I received an email from a reader who is feeling very badly because she noticed that her horse had slipped an ear out from underneath a fly mask. She didn't go out to readjust it that day, and when she did she found the mask had ripped apart and was binding tightly around the horse's ear. Thankfully, no permanent damage was done and a lesson was learned. 
Fly masks should be checked frequently. They should be taken off at night or during wet weather. Darkness and water droplets on the mesh can obscure your horse's vision when they wear a mask. Masks should also be rinsed frequently so they don't fill with grit or dust that could irritate your horse. And just like turn-out rugs and fly sheets, you should check daily for chaffing or rips in the fabric that could potentially entangle your horse.
Read More About Fly Protection for Your Horse
Check Your Horse's Fly Mask! originally appeared on About.com Horses on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 09:02:38.
