Arming your horse with one of the best fly rugs for horses is a great first step to protecting him against irritating flies and insects during the summer months. Combine it with one of the best fly masks, fly fringes, best fly sprays or fly gels and you will be providing your horse with the ultimate protection.
If you’re worried about your horse getting caught in summer showers, you could always consider the best waterproof fly rugs, too. Or if your horse is prone to suffering from sweet itch, check out the best “sweet itch rugs” that are specifically designed to prevent midges getting to your horse.
Best fly rugs: H&H’s quick guide
Best fly rug for deterring flies: Equilibrium Field Relief
Best for rug rippers: Weatherbeeta ComFiTec Hexi Shield Combo Neck
Best fly rug for UV protection: LeMieux Arika Armour-Tek
Best budget fly rug: Shires Tempest Original Combo
Best fly with no/detachable neck: Swish Equestrian Nylon Fly Cool
Best fly rug for extreme sizes: Ruggles Combo
Best fly rugs for horses this summer
Equilibrium Field Relief Fly Rug
Style: Fixed neck
Colours: Hexagonal print
Sizes: 5ft6in – 7ft
UV protection: 77% UVA and 90% UVB
RRP: £95
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Wither pressure relief panel
- 90% UVB protection
- Elasticated surcingles with belly flap
Reasons to avoid
- Lots of velcro fastening on neck
This rug has been redesigned with a new pattern with the aim to be even more effective at repelling flies. The new design also allows more freedom of movement, a wither relief panel and a generous shoulder fit. It offers full coverage with a stretch hood over the ears and has a breathable anti-rub lining on the neck and shoulder. The rug also features adjustable neck straps, buckle fastenings at the chest and elasticated belly straps, plus a long tail flap with plastic-covered fillet string for easy cleaning.
Equilibrium ran their own in-house test and found that flies were 51% less likely to land on this monochrome hexagonal print compared to the other prints and colours tested.
Emily Secrett-Hill H&H’s art editor tested the previous yellow version of this fly rug and she rated it 9/10 and said: “It might not be the cheapest on the market, but I think it is definitely worth the money as it’s strong, hard-wearing and appears to be comfortable”.
Read our full Equilibrium Fly Rug review.
WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Hexi Shield Combo Neck
Style: Fixed neck
Colours: Silver/teal blue
Sizes: 4ft – 7ft
UV protection: 55+%
RRP: £119.99
Reasons to buy
- Sun reflective material
- Unique hexagon weave design with snag resistant material
- Wide size range
Reasons to avoid
- Front fastenings might not suit
Fly rugs are not known for being especially durable as they’re usually made of a lightweight mesh-type material, but this one is particularly great for horses who aren’t so gentle. Although made of a lightweight nylon mesh outer, it has a unique hexagon weave design with snag-resistant mesh fabric to help prevent and limit tears.
Reflective properties help keep the sun and heat away from your horse, and it also features traditional shoulder gussets, a memory foam wither pad, large belly wrap and full wrap tail flap for additional coverage. It fastens with a quick-clip closure at the chest and has elasticated, adjustable and removable leg straps.
LeMieux Arika Armour-Tek Fly Rug
Style: Detachable neck
Colours: Stone, aqua or grey
Sizes: 5ft6in – 7ft
UV protection: 85%
RRP: £89.95
Reasons to buy
- Antibacterial, anti-static lining enhances shine on the coat
- High UV rating
- Extended, shaped belly flap maximises coverage
Reasons to avoid
- If you’re looking for a fixed neck design
This ultra-lightweight fly sheet, constructed from an innovative micro mesh, offers a second-skin fit and superior breathability, creating a reliable barrier against flies. Its extended, shaped belly flap provides additional protection, secured with a three-strap closure and a detachable central strap designed to help the rug self-right.
The front fastening distributes pressure, preventing rubbing on the shoulder and chest, while the antibacterial, anti-static lining enhances coat shine. The extra-long tail flap has an elasticated PVC-coated fillet strap, and for optional additional coverage, you can use the lined detachable neck.
