Fly Sheets As Sunscreen
Many flysheets tout the sun protection qualities of their products, but we have to question their actual protection benefits.
In 2001 new standards for the UV protection qualities of human clothing were created by the American Society for Testing and Materials. In sunscreens and lotions the standard used is SPF, or Sun Protective Factor. For fabrics, the standard is UPF or Ultraviolet Protection Factor. However, one difference in the standards is that SPF ratings only take into consideration UVB radiation, while UPF ratings measure the amount of UVA and UVB rays blocked.
UPF standards do not even begin until a minimum of 96.0% of the sun's UV rays are blocked. Most fly sheets offer from 50 to 75% UV ray protection. Therefore, they won't meet even the minimal standards of UV protection using the UPF scale.
This doesn't mean there won't be some cosmetic benefits, such as preventing severe coat bleaching, although this benefit can be achieved by either turning your horse out at night or using any sheet or rug during daylight hours and, of course, being sure your horse's nutritional needs are fully met.
To receive The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, sun-protective fabrics must have a minimum UPF of 30, equivalent to 97% UV blockage. They consider a UPF rating of 30-49 to offer very good protection, and 50+ (equivalent to 98% UV blockage) excellent protection.
We asked all the manufacturers what, if any, UPF rating their product had received, and none was able to give that information. It's important to know that while sheets can provide a physical barrier to sunbeams, at this point none of them can provide any true UV protection.
Add-Ons
Belly bands and neck covers are generally preferred. The more surface area covered, the more protection your horse receives-although for both items, it's important to achieve a close-to-the-body fit, with few significant gaps between the horse, the rest of the sheet, and the neck cover or belly guards. Any open space is an invitation to a fly.
However, it should be noted that the more accoutrements-and accompanying straps-the more time and trouble it could be to dress up your horse. This may not be an issue for a single horse owner at home, but for the multiple horse owner, or the boarding-stable worker, that's a lot of buckles, snaps and fitting.
If we were to design the perfect fly sheet we would choose one with an attached neck cover and built-in belly band, like the Dover Combo. It would have easy-fitting metal buckles or snaps and a minimum of straps needed to keep it in place. Tough Velcro strapping on the neck cover and belly band would be great, rather than one more set of buckles to play with.
While we like leg straps-especially the detachable kind-we also don't mind an effective tail cord such as is found on the Amigo Bug Buster sheet. If the rest of the sheet is designed correctly to compensate for it, a no-leg-strap design can be a real time saver.
Our Trial
When it came time to do this trial of fly sheets, we decided to put the products to a test of extremes. The fly sheets in this trial were used on a variety of horses ranging in size from 15 to 18 hands. The included pony crosses to off-the-track Thoroughbreds to warmbloods and draft crosses. The horses lived outside, although some came in to eat during the day. The terrain was varied, and the climate dry and hot. The horses were turned out in pairs or small groups in large fields.
These horses lived like horses-they rolled, played, galloped, itched on the fence (and each other) and generally put the sheets through the wringer. Sheets were hosed and hung to dry, or scrubbed with a soapy brush, rinsed and air dried. (Follow manufacturer's instructions on washing your sheet. Some are machine washable.)
In general, we learned that horses are great destroyers. Few sheets had the durability necessary to withstand the parameters of this test. Obviously, though, these horses were outside, in groups, and constantly moving. A horse kept in a more controlled environment, like a stall, moving less and causing fewer rubs and tears.
Bottom Line
Overall, there's not a bad sheet in the lot, as we have tested many of these in previous trials. Clearly, a soft mesh will not stand up to the abuse that a tough PVC-type fabric can take. However, this trial done under extreme turnout conditions.
The Amigo Bug Buster showed us the most obvious decrease in bug annoyance for the horses. For a horse with serious problems during the bug season (the horses that break out in hives from every bite), this is the sheet we'd strongly consider first. We think the Amigo Bug Buster from Horsewear Ireland may well be the future of fly prevention. However, combining its price with its durability level, we couldn't make it our top pick.
That spot goes to the Rider's International Stretch Micro Mesh Fly Sheet Combo from Dover Saddlery. We loved this sheet's soft mesh material, which also held up amazingly well, despite being put on a horse who is a notorious blanket-eater.
The neck cover was attached with a stretchy piece of tough fabric that allowed the horse a full range of motion. The belly guard and buckle system was surprisingly efficient.
It fit well, and seemed to provided relief from flies-especially on the belly. It wasn't overly cumbersome to put on and attach, yet the number of buckles and attachments meant it was relatively easy to fit snugly and give it a near custom fit.
In PVC fabrics, the Schneiders Flyshield sheet is our choice, partly in thanks to its Adjusta-Fit neck. The shoulder gussets kept the rubbing to a minimum, and it was simple to put on. The metal hardware was sturdy but simple, and the sheet held up spectacularly. The neck cover and belly guard were easy to use, and day after day it came in from the field looking unscathed.
The Horse Sense sheet earns Best Buy, as a well-made soft mesh sheet for a great price.
