When wanting to protect your horse from pests or even bad weather, sometimes the simplest solutions are also one of the most effective. You can use fly sheets or blankets to protect your horse from pests and bad weather conditions, easily and effectively. These sheets are often lightweight, breathable sheets that can be strapped to your horse in a way that is comfortable and allows it freedom of movement.
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Let’s look now at some of the best options for keeping your horse protected from flies:
What to Know before You Buy
When shopping around for such a sheet, you shouldn’t rush into buying any fly sheet product before considering the following factors:
- Lighter colors are better- Research indicates that flies are going to be more attracted to darker colors, according to ValleyVet.com. Keep that in mind as you pick out the best sheet for your horse.
- Know your horse’s activity level- Your horse may like to play rough, and you might want to get a tough, PVC-coated blanket to be able to stand up to that level of activity. If you don’t choose the appropriate blanket, then you may just be wasting your money.
- Pick the right size- If you have a very small horse or a very large one, then you may need to be extra careful about what sheet you use. Most of them are made for average-sized horses, and you want your choice to be suitable for your animal.
Top 10 Best Rated Fly Sheets for Horses
Amigo Mio Combo Flysheet
This is a soft and breathable sheet that your horse should be very comfortable with. It doesn’t provide any protection for the belly, and it doesn’t have a leg strap, but the tail strap it has works just as well at keeping the blanket on even during physical activity. Because the sheet is so soft, it may not be able to take much of a beating, so if your horse is rough on it, then it won’t last very long. You’ll want to pay attention to how much physical activity your horse gets before buying this particular fly sheet.
This sheet is ranked as one of the very best by PerformanceHorseBlankets.com. It is priced reasonably and does provide great protection, but if you want a sheet that’s ideal for rough activities, then you need to find something else.
Pros
- Very breathable
- Very comfortable
- Works well at keeping flies away
Cons
- Not extremely durable
Weatherbeeta Saxon Soft Mesh White Gussets Strandard Neck
You can use this comfy sheet to protect your horse from flies and UV radiation. This one comes with shoulder straps and a belly band to provide full torso protection for your horse. You can leave the belly open, if you like, though. Some people prefer to do that, since it often makes their horse feel more comfortable. This smartly-designed horse sheet is one of our top picks, so it is definitely worth checking out.
Pros
- Provides UV protection
- Comes with lots of strapping and coverage options
Cons
- Holds moisture (Since it’s made from polyester)
- May not last very long, due to inexpensive material
Kool Coat Airstream Detach-A-Neck UV Fly Sheet
This blanket keeps your horse safe from all sorts of problems. It preserves the horse’s coat from bleaching caused by being out in the sun too long. It also keeps flies away and comes with mesh panels that allow for greater breathability. This is a blanket that will stay on no matter what. It has straps that go around the belly, together with protection for the belly, which isn’t provided by all horse sheets.
The downside of this sheet is that it isn’t very durable. Whenever you have a blanket that is breathable like this one, it tends to be kind of flimsy, and you will probably need to replace it after a year or two, depending on how active your horse is.
Pros
- Very comfortable for your hose
- Lot of protection for the entire torso
- Allows your horse’s skin to breathe easily
Cons
- May not last very long
Shires Tempest Original Lite Turnout Rug
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Most people want a blanket that is comfortable for their horse and that protects it from UV radiation and flies, and that is exactly what this polyester sheet from Shires Tempest does. The light polyester fabric means that it won’t last for very long, but that’s the price you pay for something that is breathable and light for your horse. If your animal is not very active, though, then you can get a lot of use out of the sheet, but most people will need to replace it in about a year or so.
Pros
- Multiple straps for added security
- Breathable design
Cons
- May tear or wear quickly, if you have an active horse
Horze Nevada 1200D Waterproof Turnout Sheet
This horse sheet is a bit different from most others in that it comes with faux fur trim on some parts to make the sheet more comfortable and natural for your horse. It is designed to be very lightweight, so your horse hardly feels like it is wearing anything at all. Of course, that lightweight design means that this may not hold up to heavy activity, and if you have a very active horse, you may want to consider something more heavy duty for it.
You can use this sheet as protection against sunlight, rain, flies and more, safeguarding your horse’s coat and ensuring it is healthy and happy no matter what the conditions are.
Pros
- Very lightweight product
- Stays secure
Cons
- Not the cheapest product on the list
Derby Originals Light Weight Horse Rain Sheet 600D, Green, 78″
The horse sheet Derby Originals has designed comes with moisture wicking to keep your horse feeling comfortable and protected from excessive sweating. It’s also a lightweight, comfortable sheet that should feel great for your animal. The provided leg straps are adjustable, allowing you to fit your animal with the same sheet no matter what size horse you want to use it on. The sheet is designed without a back seam, which provides greater comfort and helps the sheet feel more natural for the horse.
If you do use this sheet in adverse weather conditions, though, then it might not hold up for very long. This is more of a fly and UV protection sheet rather than something you can use to keep your horse safe from bad weather. It’s fairly inexpensive, yet it does offer decent value for the price point. Just don’t expect it to be able to hold up to any severe weather.
Pros
- Light enough that your horse will hardly feel it
- Designed for comfort in many ways
Cons
- Cannot handle rough weather for long
Weatherbeeta Bugbeeta Detach Neck Fly Sheet
This particular horse sheet from Weatherbeeta is designed with a fine mesh material that keeps out flies but allows your horse’s skin to breathe easily. It covers the entire torso, but if you want to leave the belly exposed, then you can. It also comes with leg wraps, but you don’t have to use them. No matter what kind of covering you want to provide for your animal, this wrap has you covered, with lots of versatility options for you.
You will pay close to twice for this fly sheet what you would for others on this list, but it can be worth it to you to have that added protection and durability. It should last longer than most of the ones we have listed so far, and that makes it a good investment, even at that price point. You will have to weigh the cost against how long you want the sheet to last and how active your horse is.
Pros
- Full wrap with belly coverage
- Versatile design
- Web leg straps can be removed
Cons
- More expensive than most similar products
Final Thoughts
Factoring in price, safety, effectiveness and durability, the above list of horse fly sheets will keep your horse protected in comfort. It should be noted though, that not all products perform equally well on all horses. Some sheets may work well for one horse but may not be comfortable for another horse. Usually, choosing one of the above products will get the job done, but in case it doesn’t, try switching to another product. You are sure to find something that will suit your horse and have it covered!