Help!! Fly rug or not??

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Kub

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Urgh, I'm really not sure if I'm doing the right thing for my boy :(

He's a hairy coloured traditional cob and he started itching his bum and between his ears a couple of months ago, pretty much when the weather warmed up and the flies came out to play. He doesn't seem to have affected his forelock but he did rub a section of his tail out at the top.

One person has suggested he may have mild sweet ich so keep him in a fly rug. Another friend says prevention is better than cure and fly rugs are built to be worn 24/7 so leave it on him. My boyfriend says I'm being cruel as he's a hairy horse and keeping him rugged is unnatural.

I've been putting aloe vera gel on the top of his tail and it's making a difference, the hair has grown back and there's no obvious bold patch now, but he's still itching. He always seems to do it once he's been fed in the same place in the field (I say seems as I don't watch him all the time so he may do it at other times too). He clearly enjoys the scratching as his lip goes insane so I'm wondering if it's just a routine thing he's got into, have food and have a scratch, or if it's a sign of soemthing else.

Just really not sure if I'm doing the right thing by keeping a fly rug on him. It seems to be stopping him rubbing out his tail but he is a hairy and another layer when hot can't be that nice...

Thank you if you got to the end, any opinions appreciated. Milk and oreo cookies for all :)
 
I know exactly how you feel, had the same dilemma with my horse. He started coming in with swollen lumps from bites all over his belly but I didn't want to put him in a fly rug because I wanted him to be able to enjoy being rug free, and was worried about him getting too hot, sweaty or irritated by it.

I tried just using spray but it had no effect so bought a fly rug for him in the end. He is out over night in it, which means I don't have to worry too much about him getting hot. He comes in during the day to sleep so has it off then. I have to say he seems so much happier now, bites are all gone and he's no longer constantly stamping and swishing his tail. Even if he stays out all day in it he has never been sweaty under it, I think it reflects the sun so if anything keeps him cooler!

Saying that, if your horse is rubbing his face I'm not sure how helpful a rug will be, as it wont cover it.
 
It does sound like mild sweet itch.
The mare I have with sweetitch is in by day and out by night which keeps her happy. She's in a Rambo sweetitch hoody with a face mask and all mine are fed garlic all year round which makes a big different. I never see flys round my horses
he sould be getting his summer coat if he hasn't got it already. If it was me I would rug him as it can't be nice for him being itchy all the time and must really annoy him.
 
We've a short coated arab x pony who is a fly magnet (and a hairy NF who is almost immune to flies). I started him on a Global herbs product I think called Fly Free (or something like that - there are several herbal ones around) about 4 days ago, and I'm already noticing he's less bothered by the flies, certainly last night he seemed fine and almost un-bitten. Can't say there are less flies as I was very badly bitten about 10 times (killed 5 mossies) when poo picking last night (I'm also a fly magnet). I was so badly bitten I was actually contemplating trying some myself, but it doesn't smell very nice and is quite yellow!
 
He hasn't really had any lumps or bumps, there's been one or two but I think they may be from other horses rather than flies. Nor has he really been itching anywhere else or generally itchy when out in the field. He just seems to have his scratch and then wonder off and graze like normal.

He does have his summer coat, though it's still coming out lol. Not feeding garlic at the mo so that might be a good addition. I'm not so worried about his head as he's not actually rubbing anything out. It's just his tail really, so not sure if that warrants having a rug on... :(
 
I have an appaloosa who's doing exactly the same thing. If it's very hot he has his fly mesh sheet on to avoid sunburn (doesn't sweat at all) and i spray his tail with fly repellent. Whenever he's got his fly sheet on his tail improves. Aloe Vera is excellent so keep using it and wash the top of his tail every couple of days with an antibacterial shampoo.

Hope that helps.
 
If his summer coat is still quite thick then maybe clipping him would help to keep him more comfy? You could then stick his fly sheet on without worrying about him getting too hot, I would imagine that heat will make any itching worse.

Garlic has been found to make some horses more itchy, but I think that brewers yeast is supposed to be good (something to do with B vitamins)
 
just a thought for you....
both of ours will tail rub this time of year in the stables, they can't in the fields. They do wear fly rugs in the day only as our field is surrounded by houses and becomes a little fly trap! I dont think frank (cob!) gets any hotter with it on than off.

the one thing I do find..... where he gets hot and sweaty he often gets sores in the cracks right up in his dock either side of his tail... I think its a bit of a friction reaction. Its just worth a check as I can't really spot his unless I have a rummage. He has black skin their normally but it will start to loose its colour. Smothering in sudocrem does the trick.

I think its your choice whether to fly rug or not but I dont think its great at this time of year for horses to have rugs on 24/7 unless they are actually sweet itchy. Only because I would like my rug off! :)
 
My cob (albiet not a hairy huge cob) has a fly rug on 24/7 in the summer, mainly due to the fact that his coat is dyed by the sun and also due to the fact that he suffers from the heat. I have a UV rug which repels UV rays, he is always cool under his rug, which when he is a black horse is reassuring. He sweats and is very prone to heat stroke when in full sun but rubs like something posessed when in a stable, so its nicer for him to be out. Some fly rugs used to make him hot, but all the UV rugs i have used have always kept him cool, fly free and happy. Might be worth looking into? :)
 
touchstone - thanks but I can't really clip him as I'm showing him in hand at the moment and keeping him natural. He's only rising 3 so don't really want to clip him out.

ester - I could try blocking his access to the place he scratches. I think he'd be worse in our stables and they're not much cooler so I don't bring him in. I did wonder if that was a bad idea but actually, I think he's more comfortable outside and less things for him to rub on :) I agree with the whole not wearing a rug 24/7 which is why I'm questioning myself, although I don't think he gets any hotter under it as on hot days, he sweats up when naked or rugged.

baileymoo - oh good idea. I have a shires maxi flow fly rug and it doesn't look like it has UV protection, although is it a biege colour so should offer some protection. I'll have a look into that :)

Can you get anything like a bum cover?? Or is it something I could make? Like mjam64, his tail seems to be better with the rug on but if that's the only bit affected, I wonder if I could cover his rump but leave the rest of him naked? Or would that just not work? Lol
 
I have just got a rambo bug buster rug, its a mesh style and has anti bug properties in the rug fabric, its brilliant for him, he is piebald but mostly white and gets sunburn easy. Just need to find a way to get him to keep his fly/uv face mask on in the field now, its off more than its on!!!
 
I think my mare had mild sweet itch (if there is such a thing) she rubs her mane and tail on her stable every time I bring her in, she can't rub on anything in the field as it is all electric fence. She is always very itchy but does not rub herself raw. I used Nettex Itch Stop on her tail and mane and that seems to help, plus lots of fly spray and garlic in food. Have decided that I am going to buy her a pagony sweet itch rug and see if that helps.
 
Well he only has one spot he can rub himself on, I could fence it off but I'll have to work it onto the electrics otherwise he'll just trash it lol. I do wonder if he's made it a routine though.. He doesn't itch when I stand him in his stable to do stuff, just stands there, but when I put him out, he wonders off, has a scratch and then starts grazing. Wish I could read his mind... lol!
 
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