' vision is in the dark with a fly mask on, so I take them off when unloading.
Posted 2014-03-12 9:30 AM (#157988 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Regular
Posts: 96 Location: Grapeland, Texas
I traveled for years without one but after a very expensive vet bill on an eye problem, not related to traveling, I started using them. I have the drop down doors and no screens. I don't want to take a chance of something getting in their eyes. I think it is good cheap insurance.
Posted 2014-03-12 6:16 PM (#157998 - in reply to #157988) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: central IL
IMO, I would never travel without eye protection on the horses. I just ordered a new trailer and am ordering screens for the drop downs so I can have them fitted before the leaving the trailer dealership. If trailering with a stock trailer, I'd use fly masks. An ounce of prevention.......This forum is a great place to share information and opinions. I've learned a lot in the years I've been a member. :-)
Posted 2014-03-15 8:09 PM (#158065 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I have screens on my drop downs and have never used masks while traveling, or even considered using them. With the screens, the horses get ventilation, but we hardly see any swirling of the shavings. So I guess, I don't feel at risk.Question, I know if a horse has his head out the window, he is at risk of getting struck, but with the bars up and horse in their normal travel position ( which is probably a foot back from the window) how many bugs actually make it into the area where they could hit the horse? I know bugs strike the front of the trailer. But how many have the trajectory to actually make it through the drop window?In the 46 years that I've been driving. Much with my windows rolled down. The only bugs I've had hit me inside the vehicle came as a ricochet off the side mirrors. Where the splatter was deflected into the vehicle. And that has only happened a couple times in a life time of driving. The horse trailer does not have a mirror positioned in front of the horse. So what is the risk?I've ridden in the trailer with the horses, Just to see how much debris might actually swirl up from the shavings on the floor or hay from the mangers. I'm just not seeing enough to worry about.Each of you will have to evaluate your own trailers to see what blows around inside the trailer. But it just hasn't been a big risk for me
Posted 2014-03-28 6:41 PM (#158298 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I have also hauled many a mile with the windows down/bars up and no masks. Like PH said, I never see much flying around unless my horse is throwing his hay out of the window! LOL Sometimes he paws when we are about home and you can see dust flying around but it's just dust and, by then, we are not driving fast. I drop the windows for maximum air flow. Screens limit the air flow. I'm sure it's still possible for them to have something get in their eyes. I have started using a nibble net for the hay and this eliminates that blowing around and being thrown out of the window. I have never found a bug in the manger...It's not a bad thing to use masks though. I also hauled in a stock trailer all over and the horses never had an issue with that trailer either. I never found anything from the outside on the inside. FWIW
Posted 2014-03-28 8:41 PM (#158300 - in reply to #158298) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: central IL
Just yesterday a friend and I went to look at a stock trailer I was interested in purchasing for making short hauls with. My friend owned a stock trailer for around 8 years and has hauled many, many miles with it. Her hubby installed a camera in it a couple of years ago, and just yesterday she was telling me how much debris she has seen flying around in the trailer. Hers didn't have mangers, and she quit hanging hay bags after a horse got hung up in one. Just like other topics such as whether to tie a horse or not to tie, opinions will vary. Personally, I wouldn't be without eye protection. Maybe it's also because I had a horse in the university vet hospital for over a week with an eye injury even though it wasn't the result of a trailer incident. A whole 'nother story.....
Posted 2020-10-05 8:32 AM (#173297 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Crafton, PA
Open-sided trailers greatly increase the risk of injury from debris by allowing more debris inside the trailer. Using a fly mask on the horse can potentially decrease incidents of eye injury during trailering.
Posted 2020-10-14 4:06 PM (#173304 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
It seems more about comfort than anything else. Unless your area is particularly buggy or there's lots of loose debris that could irritate him, it shouldn't be completely necessary. Still, it's never a bad idea to use one.
Posted 2020-10-15 7:35 AM (#173306 - in reply to #172931) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: central IL
I don't recall the exact brands I've used over the years. Currently I like the Cashel with ears while stalled. I added screens to both of my trailers' windows so seldom use masks during travel.
Posted 2020-10-20 7:47 PM (#173324 - in reply to #157383) Subject: RE: Fly mask during travel
Opti-Force and DuraMask make pretty cheap and effective fly masks. You can also buy a premium option but expect to spend quite a bit more. CowgirlU has a pretty good writeup on them that explains the pros and cons of each.
Fly mask during travel
