Arming your horse with one of the best fly rugs is a great first step to protecting him against irritating flies and insect bites during the summer months. Combine it with the best fly mask, fly spray or fly gel and you will provide the ultimate protection. If you’re worried about your horse getting caught in summer showers, you could always consider the best waterproof fly rugs, too. When choosing the best fly rug for your horse, in many ways you should be looking for similar qualities of any good lightweight turnout rug – including a good fit, quality material and secure fastenings. The more of your horse’s body that is covered by the rug, the more protection he will have, but to avoid overheating the fabric should be very lightweight, breathable and have some reflective and/or cooling properties. Other useful features include detachable leg straps, large tail flaps and anti-rub linings or seamless necks. You’ll notice that the fastenings under the belly of a fly rug are less likely to be designed to cross – like a traditional turnout rug – as passing straight across provides a greater coverage and protection.