Fly Rugs

It really comes down to what your horse needs from their fly protection. For most horses, our Zebra fly rug is the perfect starting point — the bold striped print is proven to deter flies, it's lightweight, and it's our bestseller for good reason. If your horse needs a bit more coverage underneath, the Zebra with Belly Flap extends protection to one of the areas flies target most.

Horses that suffer with sweet itch need something more than a standard fly rug. Our Sweet Itch rug uses a densely woven fabric to form a proper physical barrier against the midges responsible for the reaction — mesh alone won't keep them out. For changeable weather, our Dri-Fly waterproof fly rug combines fly protection with a waterproof upper, so your horse is covered whatever the day throws at them. And if you want protection while you're in the saddle, our Ride-On fly rug is designed to stay put under saddle during exercise.

It sounds like it shouldn't work, but the science backs it up. The bold striped pattern makes it much harder for flies and biting insects to determine the edge of your horse's body — when they try to land, the stripes create a dazzling optical effect that confuses them and causes them to veer away. It's the same reason zebras in the wild are far less bothered by biting insects than other animals their size. The result is a horse that's noticeably less pestered during turnout, without any chemicals or sprays involved.

A standard fly rug is designed for everyday protection against flies and biting insects, typically using a lightweight mesh fabric to maximise airflow and help keep horses comfortable during warmer weather.

A sweet itch rug provides more comprehensive coverage for horses that suffer from sweet itch. Made from a densely woven fabric, it creates a barrier against the tiny biting insects whose saliva triggers the sweet itch reaction.

Our Dri-Fly Rug is ideal for horses turned out during changeable weather. The breathable mesh side panels help keep horses cool, while the waterproof upper section provides protection during light showers and summer rain.

Our Regular Fit and Broad Fit fly rugs aren't just the same rug in different sizes — they're designed for completely different horse shapes, with different patterns cut for each. Both ranges use the same size labels, but the actual measurements used to create each rug are different, because the proportions of a broader, heavier horse are genuinely different to those of a lighter, finer build. Our Regular Fit is designed for light to medium build horses — Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and lighter Cobs. Our Broad Fit is designed for medium+ to heavy horses with a broader chest, bigger shoulders, deeper barrel, and that classic apple-bottom — think Traditional Cobs, Shires, Irish Draughts, and Iberian breeds. Worth noting that our Zebra and Dri-Fly rugs are available in both fits, while our other styles are currently Broad Fit only.

Yes. All of our fly protection products provide physical UV protection of up to 70%. As well as helping protect against flies, midges, and biting insects, they can also help reduce exposure to harmful UV rays during summer turnout.