Wash before use

All of the fly sheets listed in “Fly Away” (Tack & Gear, EQUUS 452) made me want to share my recent experience after I bought some fly boots for my Paint horse. I put them on one afternoon, and early the next morning, I got a frantic call from the ranch owner. My horse would not move or eat. He was obviously in a lot of pain. I took the fly boots off and was horrified to see what looked like burns on his legs. The veterinarian said that they were like chemical burns. It took three veterinary visits, many wraps and much medication to clear this up.

I highly recommend washing fly boots and masks before using them. My horse still wears a fly mask, and he does just fine as long as I wash new ones before he wears them. Chris Manzella Lakeside, California