Repellent for sweet itch neds

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MagicMelon

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Trying to get prepared for this season (yes, am seriously looking into buying a Boett), so what repellent do you people use to keep the dreaded midges at bay?

I have always just used my own DIY kind (citronella, tea, vinegar etc.) but I dont think it repels midgies as such. And do you wash them weekly? If so, with what? My boy is prone to dry flaky skin.

I dont want to use an anti-itch ointment as we bought Kill-Itch and he seemed to have an allergic reaction to it.....!!
 
My pony had a HUGE reaction to killitch! Bloody horrible stuff, excuse my French. Don't let that put you off other products though, the NetTex cream is meant to be fab. I used to use NAF Midge Off on that pony, but my horse I have now has Lincoln Ditch the Itch sprayed every day on her mane and tail, with Phaser spray all over the rest of her. My YO's horse has really bad sweet itch and she has a Boett on with Avon Skin So Soft sprayed on her exposed bits, and it really helps her. Loads of people I know think the Avon stuff is fab.
 
our itch cob has his neck and top of the tail washed twice a week in mineral salt shampoo stuff and then leovet's anti itch stuff on every day and the citronella vingar teabag spray on 4 times a day.
Also a boett rug,.. the best buy we ever had!
He is also hogged
Loux
 
I tried Avon Skin So Soft, but didn't have much impact

I sprayed his bits with Barrier's Enhanced Formula Fly Repellent - it doesn't sting his private bits and works really well. The only thing I would say is that you do need to keep reapplying as doesn't really go longer than 8 hrs.
 
NetTex Summer salve on all exposed areas - bloody expensive at €30 a tub but very good and lasts about 3/4 days without reapplication.

For showing classes/riding (i.e. when the rug must come off) he wears my own concotion as well as the NetTex. 700ml v. strong cold tea (7 tea bags), 250ml of spirit vinegar, 5ml of neem oil, 5ml of cironella oil, 5ml of teatree oil and 50ml of dettol.
 
Coopers fly repellent is fab, its quite expensive and has to be applied with gloves but works really well.
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I use Stop Itch Salve Complete. My local place does it for around £15 a tub. I think its great. A bit messy but excellent for around the sheath and face. I've heard marmite or brewers yeast helps from the inside out but in the 8 years I've been dealing with my sweet itch cobbie I've found the Boett and the Stop Itch to be the best combo although due to my location now I'm down to just using the cream. We have an open field with natural shelter high up overlooking the sea where its always breezy. I'd make sure, if you can, that your field is nowhere near the muckheap or any water source and is exposed as much as possible and if you get a Boett just make sure you either electric fence everything off or just make sure there's no sharp objects he can snag it on. Try and reduce the amount of things that he has to itch on as itching can become a habit in itself (the more you scratch the more it itches). Thay can always roll to relieve themselves if need be. My cobbie has perfecewd the art of rubbing his sheath along the ground for a scratch
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Good luck all sweet itch sufferers
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'fraid the only real weapon against sweetitch is the Boett - My Icelandic is a sufferer and I have tried every lotion and potion, but the Boett is the only thing that works. He is on his third Boett in 10 years, so pretty good going really.
 
If you put it on eaarly enough in the season you can use it to stop the sweetitch before it starts
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My youngster is covered in it under his rugs on dry days as the midges are out already down here.
 
Oh god, so I need to get a Boett quick then! What should I do electric fencing wise though - he is turned out 24/7 with my other horses: we do have 4 paddocks but usually I turn them out so they can always have access to the stables / shelters but this is of course where he rubs the most (in the door ways)! So should I put him in one of the further away paddocks (ie. away from buildings) on his own? I just worry as he's a hot horse anyway so Id hate to think in the heat he wont be able to get any shade...... What do you think??
 
I have to electric fence mine away from any structures.

I am lucky and have fields with trees along the edge so he gets some shade.

I don't worry about bad weather as he gets waterproofs put on top of the pyjamas and fly rug.
 
If it were me I would leave him where he is, if you can stop him itching using lotion/ potions and a boett rug then there is no need to worry about moving him- that way he can also have shade. If you have limited success then maybe re-consider.
I do not entirely agree with leaving sweet itch sufferers with nothing to itch on- its like you having an itch and somebody tying your hands behind your back so you cant scratch it. Sometimes when the scratching becomes habitual its the only way to stop it though.

It may also be worth trying a skin supplement too- a lady at my old yard swore by Feedmark EquiDermis Plus

Good luck
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just wondering can you put boett sweet itch rug under new zealand, my horse itches his mane only so am going to get him a boett but the flies have not stopped biting him all winter.
 
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