Mesh keeps insects away from the horse’s skin while remaining breathable. Different brands and types of fly rug will have slightly different types of mesh, with some feeling very soft and thin, and others feeling more robust. Mesh allows good air flow and so is suitable to use on the horse even on very hot days as there is no more risk of over-heating than if they were un-rugged. In fact, a fly rug can help to keep the horse cool, as the light colours that fly rugs usually come in reflect heat. Some types of mesh can also provide protection from UV rays, helping to protect your horse’s skin from sunburn and prevent darker coats from fading in the sunlight. The tighter the structure of the mesh the smaller the insect that is stopped from making contact with the horse, so tighter mesh rugs offer more protection. 

Sweet itch rugs have been developed specially to keep midges away from sweet itch sufferers. Horses and ponies that suffer from sweet itch are allergic to midge bites. They become very itchy when a midge has bitten them, and this is why sweet itch horses are often seen to have hair loss and sore spots, commonly at the mane and tail and on the face. As mentioned above, a tighter mesh rug offers the most protection, and a sweet itch rug is very tightly woven. A sweet itch rug is additionally made from a thicker mesh than a mesh fly rug, and it is this special material that protects the horse from midges – although a fly rug will offer some protection, midges can still penetrate this finer mesh. If your horse suffers from sweet itch, it is therefore important to invest in a sweet itch rug rather than an ordinary fly rug, as the sweet itch rug is what will offer the most effective protection. Sweet itch rugs tend to come with a belly flap and generous tail cover to protect the very thin-skinned underneath of the belly and the dock – areas that are prone to bites and irritation.

A relatively recent innovation, waterproof fly rugs feature waterproof panels in addition to the mesh, to keep your horse dry as well as protected from flies. Waterproof fly rugs are especially useful for those days when the weather just can’t make its mind up, or days that are mild but showery. The waterproof panel usually runs along the top. Waterproof fly rugs are more breathable than a 0g turnout rug, but less breathable than a fly rug that does not feature waterproof panels. These rugs are ideal for days with mixed weather, but on very hot days like we have occasionally experienced in recent years, a mesh fly rug, sweet itch rug, or summer sheet may be best for maximum breathability.

These rugs are not to everyone’s taste aesthetically, but research has shown that flies are more likely to fly straight past black and white stripes – it may sound silly, but zebra print confuses flies and is much less appealing than a plain horse! Zebra fly rugs therefore offer double protection: they deter flies from approaching in the first place, as well as protecting the horse from them if they do. 

In addition to so many fly rugs, there are also various summer sheets available, suitable for use in the field and stable. A thin sheet offers protection from insects and UV rays in the field, with some also being water resistant. In the stable or for travelling, they keep dust and hay off the horse and can help to keep them clean. One that is light in colour will keep your horse cool, so although they are made of a thicker material than a mesh fly rug, the horse should not overheat while wearing a summer sheet any more than they would if they were un-rugged. These rugs would be best saved for warm or breezy days, and are less suitable for wear in wet weather, as they are not waterproof. Some sheets are shower-proof, but will not withstand any substantial amount of rain. A waterproof fly rug would be more effective at keeping your horse dry on wet but warm days.