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Post by harleydales on May 1, 2007 12:00:59 GMT -1
I bought Apollo a full fly mask - goes over his ears, covers his face, and has an additional flap that goes over his nostrils. It fits well (I think) and doesn't interfere with his eyes. I hoped it would help with his head shaking.
But when he puts his head down to graze, it must jolt him somewhere, as he chucks his head up again. I think he must hit the nostril bit off the ground, and it jars somewhere else.
Has anyone else used these masks? Did your horses get used to them?
I'm wondering if I should chop the end off the nostril bit so it's shorter and doesn't hit the ground, but that defeats the objecdt of the exercise as it won't protect his nose from sun/flies etc.
I'm also thinking of making a homemade fly fringe out of an old T-shirt, and attaching it to his headcollar noseband using my nosenet attachment.
By the way, I've got the nose net sussed now - using his flash strap to keep it in place. Works a treat and we had a great ride at the weekend.
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Post by harveydales on May 1, 2007 12:38:24 GMT -1
Oh good, glad you've got it sussed. I used to ride Quest in a full nose net like that but didn't have any problems. I can't remember now if I had to make any adjustments but it certainly helped with the head shaking.
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Post by Debbie on May 1, 2007 16:48:25 GMT -1
I've never had to deal with headshaking, so feel free to ignore me, but is Apollo jarring from the nose part....or the fact that his nose has come in contact with the grass?? I'm just wondering does he do the same grazing without the new nose covering? Poor lad must be sooooo ultrasensitive with the pollens and gunk in the air just now....  |
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Post by harleydales on May 1, 2007 19:33:22 GMT -1
No Debbie, as soon as I took the mask off he grazed.....and grazed and grazed and grazed!! So it's the cover not the nose that is bothering him.
It is quite stiff so I think it pushes it up and maybe annoys him round his eyes. Might have to do a bit of trimming of the nostril bit.
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Post by Debbie on May 1, 2007 19:43:44 GMT -1
Hmmm....that's pretty straightforward then. Fingers crossed a bit of strategic trimming and he'll be happily grazing with the mask!
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Post by harleydales on May 1, 2007 20:08:31 GMT -1
The worry is if I trim it, will it still do the job though? It won't cover his nose!
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Post by zeldalithgow on May 1, 2007 20:11:07 GMT -1
Poor Apollo, could you replace the nose bit with something softer that would still cover his nose - an old bit of net curtain?  |
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Post by harveydales on May 1, 2007 20:18:30 GMT -1
Mmm, difficult one. I seem to remember that my nose atattchemt was also a bit long. It didn't bother Quest in the same way as you describe with Apollo while grazing but I think he did chew it a bit when it got in the way. Maybe it is worth ezperimenting with shortening it a bit because while they are free in the field, they can lower the head to itch/relieve the nose irritation. I have a spare nose atatchment somewhere I could send you if you needed it.
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Post by harleydales on May 2, 2007 10:10:17 GMT -1
Thanks Pam, I'll see how we go with a few alterations! Means unpicking all the stitching round the soft piped edge, cutting it down and re-stitching it all!! Hey ho, if it works it's worth it. And it's a nice day to sit in the garden and do some sewing!!
Now he's getting sunburn as well! Got the Fator 30 out but he HATES having it put on. <sigh>
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Post by harleydales on May 3, 2007 9:16:54 GMT -1
SUCCESS!!
I folded the bottom of the nose flap in and secured it tightly with stitches so it covers half his nostrils and after a few minutes of standing totally still, he was grazing again.
HURRAH!
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Post by harveydales on May 3, 2007 10:42:30 GMT -1
Jane, as I read your post, I realised that is exactly what I used to do with Quest's mask! Glad it is working for you!
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Post by Debbie on May 20, 2007 23:24:32 GMT -1
 Yeah!!!
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