There isn't a horse on planet earth who doesn't suffer from the flies in the summertime. Some horses suffer more than others and it's important to choose your fly protection according to your horse's individual needs. As well as using sprays, you can also use protective clothing to keep the flies at bay. Below we'll explore the benefits of using the best fly boots for horses to protect your horse.
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Cashel Crusader Leg Guards
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Kensington Natural Fly Boots
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Shoofly Horse Leggins
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What Are Fly Boots For Horses?
Fly boots for horses are worn to help protect their legs against fly and insect bites in the summer. They’re usually made of mesh material and are strapped with Velcro to the horses lower legs. The mesh allows air to circulate around the leg as well as preventing insects from landing and biting.
The Benefits of Using Fly Protection For Horses Legs
Horses have very sensitive legs and the flies like legs a lot, this makes for a very irritating experience for your horse. Some horse will stomp the ground repeatedly to get rid of the flies. This in itself can cause problems with hooves, shoes, tendons and ligaments. Using equine fly boots can prevent this irritation and in turn stop the repeated stomping.
Fly boots are a great alternative to using a horse fly spray if you don't like using chemicals, or in conjunction with a spray for extra defense.
Because of their breathability, a fly boot can also be used in replacement of a medical bandage to cover wounds. It's thought that the extra airflow can help wounds to heal faster.
Fly boots can also be used for turnout in long pasture because their coverage would protect the legs, as well as protect against the sun in some cases. Flies cause irritation, skin conditions and ultimately disease so keeping them off is an important part of horse care.
In addition to fly boots it's a good idea to set up some effective horse fly traps around the barn.
Sizing and Fit Guide For Fly Boots
For a fly boot to be fully effective, it mustn't slip down so you must choose the correct size fly boot. Some manufacturers use exact inches in their size guide, whereas others will sell according to the horse's type, like miniature, pony or full size for example. To get the best fit and therefore the best horse fly boots, it's a good idea to measure your horse's leg first so you have a good idea what size you're looking for. It's no good buying fly boots for ponies if you need large ones to go on a shire horse.
The boot should fit comfortably below the knee and shouldn't interfere with movement. The boot shouldn't make any contact with the floor as this will damage it and the horse can step on it and pull it off. It's important to remove the fly boots at the end of each day to give your horse a break and this also allows you time to check the horse's legs and the condition of the boots. It's important to check for holes and fraying, as holes will let flies in and fraying parts can irritate the horse. When you're introducing a new horse to protective wraps, it's important to start slowly. Let the horse become comfortable with one before putting on the others.
Choosing the Best Fly Boots For Horses
To get the most out of your fly boots then you must choose ones that your horse will like wearing, and ones that will meet your fly defense requirements. We've listed the most important things to consider, in the following categories, and by following these guidelines you'll be sure to make an informed decision before buying.
Sizing
If you don't choose the right size boot then it can cause more damage than it does good. A poorly fitting boot will rub at the skin and potentially cause open wounds which will then attract more flies. This increases the chances of infection for your horse. Also, if the boots are constantly slipping down the horse's leg then they won't be offering much defense at all. Fly boots come in a whole range of sizes including miniature for extra small legs made for small and miniature breeds.
Material
The next thing you need to consider is the material. If you live in a very hot climate with your horse then avoid choosing boots with thick materials or ones that have features like extra padding. These could cause your horse to sweat underneath which will attract flies and cause rubs and irritation on the leg. If your horse has a unique conformation feature you may want to choose a boot that is a bit more flexible in its design to accommodate it. More Velcro straps will make a boot more adaptable to size or close-fitting leggings.
Special Features
If you find that your horses' boots are continually sliding down then you should look for a pair of boots with special “stay up” features. These include special designs or stoppers to help keep the boot in place to cover the leg area.
Another special feature to look out for is the level of UV protection that the fly boots for horses have to offer. You may want to choose a highly protective one if you have a pale skinned horse for example.
If your horse is prone to skin rubbings then choose a design with extra comfort features like fleece linings and padding around the fetlocks. Extra padding can also create a filler to stop flies getting in. For the ultimate in fly defense then you can choose leg wraps that are created with insect proof material, like the Vamoose range from Rambo.
Color
The last thing you should consider is the colour of your leg guards. These days you can buy a whole outfit to protect against the flies and insects. Many brands offer matching boots, horse fly sheets and fly masks for horses.
Bright colors are easier to find if your horse loses a fly boot out in the field and patterns can potentially deter flies. It's thought that light colors reflect the sun whereas dark boots act as a shade. Some insects such as mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors so you may want to choose the color depending on what insects you are trying to deter.
Reviews of 5 of the Best Fly Boots For Horses on the Market
Here is our top choice of the best fly boots available on the market right now.
1. Shires Airflow Mesh Fly Boots for Horses
These lightweight fly socks from popular horse wear brand, Shires, have a special ergonomic design to ensure the best fit for your horse. The light-colored, airy, mesh fabric encourages optimal cooling while protecting your horse's legs from biting insects. The top of these boots has a fleece lining for extra comfort and you get a set of four in a pack.
When it comes to quality, not many horse wear brands can compete with Kensington. Their fly boots are constructed with a unique Textilene fabric that's durable, easy to clean and up to 73 per cent protective against UV rays. They come in a range of attractive designs and feature special “stay up” technology to keep the boots in place.
This pair of fly boots from Tough-1 is perfectly designed to fit around a horse's fetlocks with two different types of Velcro strap. The nylon mesh is highly breathable, lightweight and provides a good line of defense against flies and biting insects. To help them stay in position, these boots have a special neoprene stopper installed in each one.
These durable, UV protective leg guards from Cashel Crusader come in a range of attractive colors. They're created with a vinyl-coated polyester mesh that's perfect for letting the air in and for keeping the flies out. Comfort is a feature of these boots with nylon padding on the inside rim and protective padding on the fetlock.
These protective leggings for horses are produced from a durable, flexible plastic mesh which allows good airflow. They're close fitting but won't restrict blood flow and they feature special “stays” to keep them in place. They come in a set of four and are available in several different colors.
Top Choice
For levels of quality, protection, comfort and durability, the Kensington Fly Boots are the best fly leg wraps for horses. They're made in the USA and undergo vigorous testing to ensure a high-quality product. The Textilene fabric offers maximum breathability alongside maximum protection from the sun and biting insects.
Conclusion
If you use only the best fly boots for horses then they're a great alternative to using chemical sprays. They can also be a godsend for horses with fly bite allergies who need extra protection. Whatever you use, be it fly boots, horse fly wraps or leg guards, make sure that they are good quality to ensure the best levels of defense for your horse when it's out in the field or in the barn.
