Hacking out in a fly rug - possible?

[FinkleyAlex]

My gelding has just become semi-retired due to athritis at the age of 17. He has had a busy competitive life as a youngster and now finds it difficult to do any schooling and is being turned into a happy hacker on the vets advice, having never really hacked out much in the past due to living in London. He is now at a yard with great hacking and has adapted very well to it. My main problem is that he suffers from sweet itch and wears a flyrug 24/7 to prevent him itching himself raw - this and BanItch cream keeps his itching under control. However hacking out is a nightmare when the flies are out - which seems to be everyday now. I cover him in flyspray (have tried various brands) but it honestly does nothing and flies surround him and make him miserable untill he gets really wound up and jogs/bucks to get rid of them. He then gets home and itches like mad - it's truly ruining our hacking progress. I bought him a Boett rug a few years ago which rubbed him raw (and was the correct size) and he damaged it within a few days - it made him really hot and he and I ended up hating it and sold it on to someone on here, so that's not an option.

Would it be awfully dangerous to hack him out in a flyrug and my saddle ontop? It's the only thing I can think of to help him being that he can't do anything but hack?

 

[xbuzzx]

I'm pretty sure that i've heard you can ride in snuggy hoods without too much bother, but i've never actually used one so i can't be certain...:S If that's any help? :L

 

[PurplePickle]

HKM do a ride on fly rug style thing

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

also have you tried Deosect for the flies? (you dont have to keep applying it, only every few weeks unless it rains hard, and you wipe it on?)

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I have ridden in fly rugs before just making sure the straps are done up tight

 

[charlie13]

when i was working in germany we had full neck fly exersize sheets which worked really well have look but carnt find it have a feeling it was aSvchockemoehle own make one sorry not mutch help


look what i found

http://www.hkm-sportsequipment.eu/a...=002002008&e4=002002008052&search=&startpos=0

 

[FinkleyAlex]

when i was working in germany we had full neck fly exersize sheets which worked really well have look but carnt find it have a feeling it was aSvchockemoehle own make one sorry not mutch help


look what i found

http://www.hkm-sportsequipment.eu/a...=002002008&e4=002002008052&search=&startpos=0

Ah thank you so much - that looks ideal! Just need to figure out how to translate the sizes now!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

The Boett website boasts that you can ride out with one on tho' I've never tried it.

Apparently there is a Cashel bug rug - think its on the Premier Equine site but again never tried it.

 

[Cyberchick]

What about these? Would they be any help? http://www.cybercheckout.co.uk/prod...eta-airflow-mesh-exercise-sheet-fly-rug-.html

 

[BFG]

What about this one (3rd pic down)????

http://www.totally-tack.co.uk/acatalog/fly_rugs.html

 

[BFG]

Same product but cheaper with free P&P

http://www.kmeliteproducts.co.uk/products.php?cat=9

 

[FinkleyAlex]

Thanks everyone - I'll be going for this one as it offers the most coverage whilst being sturdy - sadly quarter sheets would only partially help as the flies attack him all over!
http://www.hkm-sportsequipment.eu/a...=001002006&e4=001002006005&search=&startpos=0

 

[Coffee_Bean]

You can get a riding one, think it's cashel? Don't know how good it would be?

 

[Kat]

My instructor hacks her show horse in a Boett, you wouldn't know the horse had sweet itch, she looks fab.

 

[Carefreegirl]

Derby house do a 'ride on' one that covers from head to tail. There is absoloutly NO hint of Katie Price about it either so thats a plus point.