Shires Tempest Original Combo Fly Rug
Style: Fixed neck
Colours: White
Sizes: 4ft – 7ft3in
UV protection: 80%
RRP: £49.99
Reasons to buy
- Good value
- High UV protection
Reasons to avoid
- If you don’t like buckles
This breathable, lightweight and airy rug provides a barrier to biting insects without preventing airflow. The ErgoFit neck cover and rug are cut from one piece of fabric to enhance comfort at the neck area, the neck, spine and chest are lined to prevent friction rubs. The rug features buckle chest fastenings, a generous belly flap and an adjustable fillet strap.
Swish Equestrian Nylon Fly Cool Rug
Style: Detachable neck
Colours: Grey/mulberry or grey/navy
Sizes: 4ft3in – 7ft6in
UV protection: Yes
RRP: £89.99
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Robust material with rip-stop properties
- Very lightweight
Reasons to avoid
- If you are looking for a fly rug with a belly flap
This fly rug is made from lightweight and breathable nylon, and is designed to offer sun and fly protection without overheating your horse. The large shoulder gusset allows for freedom of movement, while the large tail flap offers extra protection. It has a longer cut, detachable neck cover with nylon strip to protect the mane and double-locking Velcro straps.
Carol Phillips H&H’s website editor put this fly rug to the test and found it to be good quality and really lightweight. She said “It’s ideally suited to horses with a deep girth and a good length of neck.
Read our full Swish fly rug review.
Ruggles Combo Fly Rug
Style: Fixed neck
Colours: Grey
Sizes: 2ft9in – 7ft6in
UV protection: 70%
RRP: From £58
Reasons to buy
- Ear holes to prevent the neck cover moving
- Very large size range
Reasons to avoid
- Lots of fastening on the neck
This rug’s USP really is the range of sizes it’s available in – if you’ve got a really dinky pony, larger heavy horse or even a donkey, chances are you’ll be able to find a fit for them. Made from a strong but soft mesh and partly lined, this rug is great for sensitive horses.
It offers great coverage with a belly band, long neck and generous tail flap. It features detachable webbing leg straps and is fastened at the chest with a double adjustable buckle and clip closure for ease and good fit. The ear holes are also fleece lined for added comfort.
Horseware Newmarket Plus Fly Sheet
Style: Detachable neck
Colours: Whitney navy or whitney charcoal
Sizes: 5ft6in – 7ft
UV protection: 73%
RRP: £147.95
Reasons to buy
- Extra long tail flap
- High UV protection
- Comes with a two-year warranty
Reasons to avoid
- Not as much belly coverage as some others
This innovative fly sheet is constructed from a breathable woven polyester mesh with a PVC coating for durability and sun protection. It has a silky smooth lining to minimise friction and prevent rubs along the mane, shoulder, and tail, and includes a detachable hood and an extra long tail flap for maximum coverage. The classic straight front closures, cross surcingles, and front leg arches ensure a secure and comfortable fit while allowing for freedom of movement.
Rhinegold Kenya Mesh Fly Rug With Detachable Neck
Style: Detachable neck
Colours: White
Sizes: 4ft6in – 7ft3in
UV protection: Yes
RRP: £48.50
Reasons to buy
- Soft mesh material
- Satin-feel lined topline and chest to prevent rubbing
Reasons to avoid
- Front fastenings might not be suitable
Made from a robust but soft mesh, this rug features a satin-feel fabric on the topline and chest to prevent rubbing. It also has a detachable neck, cross surcingles, a fleece wither pad, generous tail guard, adjustable legstraps, and is fastened with buckles at the chest.
Bucas Buzz-Off Full Neck Zebra
Style: Fixed neck
Colours: Zebra stripe
Sizes: 5ft6in – 7ft2in
UV protection: 75%
RRP: £119
Reasons to buy
- Zebra stripe proven to keep flies away
- Elasticated and detachable belly pad
Reasons to avoid
- Front fastenings can be a bit fiddly to start with
The zebra print is designed to help disorientate the flies and prevent them from landing on your horse, while the full neck provides additional protection. The neck has an elasticated brow band that helps keep it in place while grazing, and it has an elasticated, detachable belly pad and large tail flap for extra coverage. The chest is fastened with a surcingle closure and the shoulders benefit from a silk-feel lining.
