Fly rugs

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lauren-rebecca96

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So, i have a horse which my mum believes has sweetitch, we've had him just over 10 months his previous owner didnt say anything about him having it. He came with a weatherbeeta fly rug. We've recently started putting it on him and his mane is starting to get rubbed away. I've asked my mum about trying him with one without a neck, but she has said no. As silly as it sounds its made me pretty upset that he might not have a mane this time next month considering it was hogged off when we got him & i've been training it since it started growing. Does anyone have any suggestions for any fly rugs that wont rub his mane away?
 
We used a mark todd combo fly rug on our SI horse and it worked just as well as a Boett and was a lot cheaper and hard wearing. Might be worth mentioning something cheaper first .
 
Agh, just seems to go in one ear out of the other! I want something thats reasonably priced, and doesnt rub at his mane, i spose beggars cant be choosers and you get what you pay for! If only i had a job...
 
Mine has a few sweet itch rugs, the cheapest is an Amigo one but no idea how old that is. None of them rub his mane, I put lots of spray on mane conditioner and every few days use oil (I use Supreme oil but baby oil would do) mite don't like biting through oil so that works well. The conditioned mane is less affected by the rug. keep the rug and the mane clean too, that will help greatly and let the mane get some air for at least sone time every day, my boy comes in for 20 mins to eat his tea and his rug comes off for that time
 
Okay thanks, im gonna try that, he has his rug off for most of the day, from around 10am-about 6/7pm so will give that a shot, any other ideas are appreciated
 
It is a soft material, its the same sort of material as it is around his tail, i think its a wee bit tight round his neck, but my mums adamant its fine! Its absolutely massive around his bum area & hangs down to like just below his hock, but its tight round his neck? Work that out!
 
Why does he have the rug off most of the day? If he has sweet itch the only way to keep the midges away is by leaving the rug on all the time. Slight rubbing of the mane from the rug is nothing in comparison to how the mane will look when the horse starts trying to itch frantically. Use Avon skin so soft oil spray all over horse then rug him up- the Boett or similar style rug really is the best.
 
Hes in for the day, hes topped up with naf off fly spray & their citronella spray every afternoon/ evening when hes in he doesnt rub his mane at all, so i, sceptical about him even having sweet itch!
 
Its vital to control sweet itch at this time of year; so the best way is to cover up so the midges don't bite in the first place.

My boy has a lovely mane and tail; he wears a Rambo sweet itch hoody if out in the field. Have got a Snuggy Hoods mask for him, which he hasn't worn yet as I use Killitch on his ears and face area. If he's standing in, I just bung on a light fly-rug just to be sure in case there are any pesky midges around.

Can't recommend the Rambo highly enough, but aware its not cheap.

Have a look at the "Premier Equine" website: they've got various special offers on and their rugs are very good quality and extremely serviceable, but cheaper than the Rambo. In fact I've just ordered a fly rug from them which is on special offer till midnight tonight (Monday!!).

If going the cheap and cheerful route, some advice: I bought a "Pagony" rug a few years back and regretted it. Badly made and just fell apart within a few weeks. Bad mistake :(

Sorry, to answer your question as to how to get the mane to lie flat: would echo what others have said re. weighing up "nice mane" -v- "sweet itch rug". You may have to make a sacrifice, OR hog yours completely so there's no issue.

You could try the Snuggy Hoods hoodie....... they do ones for sweet itches with the necks and eye & ears covers - they are not cheap, alas, but DO keep the mane nice and flat plus stay in place. Please don't be tempted to go for cheaper lycra ones - I bought one for my boy a few years ago and went up to the field to bring him in. He was standing all on his own up in the corner, head down by his knees, not moving. When I got closer I saw that the blimmin lycra hood thing had slipped and had gone all over his eyes, and he was standing there, bless him, totally not able to see. I burnt the lycra cover. They're a menace and a danger - PLEASE don't get one. Go for the Snuggy Hoods if buying anything.
 
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lauren-rebecca96 said:
I'll look into the snuggy hoods and premier equine rugs &see if i can persuade my mum, thankyou :)
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Snuggy Hoods are not cheap I'm afraid to say...... but they are brill for keeping a mane tidy and lying flat. (Think Mary King uses them for hers :))

Can recommend Premier Equine very highly; they've got a new sweet itch hoody rug out which looks almost as good as the Rambo.
 
Looking at sweet itch rugs now, he has the weatherbeeta sweet itch combo, ever used on before? & Im just looking on the horseware website, just wish i had money & id order him on now! Bit the financial side of.him is my mums responsibility her choice!
 
I have just bought the shires sweet itch combo and it's brilliant. Really long neck with satin lining so no rubbing and because it goes over the ears it stays all the way up. Nice substanial rug. You'll get one from ebay for about £57
 
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