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Discussion on Fly Sheets: Cooler Or Hotter?
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Monday, Jun 16, 2003 - 7:50 pm:
I was wondering if there are any studies on this. The people at my barn are calling me cruel for putting a fly sheet on my horse. Is this true? I do know it was not on her for a few days, and she now has welts from bites all over. Any scientific studies, Dr. O?
Alicia
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Member:
Presario
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Posted on Monday, Jun 16, 2003 - 9:27 pm:
The summer I used the Rambo Flybuster (white) on Rio (black) I would find him in the hottest parts of the day without sweat streaks on him, while the other, unsheeted horses, all were streaked with sweat. The next summer (last summer) I used the Rider's fly sheet, and while I didn't use it all summer, I found the same thing to be true.
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Member:
Presario
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Posted on Monday, Jun 16, 2003 - 9:29 pm:
hmmm, well, seems I already posted to this thread earlier, oops! 
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 2:59 am:
There are so many variables Alicia that it will differ from horse to horse and place to place. For instance Jordana's black horse probably absorbs much more heat than a white sheet would. The question you need to answer is did you see any evidence that this created more heat stress (sweating, rapid respiration, depression, high temperature on rectal thermometer) in your horse? Consider this: are you cooler with a hat on or off and under what conditions.
DrO
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 10:20 am:
Dr O.,
No, I have not seen them be uncomfortable, but I am not there during the hottest part of the day. I have never seen any horse I have used a sheet on be more uncomfortable than one without, though. Also, we turn out at night, and they are in with fans during the day, so the shading influence of the sheet doesn't really count in our instance. My horse is gray. I figure these things are designed to be worn in the summer, when flies are out, so how can they be cruel? Also, from the literature (admittedly written by the companies that make them), they are supposed to wick sweat off the horse. I have seen this to be true. I just wanted something to show the people who are accusing me of cruelty.
Alicia
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 11:44 am:
Jordana, Where do you live? I live in Tucson, Az and my horse, who is allergic to gnats, wears a Bucas fly sheet most nights, until it gets very, very humid. She is boarded, so instead of using one during the day, (I can't ask the caretaker to deal with two fly sheets) she uses the Bucas at night. I'm always wondering about the heat situation also, yet had a dealer, who has horses, swear she keeps her horses in the Kengstons(sp) all the time and they never sweat!! Hard to believe.
Shirl
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 1:24 pm:
Shirl,
Did you mean to be talking to me? I live in DC.
Alicia
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 1:32 pm:
Alicia, Well, obviously I've had a large "Senior Moment". I was actually addressing Suzanne due to her mentioning 100 degrees! Sorry. The entire fly sheet 'thing' can really be frustrating.
Sorry for the confusion. Shirl
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 1:54 pm:
That's OK. So, no advice on what to tell my detractors?
Alicia
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 2:06 pm:
Alicia
Well I could tell you what to tell your 'detractors' but probably not the thing to do!! Do what you feel makes your horses most comfortable. Someone is always looking for trouble. My son had the experience here in AZ upon getting to work one day, a fellow employee was totally upset at having passed a pasture containing several horses that "were being blinded by their owners"!!! He was ready to call the 'feds' when my son explained they were merely fly masks to keep flies away from the horses'eyes!
Chuckle over that one. Keep your chin up and do what YOU think is best. Shirl
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 2:09 pm:
Shirl,
Thanks, you made me feel better. I just hope the barn owner doesn't try to not allow me to do it. She was one of the ones who complained about it.
Thanks again
Alicia
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 2:21 pm:
Alicia, If your horse has welts and is obviously uncomfortable from the bites, perhaps your vet could intervene for you if things get 'nasty'. Best of luck and keep me posted. Shirl
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 2:32 pm:
Thanks, I will keep that in mind, and I will let everyone know if there are any updates. I plan on ignoring stuff and letting it ride for now.