Masta Fieldmasta Combo Fly Rug
Style: Fixed neck
Colours: White/blue
Sizes: 4ft6in – 7ft6in
UV protection: 50+%
RRP: £79.95
Reasons to buy
- Unique neck design to prevent mane loss
- Thicker upper section
Reasons to avoid
- If you are looking for a traditional fly rug
A summer sheet-style fly rug with a polyester cotton like feel upper section, and heavyweight mesh lower section that will stop those unwanted insect bites in warmer months. It features a unique dome neck design to help prevent mane loss.
This fly rug has adjustable front clip fastenings and cross surcingles at the belly. If UV is a priority for you as you would get with the best summer sheets, this is a great option.
Mackey Equi-Sential Fly Rug
Style: Detachable neck
Colours: Silver/navy
Sizes: 5ft – 7ft
UV protection: Yes
RRP: £65.95
Reasons to buy
- Breathable, fine mesh
- Easy to use fastenings
Reasons to avoid
- If you prefer a fixed neck style
This breathable, fine mesh rug features reflective colouring to help prevent overheating, shoulder gussets to allow freedom of movement, and a double buckle chest closure with Velcro. It has a generous removable neck for maximum coverage that’s lined to help prevent rubbing, a tail flap and adjustable cross-over belly straps.
Gallop Dual 5-Point Fly Rug & Neck Set
Style: Detachable neck
Colours: White
Sizes: 4ft9in – 7ft
UV protection: Yes
RRP: £39.99
Reasons to buy
- Good value
- Offers great coverage
Reasons to avoid
- If you’re looking for good belly coverage
This fly rug features a five-point detachable neck with a headcollar loop that you can use to help secure it to prevent it from moving, and has a breathable 200D outer that offers UV protection. It has elasticated detachable leg straps and buckle adjustments at the chest for adjustability. The nylon lining at the chest also helps to prevent rubs.
How to choose the best fly rug
When choosing between the best fly rugs for horses, in many ways you should be looking for similar qualities of any good turnout rug – including a good fit, quality material and secure fastenings. The more of your horse’s body that is covered by the rug, the more protection he will have, but to avoid overheating the fabric should be very lightweight, breathable and have some reflective and/or cooling properties.
Other useful features of the best fly rugs for horses include detachable leg straps, large tail flaps and anti-rub linings or seamless necks. You’ll notice that the fastenings under the belly of a fly rug are less likely to be designed to cross – like a traditional turnout rug – as passing straight across provides greater coverage and protection. If you’re shopping on a budget, we’ve also rounded up a selection of the best cheap fly rugs (all available for less than £50!)
Do zebra fly rugs work?
Over the last 10 years there has been a bit of research into this question. The findings suggest that the stripes confuse the flies, which prevents them from landing. Recently rug companies have been researching the effect of other colour combinations for the best fly rugs for horses, too, which is where the inspiration for Equilibrium’s hexagonal pattern came from.
Can I leave a fly rug on overnight?
Providing your horse’s fly rug is well fitting, leaving it on overnight shouldn’t be a problem.
Can I ride in a fly rug?
Not a traditional fly rug, no. However, the best ride-on fly rugs are designed to be used when riding and can make summer hacking much more pleasurable.
You might also like:
8 rugs to help protect horses who are prone to sweet itch
Fly protection on a budget: 6 fly rugs under £50
7 ride-on fly rugs that will make hacking more pleasant for your horse
11 waterproof fly rugs – perfect for summer showers and sunshine
Had enough of annoying flies? We’ve tested some fly sprays to find which really work
We tested these fly gels and creams for 3 months – these 5 are worth the spend
Fly masks to protect your horse
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
