Anti-fly rug recommendations pls for horse with minor sweet-itch.

kerilli

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Are the Boett ones worth the extra money? Does the Horseware Bug Buster one impregnated with permethrin work? any other recommendations please. horse rubs her tail a little, and the base of her mane a little, and gets bitten on her tummy enough to make it a bit sore and scaly. (i kept it all under control last year with KillItch but I think maybe a rug is a better, less messy solution!)
thankyou.
 
My guy has severe sweet itch and I generally recommend the Boett but I now have him in an exposed field high up the valley and I would say that although he is still affected its about 80% less.
Without a rug he will rub his mane and tail off even with creams /lotions and potions so I keep him covered.
This year I have an Amigo Bug Rug.
http://www.discountsaddleryshop.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=356

I'm really pleased so far. Its has great coverage...especially the tail flap which comes half way down his tail and is good and wide. Its long and wraps right under his belly despite not having a belly piece. My only gripe would be that its a detatchable neck which I find odd in a fly rug but overall I really like it and so far my boy is barely itching...
 
I used to have a section A with really bad sweet itch. We bought him a Boett and it was fantastic, would definatly recommend. Never slipped out of place or ripped and lasted a good few years.
 
Mine is in a Rambo Sweet Itch Hoody, day and night. It's fantastic so far - lots of midges about but no sign of any bites or itching. It fits really well. I also have the detachable liner for wet days.
 
My tuppence-worth ... when I got my youngster as a 3yo he came with a Boett as he had mild SI. It didn't last more than 2 months - it ripped if you looked at it, the depth of coverage was poor, he sweated up under it, and the belly cover thing simply ruckled up when he rolled. I got him a Rambo Sweet-itch Hoody and we never looked back! He's now on his 2nd Hoody which I will soon have to replace - but to be fair each has lasted 3 seasons.
 
On my yard we have various forms of fly rug but by far the best id the sweetitch hoody.

it may cost a bit more than some of the others but it is well worth every penney
 
Unfortunatly I would say Boett rug, did some house sitting for a woman who had a pony that lived in one 24/7 even had it on in stable and under a turn out, but she told me before she got it the pony was raw with scratching, when I saw it he had a long golden palamino mane and tail so it must of worked. She told me it was £200 (ouch!) They do cover them up under the tummy.
 
Snuggyhoods. Cheap, cheerful, and midge free.

Was given a mare with sweet itch last year, mane and withers rubbed bald, wrinkled and sore, tail scuffy, sore and balding, and had it healed up within weeks.
All I did was paste E45 cream over the sore bits having cleaned them off, fit the snuggyhood and rug, spray with repellant, and wait.
Today you couldn't tell she had ever had a problem - exept for the fact she has an overall rug/mask/neck coverage with last years snuggyhood rug. It lasted through the summer, is still usable, looks daft but it works.

I put a head collar over to stop her rubbing the headpiece out of place - otherwise she tends to lose it off her ears and drop it down over her eyes so that she can't see. Other than that I have had no problems.
 
Mine don't have sweetitch but all 3 are wearing Amigo bug rugs and they've lasted well. My mares especially are in a "midgie zone"
crazy.gif
and the rugs really help.

Anyway was just adding my 2p worth to say I got my rugs for £28.99 each + £2 p&p for all 3 rugs together from cyber check out (http://www.cybercheckout.co.uk/Equestrian Products/Fly Rugs) I bit more expensive this year but still cheaper than other online shops. It might be worthwhile checking their site out if this is one you decide to pursue.
 
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