Horse Fly Hoods, Ears & Veils

Fly hoods for horses have become a growing trend over the years. You can see many horses wearing them in the training and competition arenas in disciplines like show jumping and dressage. Horse fly hoods are more than decorative items.

Horse fly veils, hoods, or ears, as we know them today, were originally used to protect horses from the sun and minimise the discomfort caused by buzzing flies. Fly hoods for horses have their origins in the military; however, their modern version can be traced back to the 19th century. In more recent years, they have been adopted by show-jumping riders to help prevent their horses from being distracted in the ring. Soon top riders noticed that some horses focused better while wearing earplugs underneath the ears to muffle the crowd’s sounds. You will now find fly veils or fly hoods with padded ears, limiting the requirement of the extra ear plugs.

Over time, many horse owners started using hoods and veils along with plugs for the functional reasons explained above, but more popularly, hoods and veils are used for aesthetic reasons. With colourful matching horse wear being so popular these days, a matching fly hood is often an extra item on the list and provides an extra touch of glam.

It’s important to notice that the terms “horse fly veil, fly ears, or fly hood” can be used interchangeably. It could be assumed that a horse fly hood would be more like a hat or a bonnet, while a veil would extend longer over the horse’s forehead. However, the design and look of fly hoods for horses, fly ears, and veils are similar. All models cover the ears, the forehead, and a small portion of the neck.

Horse Fly Hoods from Top Brands

Fly hoods for horses come in a wide variety of colours and models and, leaving aesthetics aside, they are beneficial for your horse and enhance your riding experience. Below, you will find a list of the main benefits of a high-quality fly veil for horses:

• Horse ear fly protection: They protect horses’ sensitive ears from flies, which can cause skin irritation, discomfort, and other annoying issues for the horses that can lead to distractions and behavioural issues while training or competing.
  
• Physical barrier: A proper horse fly fringe with ears works as an effective barrier to prevent foreign objects, such as bugs, dirt, sand, and other elements from entering horses’ delicate ear channels.
  
• Wind shield: A horse fly hood also protects horses’ ears from wind and chills, helping them stay comfy during all types of riding, from leisure rides to high-performance competitions.
  
• UV Protection: Fly hoods for horses are also effective in protecting horses’ ears from sunburns. Some models are made of technical, UV-protective fabrics that keep horses covered and block UV rays, eliminating the risks of sunburns and skin issues.
  
• Sound Insulation: Some spooky horses can benefit from a horse fly hood, especially if the ear section is made from padded or noise-cancelling materials, like the LeMieux Acoustic Pro Fly Hood. Besides, some riders have found that combining a horse fly veil or hood with proper ear plugs helps their horses focus on the ring and stay more receptive and attentive to the aids. Also, most riders who use this combo say that it has a soothing effect on horses, especially at crowded and loud shows and distracting environments, enhancing the experience of horses and riders. When using earplugs, it’s crucial only to use veterinarian-approved products, which are safe and harmless for horses’ ears and block only loud and disturbing noises.

At Discount Equestrian, we stock a wide variety of horse fly hoods from top brands, such as Coldstream, Equetech, Equipe, Fenwick Equestrian, HY, John Whitaker, Kentucky Horsewear, LeMieux, Little Rider, Premier Equine, Rhinegold, Roma, Saxon, Schockemohle, Supreme Products, Veredus, WeatherBeeta, and Woof Wear.

Fly Ears for Horses at Discounted Prices

Our fantastic collection features top-quality horse ear flies at unbeatable prices. All products in this category are included in our Price Match Promise program. If you find a product listed at a lower price on a competitor's website, we will strive to match the price. (Terms and Conditions Apply).

Horse Fly Veils in a Huge Range of Colours

In our broad collection, you will find over 250 products in different styles, like classic crochet models, luxurious fly veils for horses with glitter stones, and sporty horse fly veils with ears made of the most modern 3D mesh. All our fly veils, ears, and hoods are available in a massive range of colours so that you can easily match them with your favourite equestrian garment according to your style and colour preferences. We work hard to source our customers with the best fly veils for horses so that you can combine them in the way you like the most.

If you need any help choosing the perfect fly veil or hood for your horse, just let us know! Our expert team at Discount Equestrian is always happy to help!

For more fly protection for your horse, please take a look at our amazing Fly Rugs and Sheets, Fly Sprays/Repellents, and Fly Masks galleries.