Choosing the Right Fly Sheet for Your Horse

A fly sheet or fly rug is a mesh horse rug which offers protection from the harsh sun, allowing the breeze to pass through and keep most flies and insects away from your horse.

Mesh rugs do a great job at keeping the majority of biting insects at bay, while offering your horse a cooler rug than a traditional Ripstop style paddock rug. Many people prefer mesh in the heat as it offers a balance between sun protection, keeping your horse cool and offering insect protection.

But not all mesh is created equally. And with so many fly mesh horse rugs on the market, how do you know what to look for? Luckily, we've got a few tips and tricks to help you (and your horse) out.

Mesh Considerations

Fabric Weave: The weave of the mesh is very important. Most people need a nice tight weave mesh to reduce the exposure to biting insects. There are many types of mesh that have a looser or more open weave, which won’t be effective in stopping mosquitoes or marsh flies. On the other hand, some mesh has such a tight weave that it won’t allow proper airflow. Airflow through the weave is important. Often, the best way is to hold the mesh up to the light to get an idea of the tightness of the mesh weave.

Fabric weight or GSM (grams per square meter): This is one of the most important factors with fly mesh. Mesh generally falls in a range from 200 GSM to 500 GSM. A lower GSM fabric is usually a looser, weaker and more open weave fabric and a higher GSM fabric is generally a tighter, stronger weave.

Colour and Treatment: Colour plays a very important part in insect repelling. Those of us from fly prone areas will know how some colours attract flies and others don’t. Dark colours are generally the worst performing in terms of repelling flies. The colours that Caribu use in our mesh has been tested to be some of the best performing colours.

Caribu's Signature Mesh Rug Styles

Caribu Enduro '410 GSM' Air Mesh

The Caribu Enduro 410gsm Air Mesh, our original fly mesh introduced in 2006, is renowned for its exceptional durability and performance. Featuring a raised, thicker weave fabric, it is our strongest mesh and ideal for horses that are hard on rugs or suffer from itching. While slightly heavier than other mesh options, it provides excellent insect protection without compromising airflow. However, its raised texture can be more abrasive, potentially causing rubbing on horses with finer or sensitive coats, especially if the fit isn’t ideal. Sensitive horses may benefit from using a bib for added comfort.

Caribu Euro-Breeze '270 GSM' Air Mesh

The Caribu Euro-Breeze '270 GSM' Air Mesh rug, introduced in 2011, it is our most popular option, offering an ideal balance of coolness, insect protection, and strength. Featuring a flat weave, it allows better airflow than the Enduro 410 mesh and is lighter in weight, making it a cooler alternative. This rug is best suited for horses with finer coats or those prone to rubbing, though it is not recommended for itchy horses. Designed for general use, it’s perfect for horses that don’t suffer from excessive itchiness and need a comfortable, breathable rug.

Caribu Euro-Lite '140 GSM' Air Mesh

The Caribu Euro-Lite 140gsm Air Mesh is our newest and coolest horse rug, designed for maximum airflow and comfort on the hottest days. Featuring the same flat weave mesh as the Euro-Breeze 270gsm, it is even lighter and more breathable, with a 6'0 Attached Hood weighing just 2.1kg. This ultra-light rug is perfect for providing relief in extreme heat but is not recommended for horses that are hard on rugs or prone to itching.

Kingsley '240 GSM' Mesh

The Kingsley '240 GSM' Mesh is a mid-weight, raised mesh that strikes a balance between the flatter Euro-Mesh and the more pronounced 410gsm Enduro Mesh. With a slightly thinner and more open weave than the 410gsm, it provides similar strength and durability to the 270gsm Euro-Mesh. Ideal for general-purpose use, this mesh is part of our budget-friendly Kingsley Range, offering versatility and value for most occasions.

Ready to rug up? Explore Caribu's range of mesh horse rugs, with different fabrics to suit any situation.