Ginny's Horse Product Review

Last year, I blogged about the BEST fly mask. With warmer weather, high winds and bugs rolling in, I’m busting out the fly masks for Bamboozal and Monk again! Turns out, my favorite fly mask is still the Roma Stretch Bug Eye Saver. I also ordered the Professional Choice version of this mask, and it works and fits just the same, with the added benefit of more colors. If you’ve been struggling to keep a fly mask on your horse, look no further. You’ve come to the right place.

Why the Roma Stretch Buy Eye Saver is STILL the Best Fly Mask

1. It’s lightweight and breathable, no sweaty faces underneath.
2. It STAYS on (as long as I remove the ear mesh).
3. It does NOT leave rub marks on the face or rub, even if left on 24/7.
4. It works protects against wind, gnats, flies and all types of bugs.
5. You can see the eyes through the mesh without taking the mask off.

This Fly Mask is Lightweight and Breathable

I have used this fly mask in very hot and humid environments as well as dry desert environments. In both of these climates, the masks have remained lightweight and breathable for horses. I hate causing a horse to be hotter in already unbearably hot weather. A hot sweaty fly mask has to be uncomfortable. Using the Roma Stretch Bug Eye Saver mask, I’ve never come out to the barn to find sweaty faces.

That these fly masks are so light and breathable makes them a great choice for horses in hot and humid climates. I believe this is part of why this mask stays on. It’s doesn’t appear to be itchy or bothersome in the way some masks can be. If I had to wear a sweaty mask all day, I would probably want to get rid of it too!

To Earn the Title “Best Fly Mask,” It Has to Stay On!

What good is a fly mask if it’s been stomped into the mud somewhere in the pasture? I can’t tell you how many times I had to go hunting for masks in the pasture before I found these simple, effective and affordable masks from Roma.

I do make a slight modification to ensure the masks stay on. I cut the ear parts off. I realized with some masks, my horses were able to scratch their ears on trees and rub them off. For me, the primary reason I use a fly mask is for eye protection. If you have a horse that needs to have his or her ears protected, obviously, you wouldn’t want to cut the ear mesh off.

I’ve had these masks stay on for days at a time with no issues. I usually take them off when I ride, but I’ve even used stretched out old ones as trail fly masks in particularly buggy North Carolina weather. They work like a charm, and they fit right over my bridle.

These Masks Don’t Injure Your Horse

If you have a sensitive or thin-skinned horse, you know just about anything can leave a rub mark. I once had to rotate between three different masks in a day just to give bald spots on my mare’s face a break! She couldn’t go without a mask for even a few minutes or her eyes would blow up due to gnat allergies, and every mask I had would leave friction rub marks on her sensitive (and petite-shaped) face.

The great thing about these masks is that they’re stretchy to accommodate just about any face shape. As long as you know generally what size you need, like Average Horse or Cob, you’re good to go. I’ve been VERY successful with these masks on three very different head types, a petite dished Arabian, a large Tennessee Walker and a pony-sized Morgan. Even leaving on for days, weeks and basically months at a time, they haven’t left any rub marks on any of them.

They also don’t squish down the eyes or rub the eyelashes out! My Arabian had the most beautiful eye lashes, and before I found this mask, they would get rubbed off by others. Having finally found such a gentle and effective fly mask, I will NEVER use anything else.

The Best Fly Mask for Gnats, Flies and High Winds

At various times and places, I’ve had to deal with gnats, flies and even high winds. I can say with absolute certainty that the Roma Stretch Bug Eye Saver fly mask protects against all of these factors. The mesh looks completely different than the mesh of other masks, but it works. It doesn’t look as tightly woven, but don’t let that fool you. It gets the job done.

In North Carolina, we had months and months of bad gnats. The really tiny ones. My Arabian horse developed a horrible allergy to them, and if she got her mask off for even a few minutes here eyes would start to puff up. With this fly mask on, she had absolutely no issues what so ever.

Now that I live in Idaho, we deal with high winds. Without masks, lots of horses develop runny eyes. I can understand why too. Even spending a few hours out in the wind can cause my eyes to become incredibly dry, itchy and uncomfortable. I can’t imagine what it’s like for the horses who live outside in it 24/7. If there’s wind in the forecast, I will go ahead and put their masks on. Other horses may get runny eyes, but my horses stay protected with their fly masks on.

You Can See The Eyes in This Fly Mask

Finally, one of the best things about the Roma Stretch Bug Eye Saver fly mask is that you can actually see your horse’s eyes without taking it off! This comes in real handy if you’re dealing with eye problems. It can be a pain to take off a mask multiple times a day to get a good look at your horse’s eyes.

Busy boarding stables may be reluctant to take masks off and look at eyes, and eye issues could potentially go for way too long if you’re not out at the barn for a few days. With these fly masks on, your boarding manager can look directly at your horse’s eyes without catching them or taking the mask off and putting it back on again. If there’s a problem going on, they can call you.

If you’re like me, you want to do everything you can to simplify your boarding stable’s life. The easier their job is, the better for you and your horse.

In Conclusion

If you’re looking for a fly mask that stays on, protects against flies, gnats and wind, doesn’t cause rub marks and one that makes your boarding stable’s job easier, look no further than the Roma Stretch Bug Eye Saver fly mask. You can find them on Amazon and get them primed!

I even recently tried a similar model from Professional’s Choice, and I liked it too! This is the most well designed fly mask I’ve ever used, and I encourage everybody to give them a try.

Until next time, Happy Trails!