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Member:
Presario
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 8:32 pm:
Shirley, I live in NC, where summers are beastly - the heat isn't too too bad (mid-90's is about the worst we get, though occasionally we'll get upper 90's/low 100's) but the humidity is a killer 
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Member:
Suzym
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 - 11:24 pm:
Hi Shirley ~ I live in northern Indiana. I posted that original question last summer when we were really getting blasted with heat plus humidity.  Actual air temperature was in the 80's, but the humidity was probably in the 90's! Like Jordanna said, it's the humidity that's the killer.
This year, the humidity is not nearly as bad, so I'm having no problems with using the sheets. I also use masks, and yes, I have been asked why I blindfold my horses! 
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Member:
Goodie
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 - 11:45 pm:
I can't beleive that I have to retype all this! this time, we're going severly condensed!
I just moved my horses from WA to MN in April. The difference in the climates has caused my to clothe both my babies in Big D fly sheets and Cashel Crusader Pature Fly Masks. They are MUCH happier with them on and they don't sweat too much unless the dewpoint in above 70. Heat at 90 and dewpoint at 70+ tends to make anyone sweat, with or without cloths... Do what you feel is best for your horses and remind people that they are your responsibility, not theirs (unless otherwise stated in a contract).
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New Member:
Joyback
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 - 6:39 pm:
information on chigger bites needed.
New subscriber and I will soon have care of my horse as i have moved him from a stable where there were very knowledgeable caregivers, Joyce
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Friday, Aug 29, 2003 - 1:11 am:
EEEEEyewww!!!! Itch, itch, itch....What kind of information, Joyce? The best advice it to steer clear of infested areas during chigger season. They hang out mainly on low scrub near the edge of wooded areas - but if you know they're around, stay away from long grass also. Spray like crazy if you're going to be anywhere they might be - I've had great luck with Flysect 7 and Deep Woods Off. Horses usually pick them up when they step off the trail and brush up against some low vegetation where the things lie in wait for the first "host" to come along. Prevention is the best course - spray, spray, spray...BEFORE. If you've already got'em, ( on your horse ), keep the bites clean, as they can ooz serum and attract dirt and flies. I tend to clean the areas twice a day and apply Swat. If the horse is sensitive to the bites, showing edema or hives, and is miserably itchy, you might need the vet. Sometimes, I've used some Benedryl lotion on the worst areas. It seems to give some short lived relief.
Now, if YOU get them, sneak off by yourself and SCRATCH the living daylights out of them!!! When you hide to do you're scratching, nobody annoys you with admonishments about "don't scratch", and "scar yourself for life", comments. Besides, there is something so satisfyingly primal about raking those itchy legs and ankles raw....
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Aug 29, 2003 - 6:18 am:
See » Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Lice and Mites of Horses.
DrO
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Friday, Aug 29, 2003 - 7:48 am:
I lived in Texas for a short while and was told that you can put fingernail polish over the site where the chigger has burrowed in your skin and it will kill them. ? I was afraid to death of chigger bites (here in the northeast-bugs bite you and leave you!)I never had to try this but maybe someone else can tell you if this is just a wives tale or if it really works. Kim
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Member:
Suzym
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 30, 2003 - 12:22 am:
I grew up in Dallas, TX, so I'm NO stranger to chigger bites!  They used to eat us up when I was a kid, but I don't remember them being around so much when I was an adult, and I can't recall my horses ever being bothered by them.
We used to dust ourselves with sulfur when I was a kid - does that date me or WHAT? - and I remember the story about the nail polish. I think it worked, but I can't remember for sure. It was a LONG time ago! 
