| Anyone who owns horses knows that fly are a | | | | can impede the horses movement. Owners should not |
| problem. Even barns and horse owners with the tidiest | | | | cross the leg straps of a turnout fly sheet. Leaving the |
| stables, that haul their manure away immediately and | | | | leg straps uncrossed will allow the horse to flap his |
| have nice dry sandy lots have to deal with fly issues. | | | | under his belly without ensnaring it in the straps. When |
| Many horse owners attempt to control their fly | | | | purchasing a fly sheet for turnout owners should look |
| population by using a variety of methods including fly | | | | for one made of a lightweight mesh material that is |
| sprays, fly strips, bug zappers, fly misters that mist the | | | | easy to clean. In the event of severe stains (manure |
| stabling area with fly sprays, and a variety of wraps | | | | and grass are the most common) blanket owners can |
| and collars that have been soaked in fly spray. | | | | try using a stiff, sudsy brush directly on the stain. this |
| Mustangs will search for mud holes that they use to | | | | works especially well if the blanket is laid on a |
| cover themselves in mud to discourage fly bites. In an | | | | concrete surface. A fly sheet made with polyvinyl will |
| effort to keep their horses bite free some owners try | | | | typically dry within thirty minutes of being washed. |
| to keep them blanketed from head to toe, but hot | | | | Machine washable is ideal. It is not a bad idea to |
| summer temperatures often force them to removed | | | | purchase two turnout fly sheets, that way if one gets |
| the blankets during the hottest hours of the afternoon. | | | | dirty or tears owners have another one available. |
| Several horse owners use fly sheets as a form of fly | | | | A well crafted turnout fly sheet will be designed to |
| control. | | | | tear if the horse gets it caught on something but should |
| The material used to make fly sheets is the same | | | | be designed in such a way that the damage will be |
| type of finely woven mesh material usedto make vinyl | | | | minimal. |
| lawn furniture. The same type that has been used | | | | Most horse owners prefer elastic leg straps on their |
| since the 1960's. Fly sheets are typically constructed | | | | turnout fly sheets over the nylons variety. |
| of polyvinyl that is resistant to UV rays and comes in a | | | | Scrim flysheets are designed to be used while the |
| wide variety of colors (including blaze orange for horse | | | | horse is in a stall, typically after a thorough grooming |
| owner that live in the middle of a hunting region.) The | | | | has removed all the naturally protective dirt and oils |
| polyvinyl is normally designed in a loose weave pattern. | | | | from the horses coat. Scrim fly sheets are designed to |
| Polyvinyl is damage caused by dirt and oils. | | | | loosely cover the horses body. because of the loose |
| Horse owners have two different types of fly sheets | | | | fit horses should never be turned loose while clothed in |
| to select from, a scrim sheet and a turnout fly sheet. | | | | a scrim fly sheet. Many owners also use scrim fly |
| Fly sheets that are designed for turnout purposes are | | | | sheets as an anti-sweat blanket. |
| typically made of a stiffer lightweight material then | | | | The mesh design of fly sheets will not prevent the |
| scrim fly sheets. When outfitting a horse with a turnout | | | | horse from becoming dirty and dusty like solid blankets. |
| fly sheet owners should make sure that the sheet fits | | | | A fly sheet should help wick moisture away from the |
| well enough that the breast straps, surcingles, and leg | | | | horses body which will keep them cool and |
| straps do not have to be tightened excessively which | | | | comfortable throughout the hot summer months. |