I have bought a horse with sweet-itch...

[MereChristmas]

My sweet itch mare was never naked.
In winter a Snuggy head and neck plus turnout rug

In summer a Shires sweet itch rug, belly and neck
PLUS
a Snuggy sweet itch head
PLUS
a Snuggy udder cover ( I stitched the velcro Snuggy provide on the back of the rug and the back of the belly flap)
PLUS
a cover I made from a chest protector which attached to the front of the belly flap to also hang between her legs

I also used Biteback products

photos to show belly flap bit before I added chest bit
and tail before, it consisted of a few long hairs and no long white hair at all, and after a year or so

Best of luck

 

[Birker2020]

I found this. I remember a lady on a previous yard fed this to her horse with sweet itch and it worked very well.

Steamed linseed has been known to alter the fatty-acid profile of the horse's hair and reduce irritation. Linseed is a rich source of the essential fatty acid, Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), and research suggests that foods rich in ALA could reduce inflammation and improve the clinical appearance of sweet itch.

What is sweet itch in horses?

Sweet itch in horses is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of the Culicoides biting midge and the level of severity varies

www.yourhorse.co.uk

 

[Cortez]

I found this. I remember a lady on a previous yard fed this to her horse with sweet itch and it worked very well.

Steamed linseed has been known to alter the fatty-acid profile of the horse's hair and reduce irritation. Linseed is a rich source of the essential fatty acid, Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), and research suggests that foods rich in ALA could reduce inflammation and improve the clinical appearance of sweet itch.

What is sweet itch in horses?

Sweet itch in horses is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of the Culicoides biting midge and the level of severity varies

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Linseed did precisely nothing to help any horse I've had with sweetitch.

 

[PSD]

Linseed did precisely nothing to help any horse I've had with sweetitch.

Linseed actually made my fell more itchy

 

[MereChristmas]

I didn’t change any feed for sweet itch. I fed for her work. As her sweet itch was controlled her condition improved.
She became silly on alfalfa but I expect that was irrelevant to the SI

 

[Gloi]

I fed linseed and it did nothing for the sweet itch though I do think it's a good feed.
No change in feed helped , only keeping midges away.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I line my fields with electric fencing so they can't get to a fence to itch. Supposedly. I have Shetlands, they go through the second the battery dies

 

[Cortez]

I line my fields with electric fencing so they can't get to a fence to itch. Supposedly. I have Shetlands, they go through the second the battery dies

I have seen horses scraping themselves along the ground to itch themselves; tearing their manes out with back hooves.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have seen horses scraping themselves along the ground to itch themselves; tearing their manes out with back hooves.

Thankfully none of mine have done that though the old stallion is partial to itching his tummy on his front hoof when half up half down!

Mine are also rugged up all year round in whatever rug is needed for the season.

 

[Cortez]

Thankfully none of mine have done that though the old stallion is partial to itching his tummy on his front hoof when half up half down!

Mine are also rugged up all year round in whatever rug is needed for the season.

I've seen a horse (thankfully not mine) dementedly scratching its belly on a water trough. It's an awful condition, I feel so sorry for horses that suffer from it. This is the first year that the sight of a midge won't put the heart crossways in me, since my last horse is gone.

 

[Gloi]

I've seen a horse (thankfully not mine) dementedly scratching its belly on a water trough. It's an awful condition, I feel so sorry for horses that suffer from it. This is the first year that the sight of a midge won't put the heart crossways in me, since my last horse is gone.

That's why we only had soft plastic for water. My biggest problem was him biting chunks out of his legs and sheath though 30 cetrizine a day and a good coating of grease did reduce it enough to stop that fortunately. The mare didn't take long to wear through a strong rug by scratching with a hind hoof. Constantly patching.
After dealing with it for 20 years I am very relieved I no longer have to.

 

[saddlesore]

Boett blanket, biteback products, cavalesse. It’s a horrible condition but it is manageable. Be mindful of your turnout too, don’t turnout near still water. A windy hill is ideal.

Too late to edit but my boy has a full mane/tail/feather- it’s horrible but can me managed

 

[SantaVera]

Having tried probably every sweetitch rug on the market including very expensive ones, I found the shires si rug to be the best by far. Stopping the horse getting bitten is key, so a suitable rug, barrier creams on crest and dock and fly spray. Everyone has their own favourite of these so you could try different brands and find what works best for you.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Environment is key. Avoid low lying fields with streams, boggy bits and tree belts. Go for windswept hills where the midges can’t fly.
Boett rugs were the only thing that worked for us, though now there’s all sorts of new treatments from the vet.

Also collect hair from mane and tail to make a few fake plaits just in case.

^^^ Exactly this. Even a half mile's distance can make a huge difference.

My last horse was a sweet itchy: the normal "sweet itch season" runs (roughly) between February around schools half-term tiem, to the October half-term (that's how I used to calculate it anyway!). But I have a vivid memory of Christmas Day when I'd had a few sherries, out pratting about with a posh frock on and wellies, bunging on a sweet-itch rug coz I'd seen midges!! You can never truly relax.

It IS a manageable condition; you just have to get your head around it. Fundamental to management is a good Sweet Itch hoody rug (note: NOT a fly rug - these just won't do as don't offer enough protection). I used the Premier Equine ones which are a cheaper substitute for the Rambo. But be careful you don't wash these rugs too hot coz they will shrink! 30C will do!

For riding I found a full ride-on sheet is a game-changer; think mine was the Amigo one.

(Edited: there is a FB group called "Sweet Itch Support Group" which you may find helpful).

You may find supplements such as Camomile & Red Bush tea work for yours (didn't for mine). You might also want to talk to your vets as apparently there are now injections that you can do. Am not up on the current knowledge, but apparently this is so. So might be worth investigating.

Ohh and also avoid garlic like the plague with a sweet itchy; previous vet said its the worst thing you can give them.