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006 - 11:10 am:
Numerous mosquitoes are suddenly arriving here so I put fly sheets on my horses last night. I will be monitoring them to see whether they are cooler or hotter with the sheets, so appreciated being able to read the prior posts. Since my area is hilly with really bad lightning, I am additionally worrying about the metal fasteners on the fly sheets attracting lightning strikes. I guess this is not much different than if they were in shoes, but no one is. Am I being silly to consider this in my decision about leaving the fly sheets on the horses? There is metal on both ends of all 3 straps that go under the bellies plus metal near both shoulders where the neck cover attaches to the main sheet. Also, has anyone had problems with rubbing from the sheets if left on 24 hours a day? I could just put them on every night because that is when the mosquitoes bite the worst, but the flies bite during the day. This time of year it is hard to keep fly spray on due to the rains. Where I live is in the "lightning capitol" of the world.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 - 6:16 am:
I don't think the metal buckles you describe will substantially increases the risk of lightening Vicki as it does not decrease the resistance of the horse to the conduction of electricity.
DrO
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 - 4:15 pm:
Thanks, Dr. O. I was hoping there would be no horror stories about such things causing a strike to a horse. There is an amazing amount of lightning activity on my farm, but so far only things that can be replaced have been damaged! Unfortunately, the fly sheets I purchased are quite heavy, and they seemed to be causing heat stress to all of my boys in the late afternoon, so I will have to put them on every evening after it gets cooler, but before the mosquitoes come out.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 - 5:07 pm:
Metal buckles will not increase the risk of lightning strike, Vicki. Not even by a small insignificant amount.
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Member:
Mariss
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 - 9:48 pm:
I don't believe that sheets protect from mosquitoes. I know I've been bit right through my clothing and socks. We always spray mosquito repellant over our clothes when out at night.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 - 10:12 pm:
Do y'all think they keep a dark horse cooler? Or is it like wearing clothes when you'd rather be "nakie"? My black horse seems to suffer so much more than the others.
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Member:
Corinne
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 29, 2006 - 1:37 am:
Alicia,
Demetrius has been moved from Minot ND to Ponca City OK where it is extremely hot compared to where we are coming from....roughly 90's with high humidity. (He will go out at night once he is weaned fully onto grass after another week or two) The few hours he is out in his Rambo Flysheet Protector he comes back in dry (he is grey) but so do the dark colored horses. Inside the barn they have those automatic fly sprayers from the ceiling so he is "naked" in his stall but when turned out in his sheet he seems more comfortable, even if he is a little warmer, than he ever did stomping and swatting flys and bugs which really stressed him out. Maybe you can use that angle that there will be less stress from stomping and swatting, and added UV protection. You would think all that swatting and stomping would raise their temps a few degrees from activity anyway? And no flyspray I have ever used has kept the flys entirely off.
I like the idea of having the vet advocate for you, although it is your choice to do what you think is right for your horse, it might get the those folks to back off a little in regards to your situation.
Good Luck!
Corinne
P.S. Don't let them get you down. You know you are doing the best for your horse in your situation.
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 5, 2006 - 10:21 pm:
Thanks Cristos, Dr. O, and all others for your input. Ironically, I've been off line for a week or more due to a lightning strike! Bad for the electronics, but horses are okay. The sheets I bought do keep the mosquitoes from biting since the mesh is very small, but it is so hot here now that since they are good, effective sheets they do also trap heat. Perhaps if I put them on after dark and took them off when it is still dark there would not be a problem with the heat. I do find my fly spray (Flysect Super-C plus some Endure) keeps mosquitoes from biting to a great degree -- especially as the layers build up. I hate to put too many chemicals on them but feel the diseases they are exposed to pose a great hazard. The horses are due for their semi-annual immunizations in two days, and in a couple of weeks as their immunity grows stronger, I will worry less unless the biters get greatly worse. An option would be to put up screens and keep them in at night, but I prefer to let horses be horses!
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New Member:
shr0n
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 25, 2016 - 11:11 am:
Have any of you used the Kool coat and do you think it really works? It will be 105 where I live today and my horse has fly allergy. I can't decide if the itch or the Kool coat is best. It does not appear to have any plastic.
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