The Zebra Fly Rug is not just for show...
Following trials in Hungary and Sweden, researchers have discovered that horse flies hate stripes, which is the reason behind Bucas’ latest fly rug design.
Pallets containing vegetable oil were painted different patterns of black and white stripes or all black or all white. These pallets were then placed in a fly-infested field and results showed that there were far more flies in the black painted pallets, fewer in the white but the fewest flies of all were found in the pallets painted with very thin black and white stripes.
Afterwards, researchers carried out a similar trial on model horses covered in glue. At the end of 59 days, the black horse had caught 562 flies, the brown one 334, the white one 22 and the zebra patterned horse had just 8! It is thought that the flies find the stripes confusing and as a result they tend to steer clear.
Based on this research, Bucas has developed a first of its kind fly rug with thin zebra-like stripes, to keep horses free from the stresses of summer flies for good. The unique zebra fly rug, which is the same design as the Bucas standard Buzz Off fly rug was a hug success and following this the Bucas Buzz Off Fly/Rain Sheet was developed. What’s more, there’s the option of a matching fly mask, too.
Without doubt, this clever new Bucas zebra patterned fly rug, which offers added UV protection, is definitely a product your horse would want you to buy.