Cheap sweet itch treatment - might be worth a try!!

[VioletStripe]

So, I met a women last night and she's really into natural remedies and stuff like that. Her happy hacker has sweet itch, and instead of using any expensive or ineffective products, she swears by using black tea! Apparently she adds 500ml of hot water to 4 tea bags and leaves them to soak for 5 mins. When the tea is cold enough, she applies it to his crest, mane, dock and any other itchy places. Apparently it stops him wanting to scratch, and so there are less bald manes! She uses it along side regular fly repellent as well. So, it could be worth a try if you're sick of spending a fortune on expensive products that don't work well. Neat, eh?

 

[Theresa_F]

If I had dark horses I would try it but I have a skewbald and a sabino with lovely white feather and tea would stain it terribly.

Looks like I will have to stick to my new snuggy spic and spans I have just invested a lot of money in and keep with the dettol, skin so soft and essential oils I use to spray them with.

 

[Shilasdair]

May I hijack this thread, and ask Theresa_F if you are pleased with your Snuggy Spic and Spans?
I am swithering between buying a Boett, or a Snuggy for one of mine...
Oh, and she's a very fastidious grey and would be horrified by the thought of someone dirtying her with tea, too.

S

 

[VioletStripe]

LOL, yeah, i suppose there is that flaw with it. Still, it's kinda cool to know that people with darker coloured horses have that option, just thought it was interesting. XD

 

[LankyDoodle]

Shils, I have a snuggyhood and personally find they are better than the Boett we had several years back for a different horse; but lots of people here prefer the Boett. Lanky has severe sweetitch and, so far this year, the snuggyhood has prevented it. In fact, he was without the rug for a couple of weeks when it went for repair; he managed to get a couple of patches then, which since having the rug back on have cleared up. I think it's just a case of taking a punt on the one you think will suit your horse; I also deliberated with getting another Boett, but remembering the hassle I had with one before, I went for the SH and am glad I did.

Re the tea: I think tea has cleansing and soothing properties to it, so I can understand why it would calm the area. Also, if you think you are putting cold water onto the area, you can see why it would calm the itch. Having said that, my homemade flyspray is made up with tea.

 

[Theresa_F]

I will PM you in a few weeks - they are arriving next week and let you know how I find them.

I have gone for the full body plus the udder and new sheath cover - they suffer on their bellies - this is Chancer's main rubbing area, his belly in front of his sheath is going bald as we speak and Farra has an outie belly button (not an hernia) which seems to attract them. These should cover just about all of them, and what sticks out will get my home made midge and fly spray which is on the whole very good - also good for midge attracting OHs.

I have gone for chocolate brown - beige - well it will be covered in mud, poo and grass staines in about 60 seconds. The snuggys are mud proof which has got to be an advantage for me.

I did a fair bit of research, and a lot of people commented Boetts can be warm and as I have two hairy beasts, found on the research that the Spic and Spans are said to be cooler. They also have good reports on not rubbing mane - Chancer's is my pride and joy.

There are a few second hand on ebay at the moment, but I coughed up and bought direct from Snuggy.

 

[LankyDoodle]

[ QUOTE ]
I will PM you in a few weeks - they are arriving next week and let you know how I find them.

I have gone for the full body plus the udder and new sheath cover - they suffer on their bellies - this is Chancer's main rubbing area, his belly in front of his sheath is going bald as we speak and Farra has an outie belly button (not an hernia) which seems to attract them. These should cover just about all of them, and what sticks out will get my home made midge and fly spray which is on the whole very good - also good for midge attracting OHs.

I have gone for chocolate brown - beige - well it will be covered in mud, poo and grass staines in about 60 seconds. The snuggys are mud proof which has got to be an advantage for me.

I did a fair bit of research, and a lot of people commented Boetts can be warm and as I have two hairy beasts, found on the research that the Spic and Spans are said to be cooler. They also have good reports on not rubbing mane - Chancer's is my pride and joy.

There are a few second hand on ebay at the moment, but I coughed up and bought direct from Snuggy.

[/ QUOTE ]

They do sheath covers?

OMG. My snuggy covers just about everything apart from his lower legs and his sheath! Snuggy told me to go for the colour closest to my horse's colour to prevent overheating (not sure how!), so I have brown and have to say that although it does stay reasonably clean, it still gets rather messy if it rains and gets muddy.

 

[LankyDoodle]

Theresa, how on earth does it work? I have found it, but does it come ready-attached to the rug, or can you buy them separately, and how on earth do they pee?

 

[Theresa_F]

Well they are a very recent thing - they make them baggy so they hang down with a very fine mesh that the horse can pee through.

I decided to give them a go as Chancer really does get sore in front of his sheath. He then rubs and fills his willy with mud and sudocream - I constantly have to dig it out.

These covers are velcroed on so you can take them off easily. They are like the udder covers - you buy them seperately.

I assume I will just take it off daily and rinse it with a little dettol in the water to stop it getting yukky.

I will report back to folks as to whether I would have been better spending the money on sudocream

Chancer is probably a good one to try it on as he is a bit fussy about where he pees - will never pee in the trailer or on a hard surface unless desperate. He also really rubs his belly so it will also get a tough stay on test.

 

[LankyDoodle]

Oooh, Lanky is like that (won't pee on hard surfaces where splashback is inevitable

). They sound intriguing, I must say.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
I decided to give them a go as Chancer really does get sore in front of his sheath. He then rubs and fills his willy with mud and sudocream - I constantly have to dig it out.


[/ QUOTE ]

There is a reason I own three mares - it wasn't coincidence.

I heard that the Boetts were cooler than the Snuggy hoods, but like you had thought about buying udder covers, and leg covers as my poor girl gets eaten on her underside.
I don't like the eye fringes on the hoods though...
Do let us know how you get on - fit, wear, etc.
S

 

[LankyDoodle]

Don't bother with the leg covers. I have them for Lanky and they are useless. They come off easily, they don't fit well (tried three different sizes), and they don't add much more to the protection of the horse.

As for the fly fringe part, I don't think I'd have that again as it does annoy him, but on the other hand I think it does help him as well.

 

[kellyeaton]

tea tree and garlic gloves and calunder!