[mytega]

Is it okay to leave a fly mask on all the time? The only problems I’m coming up with are rubs or catching it on something, but I would guess that a fly mask would rip off if it got caught. It seems like much less of a risk than a halter or even a blanket with its metal hooks. I would always put the fly mask on before my horse was turned out, then take it off when he went back in his stall. But now I’m wondering if it is better for the horse and easier on me if it is just left on. Thanks for any thoughts.

[FatSpottedAppy]

I used to leave the fly masks on my horses 24/7 in the summer, which usually ended up in the flymasks ripping. I took them off when I started to notice rub marks, so now I only put them on in the morning and take them off every night. Other than that, there's never been a tragedy from leaving them on.

[Tymacs Girl]

I never leave fly masks on. The whole ripping factor is a deterent yes. But I don't want the horses getting rubbed by them either. I take Romi's fly mask off at night.

[AllAroundRdr]

I put mine on in the early morning with fly sheets (and fly spray) and remove them in the evening.

[kaitlyndzn]

we usually only keep them on while they are out in the field and take em off while they are stalled during the day

[sorrell]

It's good to have two or three if you are going to leave it on during turn-out. The masks can collect dirt in the webbing and that dirt can get into the eyes and rub the skin, plus if a horse has a gunky eye and rubs its face with the mask on, then that gunk accumulates and can press against the eye, causing irritation and or infection.
When we turned out with masks, we took them off and checked the horses after about 8-10 hours of wear. most masks will pull off on their own, but some can also get turned weird ways and still stay on. We'd hose one off and hang it up to dry while the horse wore a second one.
Things like warpaint can also be applied under eyes and on ears to give the horse a break, if the mask is used to keep bugs away.

[western-rider]

My horses are kept at my fiancee's house so at the moment, I only am able to go to them in the evening. I leave my masks on 24/7 in the summer. Mine have no rubbing and the only one that had ripped is the long nose mask. My horses don't mind either.

[WashingtonBay]

I've always wondered if they can see in them as well at night, so I take them off at dark, and I hose them and hang them up when I do. They're dry and clean when I go to put them back on in the morning.

[mytega]

Thanks for your experiences. I board my horse, and I'm not at the barn every day. Sometimes the fly mask is on my horse in the pasture, and sometimes it is forgotten. So I'm trying to think through if I should leave it on all of the time just so I know it won't be forgotten on certain days. I'll be able to check for rubs and wash it when I am at the barn.

[paintlver]

Mine wear theres all night and have no issues.....No rubs either