2016 Fly Mask Mishap Contest: Editors’ Picks

Fly Mask Mishap Winner: "Winnie"

"'Winnie' always manages to get her ears out of the fly mask," said Kristen. Congratulations to "Winnie" and Kristen Mangold for being one of the top three winners in our contest. | Photo: Kristen Mangold

Fly Mask Mishap Winner: "Wesley"

"This is 'Wesley,' aka Key West. He is a 20-year-old Oldenburg gelding that has recently entered into semi-retirement after being a prized IHSA show mount at Cazenovia College. One day, after work, I traveled out to the paddock to find a unicorn in place of my beloved Wesley. Upon further investigation, I found that Wesley had decided to put both of his ears into one of the ear holes of his fly mask in order to become a majestic unicorn. Although I am not sure how long he was like this, I must say that he looked quite content." Congratulations to Wesley and Colleen for being one of the top three winners in our contest! | Photo: Colleen Ahern

Fly Mask Mishap Winner: "Cash"

Shaun Basch-Posthumus submitted this photo of Cash, an off-the-track-Thoroughbred gelding. "He has many aliases, but in this instance he was going for a Cindy Lou Who kind of look. He has an abundance of forelock, and his holy-eared fly mask couldn't hide it all! It made me laugh until I cried!" Congratulations to Shaun and Cash for being one of our contest winners! | Photo: Shaun Basch-Posthumus

Fly Mask Mishap: Yearling Meets Fly Mask

"When living in Florida, the horseman has to be properly equipped....I was not," said Lindsey Hames. "Being hopeful of my yearling growing quickly, I bought a regular sized fly mask, which I quickly found out was a biiiig mistake. I figured by strapping the mask tight it would hold snug, but this was not the case! He did great with it for the first week, and then exactly .00546 seconds into the eight day, this happens. It still blows my mind as to how he got the mask turned 90 degrees and over his ear. You've got to love babies." | Photo: Lindsey Hames

Fly Mask Mishap: "Charley"

"My old girl 'Charley' is notorious for shredding her fly masks," said Jennifer Houle. "She has itchy eyes and rubs them any chance she gets, thus resulting in a 'fringed' fly mask." | Photo: Jennifer Houle

Fly Mask Mishap: The Fly Mask Destroyers

"We haven't even officially started summer yet, and so far I've gone through six fly masks between three horses in a little over a month; however, this doesn't come as a shock to me," said Tatiana Sison. "This happens every fly season. So far we are right on track with destroying three fly masks EACH before summer hits." | Photo: Tatiana Sison

Fly Mask Mishap: "Artie"

"This is the way I find Artie's fly mask almost every day," said Beth. Most days it is off shortly after turning him out, but he gets it off nearly every day." | Photo: Beth Rieselman

Fly Mask Mishap: "Charmer"

"'Charmer' thinks this is how it goes," said Angela. | Photo: Angela McGeary

Fly Mask Mishap: "Harley"

"Our AQHA mare Mighty Pretty Storm, aka 'Harley,' often comes in from the pasture looking like this," said Amy. "As you can see from the naive look in her eyes; she has no idea that there's anything wrong with this. It's like a little kid who has dressed themselves with their pants on backwards." | Photo: Amy Hanna Atkinson

Fly Mask Mishap: "Smoke"

"Meet 'Smoke,' a 14-year-old Quarter Horse," said Krista. He does not like his fly mask and will try anything to try to remove it. Sometimes he does remove it, but this is the third time this season that he’s turned the fly mask around like this and is peeking out from under one corner." | Photo: Krista Wilbanks

Fly Mask Mishap: "Charlie"

"'Charlie' is the ultimate fly mask destroyer. If he's not tearing up his own fly mask, he's helping the other horses get theirs off! This picture shows him demolishing two new fly masks in as many days!" | Photo: Christy Castle

Fly Mask Mishap: "Jewel"

"'Jewel' both loves and hates her fly mask," said Juli. "She rubs it off on fence posts but happily lets you put it back on." | Photo: Juli Rasmussen

Fly Mask Mishap: Help from Gaultier the Goat

"I was blaming my mare for mask removal..until I saw this guy (Gaultier) UNDO the elastic, slip it off her head like a wedding garter, and proceed to process it into Swiss chevre," said Donna. | Photo: Donna Rae

Fly Mask Mishap: "Odessa"

"Odessa is a fly mask houdini!" | Photo: Katelyn Rice