Getting prepared for spring.... feeding to avoid sweet itch

[darksecret99]

So.... I've bought all the ingredients for home made fly spray and have picked up a new fly rug with belly cover in the sales....

But am trying to work out what to feed to help avoid sweet itch... I know you are supposed to make the feed changes before the flies appear (but have never had a sweet itchy horse before, so am a bit confused cos there are so many things that are supposed to help... aloe vera, marmite, various suppliments and oils etc)... any help appreciated!!

I only got him last summer and although he didnt loose hair, he was itchy and fly bites swelled up like half a tennis ball!!! I've read that sweet itch can develop with age, so I want to take precautions (he will be 6 this summer)!!

At the moment he gets no hard feed, just readigrass, NAF pink powder (which contains yeast), linseed oil, garlic and carrots, with ad lib hay and turnout most days... he is maintaining the correct weight and is nice and shiney...

He wasnt on the pink powder or oil last summer, just general vits and mins...

 

[spaniel]

Theres really no need to change your horses diet (although personally I would leave out the garlic). What you need to ensure is that you get the sweetitch rug on BEFORE there is even a hint of a midge in the air and keep it on at all times.

As long as you can prevent that first bite you will have a SI free summer.

 

[hussar]

I find that NAF D-Itch seems to help with my sweet-itch prone youngster. I start feeding it towards the end of February but might start earlier if we get a really mild spell. And I carry on until October.