A fly rug or fly sheet is a lightweight fine mesh rug that offers protection to horses from biting flies and insects during the summer.
Fly rugs with a standard neck and those which do not include a belly cover offer minimal protection against fly bites, whereas fly rugs that include a neck cover, belly flap and tail flap offer the most protection as they cover a greater area of the horse. The finer the mesh of the fly rug, the better the protection the fly rug offers from flies and midges.
Fly rugs with a detachable neck cover fixed by clips to the fly rug enable the neck cover to be removed if required whilst fly rugs with an integrated neck cover stitched to the fly rug are permanently fixed. Fly rugs with an integrated neck cover are known as combo fly rugs.
The belly flap on a fly rug can be adjusted for a snug fit across the horse's belly and prevents flies getting to the horse's belly.
Research has discovered that flies find zebra stripes confusing and don't like to land on striped surfaces and so zebra print fly rugs are becoming increasingly popular.
Many fly rugs offer a degree of UV protection for the horse which protects the horse's coat from being bleached by the sun and helps to prevent senstitive or pink skinned horses from becoming sunburnt.
Some fly rugs are supplied with matching fly masks or fly bonnets to protect the horse's head from flies, although fly masks or fly bonnets can also be bought separately.
As well as offering protection from flies and the sun, fly rugs also help to keep the horse's coat free from dust and dirt.
