Fly Leg Wraps For Horses

Horses

Our beloved horses need protection during the warmer months as the presence of flies can not only lead to disruption and irritation, but also disease. Without the correct clothing, flies will land on our horses and spread disease and bacteria. Not only is this annoying to the horse, but it can also be deadly in some cases. We think it’s important to get ahead of the problem, so your horse can enjoy some peace and quiet in the summer sun. 

We won’t beat around the bush, flies around the barn are pretty unavoidable, even with sufficient protection in place. During the day, while your horse is turned out, he/she is likely to suffer from the presence of flies, which will no doubt irritate and annoy them all day long. Yes, fly sprays and fly masks are standard and will somewhat help the problem, but the less frequently used fly boots and fly leg wraps can really complete your horse’s defences during the tougher summer months. 

In our opinion, wearing fly boots and leg wraps should become as routine as a fly mask or any other piece of protective clothing for that matter. 

Best fly boots for horses – review 

As we mentioned before, flies love to swarm around horses’ legs, which leads to stomping from the horse as they try to knock the flies away. Although you can’t blame them for defending themselves, this stomping adds additional wear and tear on their legs and tendons. The addition of fly boots and leg wraps helps to keep the flies from touching the horses’ legs directly. This will eventually cause the horse to stop the stomping.

The addition of fly boots and leg wraps will also help to protect and guard open wounds. For some annoying reason, flies are drawn to open cuts and wounds, which can lead to the deposit of bacteria and also infection. Therefore, these products are a great way to protect lower leg injuries, that have caused open wounds or cuts. Not only do they help to stop flies from accessing the wound, but it stops additional dirt and dust entering the wound, which could further infect the area. This helps to speed up the overall healing process. 

Last but not least, sun protection. Fly boots and leg wraps help to provide UV protection from the sun’s rays. Just like us humans, horses can burn too! These products help to prevent sun burns on light horses and fading on darker horses. UV protective fly boots typically reflect the sun’s rays, which not only stops burning, but also helps to keep your horse cool too. 

Let’s cover the different types of things you should look out for when shopping for fly boots or leg wraps. 

Types of fly leg wraps for horses

During the warmer summer months, horse's legs can suffer from fly and midge bites, causing swelling, irritation and medical complications. However, fly boots and leg wraps made from breathable mesh allow air to flow and circulate around the horse's leg. This keeps them cool on the warmest of days. They can also be used on both the front and hind legs too. Therefore, our first suggestion is to keep an eye out for mesh when choosing your protective products.

It’s also important to consider the size and fit. As expected, most products come in a number of sizes. Therefore, measure your horse’s leg length and compare the different sizes with the manufacturer of your choice. From past experience, different manufacturers size scale can range quite significantly, so be careful before you purchase. The correct size will ensure your horse is comfortable, but also that the product remains in place to provide sufficient protection. 

In terms of placement for fly boots, your chosen boot should sit below the knee. This means it doesn’t interfere with the knee’s movement. The bottom of the boot should be off of the ground, this stops the horse from interfering with it whilst it’s in place. 

Another consideration to make with fly boots and leg wraps is padding. A soft, thick layer of fleece on the tops and inside of the closure in the boots will help to provide additional protection and comfort. The fleece lining will also help to deter flies by filling in any surrounding gaps. 

Cushioning is also a nice consideration to make when purchasing leg wraps or boots. If you find boots with a quilted insert, then these are likely to be more comfortable for the horse. However, there is a bit of a catch. The more fleece lining and cushioning there is inside the boot, the hotter they will be for the horse. 

Fly masks

We could speak about fly boots and leg wraps all day long. However, as we mentioned at the beginning of the blog, fly masks are another great way to keep flies away from a horse’s head and eyes. You can also find certain fly masks that will protect the ears too. In terms of protection, fly masks are likely to protect your horse from flies, midges, gnats and other flying bugs. They will also stop the build-up of dust, sun and airborne particles. Don’t worry about visibility issues either, fly masks normally arrive with a semi-transparent mesh material which means your horse can still see clearly throughout the day. 

Fly masks are critical to stop disease around the eye area of the horse. This is very common as the surrounding fly population build up in the eye cavity, leading to the horse’s eyes becoming very irritated. This leads to liquid running from the horse’s eye, which the fly then drinks. This can quickly lead to temporary blindness, as well as various other diseases. 

The Ranch Fly Trap 

Besides protecting the horse, why not add some additional defences to your farm or ranch to really battle against the problem? The addition of fly traps will help to remove a significant portion of the fly population, meaning the chance of disease and infection to your horse is minimized. 

We’re not saying don’t protect your horse via clothing. But if you could stop flies from ever reaching your horse, then it’s a win-win for everyone. Our traps are designed to attract and kill the fly population, creating safety for the horse and peace of mind for the owner. 

Explore our product range via our website.