Sweet itch advice please

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rose bud

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I bought a new pony yesterday who has mild sweet itch and i could do with some advice please.
He didn't come with any rugs or fly masks etc, so am going to go shopping this morning.
I was going to give him a good bath today and was just wondering if there was a shampoo that people would reccommend to soothe his skin?
Also, should he be wearing a fly rug at this time of year (or all year round) and if so are there any good waterproof ones around?
He is an exmoor with a good coat so i don't want him to over heat!
Thankyou for any advice.
 
I have actually stopped sweet itch with three or four horses and one pony that I would class as 'severe' was greatly eased.

Forst, it is easier to stop and ease by starting in March before the gnat are about.
Feed NAF D-Tox or D-Itch starting before the flies.
Get some Neem Oil, mix 3mls, liquid soap (I used Hibbi Scrub) with 5 mls Neem Oil and mix with 1 litre hot water and wash all over with that. Do not rinse.
Neem is great for relieving thing and will keep the gnats away.
 
My last horse had sweet itch, it was quite bad and he was forever scratching himself raw.
I would highly recommend buying a boett blanket - they aren't cheap but they definitely helped my boy - it lasted well and kept it's value when I sold it on.
 
Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil in the original fragrance (though I am told by my Avon lady that all the fragrances work, as she has a few horsey customers). Spray it on the affected areas, use as a fly spray, but dont spray it under your saddle area or it will be slippy, it works a treat. We couple this with a fly mask and a Horseware sweet itch rug when its really midgy. Keeps our mare itch free.
 
As with Flashmans, I would definitely purchase a Boett rug. I have no doubt that the other people's posts are very affective, and more than worth a shot, but it'd be handy to have the boett there too.

We have also found that keeping ours outdoors all year round works, she has adequate shelters in her field and is in good health etc and generally seems much happier outside. In the past when we've popped her in the stable, she rubs straight away.

She hasnt really itched or scratched at all since we've had her in the boett all year round (under rugs in winter etc) so would definitely recommend!!

Best of luck :)
 
Brewers yeast is fantastic stuff, I have fed it to a mare of mine this year and she has been able to go "naked" and has not rubbed herself senseless. I've now moved her to a new field with grass in, she is back in her Boett as it is more sheltered and therefore more insects than her usual field. I just put the rain sheet (with neck) on top of the Boett at night. Once it gets colder, round about November then I shall take the Boett off.

I think you'd need to start the Brewers yeast now, but the effect is cumulative, if you keep it going you should be fine for next years midge season. We feed more in summer than over winter.

Do not underestimate the help you give your SI horse/pony by putting them in the most open, exposed, windy place possible, this really helps keep the midge population down.
 
I was up to 2 60ml scoops a day, but now it's a different kind of BY and I have gone back to 1/2 scoop and am building back up again to 2 scoops. Obviously it tastes different as she was refusing to eat her food which in a greedy native pony is Significant.
 
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