Fly mask

Fly mask

A fly mask or fly cap is a mask used on horses to cover the eyes, jaw, and sometimes the ears and muzzle to protect from flies. The mask is semi-transparent and made from a mesh allowing the horse to see and hear while wearing it. The mask may also provide some protection from UV-light. Fly and mosquito protection is an important part of overall horse care, as biting insects are both a source of irritation and also may transmit disease.

Most masks are made of black or white mesh, though some are colored, plaid or have silkscreened designs on them that do not interfere with vision. Fly masks are adjusted to cover the upper head and stop about halfway down the face, but the placement of stitched darts prevents the mask from rubbing on the eyes. Most have fleece padding around the muzzle and other sensitive areas. Masks come both with and without covers for the ears. Some designs have an extended flap that covers the muzzle but does not go around the lower jaw or interfere with grazing. Most attach with velcro, but a few high-end designs made with mesh and stretch lycra need to incorporate zippers instead.

A standard fly mask is not generally used while riding, as the stiff mesh interferes with the bridle and the minimal visual impairment of the mesh presents a safety issue. Other styles of insect protection gear are designed for use with a bridle. One design is a crochet-like "bonnet" for the ears only, designed to be worn under a bridle without rubbing. The other is a soft, very fine mesh face and nose-covering mask designed to be worn with a bridle and not impair vision, but not sturdy enough to withstand turnout.

It is generally recommended that the mask be removed and inspected daily and washed frequently. Some individuals remove the mask at night.

The appearance of fly masks often raises concerns among non-horse owners, as it appears that the horse has been blindfolded. However even a durable mesh is fine enough for the horse to see through. Some masks have sunglasses or cartoon eyeballs silkscreened on them to help passers-by understand their purpose.

ee also

*Horse care
*Sallong
*Goggles
*Blinders


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fly system — Fly loft of the Theater Bielefeld in Germany A fly system, flying system or theatrical rigging system, is a system of lines (e.g. ropes), blocks (pulleys), counterweights and related devices within a theatre that enable a stage crew to quickly,… …   Wikipedia

  • Mask — (m[.a]sk), n. [F. masque, LL. masca, mascha, mascus; cf. Sp. & Pg. m[ a]scara, It. maschera; all fr. Ar. maskharat buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous or mirthful, fr. sakhira to ridicule, to laugh at. Cf. {Masque}, {Masquerade}.] 1. A …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mask house — Mask Mask (m[.a]sk), n. [F. masque, LL. masca, mascha, mascus; cf. Sp. & Pg. m[ a]scara, It. maschera; all fr. Ar. maskharat buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous or mirthful, fr. sakhira to ridicule, to laugh at. Cf. {Masque},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fly (Impact Comics) — Superherobox| caption=The Fly, art by Mike Parobeck comic color=background:#ff8080 character name=The Fly real name=Jason Troy publisher=DC Comics debut= The Fly # 1, August 1991 creators=Mike Parobeck Len Strazewski alliance… …   Wikipedia

  • Mask (DC Comics) — The Mask The Mask battles Wonder Woman Publication information Publisher DC Comics …   Wikipedia

  • Fly (clothing) — Closed fly on a pair of jeans A fly on clothing is a covering over an opening join concealing the mechanism, such as a zip, velcro or buttons, used to join the opening. The term is most frequently applied to a short opening over the groin in… …   Wikipedia

  • Death mask — Mask Mask (m[.a]sk), n. [F. masque, LL. masca, mascha, mascus; cf. Sp. & Pg. m[ a]scara, It. maschera; all fr. Ar. maskharat buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous or mirthful, fr. sakhira to ridicule, to laugh at. Cf. {Masque},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • X-Fly — This article is about the original Mosco de la Merced. For the most recent performer under the ring name, see Mosco de la Merced. X Fly Ring name(s) Johnny[1] Juan el Mosco[1] Kumbia Kid Johnny[1 …   Wikipedia

  • Tuxedo Mask — Sailor Moon character Tuxedo Mask/Tuxedo Kamen, as depicted in the manga. First appearance (See below) …   Wikipedia

  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask — North American box art Developer(s) Nintendo EAD …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”