Flies are dangerous to your horse’s health. They may seem like an easy pest to swat away. However, places with heavy fly populations can lead to over-agitation in horses. This agitation can manifest as several uncomfortable or even dangerous conditions, including leg problems and lameness.
Beyond agitations, flies, even as small as they are, can prey on the gentle nature of horses. Botflies, for instance, will lay eggs in a horse’s hair, against their skin, and even in their eyes. These eggs and larvae can be difficult to remove and if missed can cause damage to your horse’s health.
With heavy fly populations, protective gear like leg guards is vital to your horse’s health. In areas with lower fly populations, however, this gear may be optional but it can greatly increase a horse’s comfort level.
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4 Ways Flies and Other Insects Can Injure a Horse or Pony
Fly boots keep flies from reaching a horse’s legs or may make then undesirable locations to bite or lay eggs altogether. Without them, however, a number of conditions may crop up. These conditions may also be signs of a heavy fly population.
Stress Fractures
With too much irritation from flies or other insects, horses can become fed-up and over agitated. This may lead to more kicking, stomping, are scraping than normal and with more force. This can lead to stress fractures in the legs of any horse. Horses under two years and older horses are at the most risk.
Cracked Hooves and Bruised Feet
In addition to potential fractures, you may be faced with the risk of cracked hooves or bruised feet. This is far more common than a stress fracture, though it may contribute to additional stress on one or more legs or cause your horse to develop a temporary limp or, if there is repetitive stress, permanent lameness. Fly leg wraps or fly boots can help decrease the irritating sensation or insects on the legs or your horse. This can instantly decrease kicking, stomping, and irritated behavior.
Bites and Infections
A single insect bite can cause inflammation, infection, or transfer disease. Though these are the worst-case scenarios, the more bites there are, the more likely these scenarios are to come true.
Bot Infestation
A bot fly infestation is one of the scariest, common experiences among horse owners. They can happen suddenly and be difficult to cure. Fly guards are a simple and relatively inexpensive way to help convince female bot flies that your horse isn’t worth scouting out or attempting to infest with eggs.
What Should You Look for In a Horse Fly Boot?
Given all of their advantages, it’s easy to look at all fly boots and fly wrap products as equal. However, for the comfort of your horse as well as your convenience, it’s worth taking a moment to find the absolute best product for both of you.
Below are 8 criteria worth using to evaluate any fly boot product. However, fit and breathability should be the most important things to consider. Ill-fitting equipment will do more harm than good or will allow flies to bypass the layer of protection you have provided.
- Sturdiness – Fly boots need to hold up to the outdoors, the elements, and to your horse’s daily routine. Consider the environment and activity level of your horse before committing to any fly boot purchase.
- Airflow – Horses have a lot of circulation in their legs. If things get too hot behind a wrap or guard, especially in humid or wet weather, you can get more problems than the fly wrap might save you. Always find a fly boot that offers airflow of some kind, preferably with breathable fabrics rather than large windows that a bot fly could slip through.
- Adjustability – Not all horses are the same. You want to make sure there is a good amount of adjustability so that the fly boot you choose can be form-fitted to the shape of your horse’s leg.
- Lightweight – Horses may be large and powerful creatures, but no animal wants to wear weights on their legs, especially when they are encouraged to run and jump.
- Ease of Use – Fly wraps are often re-applied several times a week and more often in wet, hot, or humid weather. A fly guard that can easily be washed or that has simple straps will save you time and may cause less stress for your horse.
- Security – In addition to fly protection, horse boots can provide extra protection during a ride or walk through rough terrain, brambles, or over jumps. Horse’s legs don’t have a lot of natural padding and can be somewhat fragile and prone to injury. Boots are like armor for your horse’s legs.
- Material – Again, what the boot is made out of matters a great deal. If your horse is allowed to be in an area with brambles, burrs, or other debris, you want a boot that these things aren’t likely to stick to or get caught on. This makes stiff boots worth trying as long as they adjust to conform to your horse’s legs.
- Padding and Comfort – The best fly boots and fly guards are made to be worn all day with no chafing, overheating, or other agitation. There should be at least a thin layer of protected padding between the outer shell and the horse’s leg.
Which Fly Guards Are Best for Your Horse?
Using the above criteria, it should be easy to rule out options that are unsuitable for the majority of horses. However, finding just the right guard’s for your horse’s legs can be time-consuming.
As a model, consider the Adjustable Fly Leg Guard Boots. These boots fit all of the above criteria and a little bit more, giving you an ideal model to go on. Or, if they seem like a good fit for your horse, you could pick up these fly boots. Either way, with the knowledge you have now, you’re sure to make a sound choice.
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