Is There A Difference Between Horse Hoods and Fly Neck Covers?
Horse hoods and fly neck covers are two different pieces of horse clothing primarily used for two different purposes. A horse hood’s primary purpose is to keep the mane and forelock trained and in good condition. A fly neck cover is an extension or an add-on to a fly sheet that covers the neck up to the poll to keep biting insects off. Besides the difference in uses, the horse hood and the fly neck cover are made from different materials. The horse hood is commonly made of thin flexible and stretchy Lycra, sometimes with a zipper. The fly neck cover is made of the same material the fly sheet is made of, soft interlock mesh, mosquito mesh, ripstop nylon, etc. The fly neck cover attaches to the sheet at the withers and shoulders and closes around the neck.
What is a Horse Hood?
A horse hood is typically made of a thin stretchy material like Lycra that slips over the horse’s head, covering the horse’s face halfway down to the nose, over the poll, down the neck and over the shoulders. There are holes in the hood strategically placed for the horse’s eyes and ears. Horse hoods are used to keep the mane and forelock clean, tamed, trained and in good condition. Some owners keep their show horse’s in a hood whenever they are stalled, and others use a hood after braiding or banding to help hold them neatly in place. Hoods are very popular in the Quarter Horse world.
Horse hoods are available in a pull-on, full zipper, half zipper or three-quarter zipper styles. Which style is best for your horse comes down to how easy they are to clothe and how difficult you find it to keep their mane in place when dressing? Some people swear by pull-on styles while others love the zipper. It just comes down to needs and preference.
Horse hoods also come in handy if you have a light-colored horse that loves to lay in their manure. Hoods help to keep your horse clean and manure stain-free, making your grooming chores less time consuming and keeping your horse’s coat in better condition.
What is a Fly Neck Cover?
A fly neck cover is made of fly sheet material that covers the horse’s neck providing full insect coverage for your horse. You can either purchase a fly sheet with an integrated fly neck cover or purchase one that attaches to your fly sheet
Fly neck covers are available in all the same fly sheet materials. Keeping biting insects and harmful UV rays off your horse’s neck helps to provide your horse with full body protection.
Most fly sheets are also available in models with a fly neck cover option. In addition, you can purchase a fly neck cover separately although it may or may not attach to your fly sheet, depending on the model.
One bonus of a detachable fly neck cover is you always have the choice to put it on or leave it off, depending on the conditions or time of year. If the neck cover is integrated into the sheet you will not have this option. Of course, if you never put your horse out without the neck cover it is very convenient for it to be permanently attached to the sheet.
Another factor to consider when purchasing an integrated fly neck cover versus a detachable fly neck cover is fit. If your horse’s confirmation has a short neck but a large body, you might find an integrated neck cover too long. The ability to attach a neck cover in this case, might enable you to create a better fit.
