Gnat Attack

TURTLE NECK Fly Sheet Review

May 20, 2020

Happy Wednesday – it’s Susan!

I have purchased several fly sheets over the years. Some have held up, others have simply disintegrated. Some of my fly sheets creep up around their shoulders and create a rub on their front end. I struggle to find a balance between a tight mesh and a lightweight fly sheet for Carolina summers.

My horse, Wimpy, is not a fan of gnats, and despite his firm commitment to not taking one step in his turnout, he will run if bothered by gnats. North Carolina’s winter rain and absence of any true cold this winter has made for a bonanza of gnats so I had to be ready.

Recently, I came across this blog post about a fly sheet manufacturer out of Texas. For reference, I was born and raised in Texas with quarter horses so Texas heat and bugs are something I am very familiar with! This led me to start looking at reviews of the TURTLE NECK FLY TURTLE.

I can give you two sets of pros when it comes to the FLY TURTLE…

From the horse perspective (yes I am speaking for Wimpy here):

  • The fly sheet has a super fine mesh that keeps out even the smallest pests
  • it has deep sides with a belly flap that gives your horse added protection
  • it is lightweight and does not retain moisture
  • the shoulder area has stretchy gussets with lined shoulder panels that prevents rubbing.

From the consumer perspective:

  • the FLY TURTLE has an interchangeable fleece wither cover so that if your horse rolls and gets that gross buildup on his fleece cover you can readily replace and wash the removed fleece
  • the FLY TURTLE has a one-year warranty
  • this manufacturer gives you replacement straps and extra fleece and a great carry bag when it is time to pack up your fly sheet for the season.

It is important to note that Wimpy does look a bit like a puffy bride when he is led in and out from the turnout HOWEVER he is never sweaty under his sheet and has zero bites on his stomach. Unfortunately, Wimpy has lazy bathroom habits which creates a whole other issue on his undercarriage which means his sheet needs washed more frequently than a more responsible horse with proper bathroom habits. This particular fly sheet is recommended to be washed in ASKCO sport detergent to maintain its integrity, and so far it has worked perfectly.  I have recommended this sheet to other people in the barn, and if you peek at the reviews, they are invariably positive and these sheets hold up to the sheet shredding experts.