Stable itching

[sidonnel]

I have a gelding that is scratching the top of his tail and just at the base of his whithers, and ruining his tail in the process!!He doesn't have sweet itch-had another pony with this in the past, so well aware of it!!He's out for about 8 hours, going out in the morning at 9 and coming in at about 5, he is then in the stable until about half seven when I ride him. He's then given some hay in a haynet when he comes back in and then he's stabled overnight. He needs to be kept in as he's getting too fat, but I think in the process its the boredom thats making him scratch his tail!Also there's no other horses out or in with him at the moment-which may be part of the problem!Have tried a horse ball-which he is afraid of and won't touch!!Any ideas???!

 

[Cahill]

have you checked for little worms?i think they are called pinworms,just an idea,remember reading something on hho but i may be wrong.

 

[Marchtime]

Mine has a habit of doing this. He's generally a very itchy horse but this time of year he itches out half his tail and the bottom of his mane. He doesn't have sweet itch. I'm sure a few years ago I went to my local saddlery and bought some anti itch lotion and shoved it on his dock. Worked really well in that he stopped itching it but it was very oily and so his tail always looked dirty. Personally I just leave mine now. He doesn't rub it raw so I put up with him being a little bald! Sorry it's not much help.

 

[AmynPeanut]

You say you have a horse ball, is it a snack-a-ball, they're brill for keeping bored people busy, our horse weaves and its really helping to break the habbit! (but if he's a tubby person i'd cut down on feed if using one)

Regular washing is really important too, i do mine with neem shampoo and scrub with a dandy brush, it is important to remove scurfy bits and dead skin as little creatures feed on it and cause itching. I'll then bathe it with hot water and tea tree oil (if i'm feeling particularly nice he gets an all over hot toweling) Chills him out and refreshing his coat at the same time!

 

[minmax]

Where do you get your neem shampoo from? I have neem oil that I put in a homemade fly spray but would like a shampo too.

 

[AmynPeanut]

The shampoo is called TheraNeem, i bought mine through Karren Ruggles who sells the Stop-it-all sweet itch/mud fever lotion.

http://www.organixsouth.com/theraneem.html#
http://www.karenruggles.co.uk/

Search around you may find it cheap on ebay or something! Its really good, leaves coat feeling super!

You can also buy capsules to feed, not tried that though!

 

[Imke]

NAF Itchstop. I had the same problem and this worked like a dream. Bit messy to apply but worth it.

 

[Kezza]

Sudocreme is also excellent as it has benzl benzoate in it which repels midges and is cheap! I wash mine in NetTex Surgical Shampoo which kills bugs dead if there are any present. Mine too is through boredom and also heat so I try to keep him as cool as possible.

 

[Fransurrey]

[ QUOTE ]
Sudocreme is also excellent as it has benzl benzoate in it which repels midges and is cheap! I wash mine in NetTex Surgical Shampoo which kills bugs dead if there are any present. Mine too is through boredom and also heat so I try to keep him as cool as possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sodding eck, I never thought of using this as a repellant! I have the same problem this year. In fact, Henry rubbed a splinter in there (I assume) nad now has an abscess brewing, which I hope will pop tonight!! I might have to give it a little help with a surgical needle.

Udder cream is quite effective, I've found. It has antibacterial properties and the flies seem to leave it alone - I use it on the geldings' sheaths, normally, but started putting a blob on his tail when I noticed the swelling (until I bought the poultice).