Sweet Itch & The Archers (just for fun)

Nancykitt

Nancykitt

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Those who listen to the Archers may well have been cringeing at last night's episode, where Alice - supposedly a very experienced horsewoman - calls in the vet because the mare she is riding seems 'a little irritable'.
The vet suggests sweet itch. Alice says 'isn't it a bit early'? but is told that it does happen in March. Apparently the horse has been rubbing and has bare patches.
Vet suggests medicated shampoo, which he is only too happy to sell to her, and a lotion such as benzyl benzoate. Alice says 'would a sweet itch rug help?' Vet says yes.
The possibility of the 'irritability' being something other than sweet itch isn't even raised.


Who is advising the scriptwriters on this stuff? Given that Alice had heard of sweet itch, did she really need to pay a vet to diagnose it? All she needed to do was a H&H forum search to get the very latest info!

So, a few questions...

- Has anyone on here got horses with sweet itch just yet? I know it's different up here in Scotland, but today it's 6 degrees, torrential rain/hail and gale force winds. Even if it got really warm tomorrow (which it won't), it'd take a while for midges to hatch and get geared up for attack. When I lived in Lancs and had a sweet itch pony he never had any signs until at least April, but perhaps some of you are seeing midges already. I used to get Finn rugged up and Z-itch applied in late March if it was warm enough just to be ahead of the game, but we often got frost/snow in March so no midges.

- Would any experienced horseperson really call a vet out to confirm sweet itch if all the symptoms are there (assuming that the horse is known as a sweet itch sufferer)?
- Does anyone buy medicated horse shampoo from the vet ("I'll add it to your bill" - yes, I'm sure you will...)
- Would an experienced horseperson not be a bit more clued up about treatments and rugs?

And finally...
- Does anyone still use the term 'loose box' - last night's episode was the first time I'd heard that phrase in about 20 years.

I have to remember, though, that this same person called a vet out just to confirm that a pony she'd bought for her daughter was overweight.
('I think he might be a bit overweight...' 'Yeah, he's fat. That'll be £100 please.')
 
We had midges in DECEMBER. They p-d off for a bit in Jan and early Feb and are now back with a vengeance. Not today, as we have 45mph winds, but last week. Maybe back next week. Or maybe this afternoon? If the owner can't keep anything right and is completely frazzled, that sounds accurate to me 😂

I've never listened to the Archers to be fair, but for mainstream broadcasting it sounds like they did a decent job. Most other networks are still stuck on every horse that's seen needs to neigh and they are of course galloped straight out of the stable without their tendons exploding.
 
My old cob has started rubbing his mane a bit; I have considered putting a fly rug on him but the ground is still so wet, it would need daily washing (and today we're back to gales so no biting things around for the mo)

The Archers is ridiculous about all things horse related.
Remember the days of evil Rob, when Shula's horse broke a cheek piece (I mean - how???) out hunting and Rob came to her rescue
And the fat pony thing too - you would think between them Alice and Chris would know a fat pony when they saw one

eta Years ago Justin bought 2 Arabs that he and Lilian used to ride - Amir and Aziz, or something like that - whatever happened to them?
Justin has always struck me as the last person on earth to buy Arabs - 5 stone too heavy for a start.
A nice IDx would be much more his type
 
Cloball said:
The horse stuff on the Archers is always hilarious.

I used to listen regularly as I found it comforting but the writing just got worse and worse. Character continuity all over the shop, storylines chopping and changing etc.
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I think the main thing that gets me is the regularity with which they call out the vet. Obviously, we all know that there's no substitute for proper veterinary advice at times but when two parents - and experienced horsewoman and a farrier - have to call out the vet in order to confirm that a child's pony is a bit porky, it's slightly implausible.

I know that the scriptwriters have an agricultural adviser, but I think that they need an equine adviser just so they don't come up with implausible stuff. Perhaps Alice's past drink problems have resulted in her forgetting everything she knew about sweet itch...

I have to admit that The Archers on its own can be ridiculous and even irritating at times; the only reason I listen to it is because I also listen to a very irreverent Archers podcast that is extremely funny and provides me with a good laugh at the weekends.
 
Midges have been active here, I've had a sweet-itch rug on old pony on/off for a few weeks now though I've not had to use any creams yet. Whip it off whenever it's windy enough but we've had a lot of mild weather in the low teens and it's so wet everywhere the midges have been out in abundance. I hate this time of year as I'm constantly guessing with the weather and swapping rugs around and layering rainsheets on top of fly rugs. At least once it gets warm and dry enough I can just stick the sweet-itch rug on full time and be done with it.
 
:oops: I know the writer, well one of them.
I've not actually spoken to them In a year or two. I'd occasionally have the horsey bits suggested to me and found it incredibly hard to say "what? No that just wouldnt happen" then to have to explain why something like that may not happen, I'd then find myself agreeing because I felt bad :p Apologies!
I've never ever listened or would even know where or when to listen.
 
South of Scotland here. Midgies very much in evidence and known sweet itch sufferers at my yard have started proactive support and treatment.

Personally yes, I would get a vet out if my horse was rubbing itself bald and had no previous history of sweet itch. I’d also happily try vet approved treatments. Having seen horses who had to be pts because of the utter misery that sweet itch can cause - very severe self harming in one case - it’s not something I would take lightly.
 
Honestly, it was only meant as a fun post - after all, it's essentially a soap...

If people have got midges in their neck of the woods then fine - I wouldn't say I'm envious of you but it's deep winter here on the north west coast and my boys still have winter rugs on!. But if midges are in the south of Scotland then they're very likely in Ambridge too.

It was really that Alice came over as so utterly clueless considering that she is supposed to be an experienced horsewoman. She knew about sweet itch, but didn't even point out the rubbed patches on the horse until the vet mentioned sweet itch.
I think there's a whole bunch of listeners who think that horse owners call out vets on a minimum of a weekly basis just to do things like confirm that a horse is fat - and to sell 'medicated shampoo.'

ETA - I've just been reminded that this particular vet once said that laminitis led to 'swollen hooves' so I'm not sure I'd be seeking his advice on anything really!)
 
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Alice was utterly clueless about what to do re horses/fireworks too
Honestly, why anyone trusts her with their horse is a complete mystery (as was why Shula divorced Alistair; and why she abandoned her roots to minister to the people of Sunderland)
 
cauda equina said:
Alice was utterly clueless about what to do re horses/fireworks too
Honestly, why anyone trusts her with their horse is a complete mystery (as was why Shula divorced Alistair; and why she abandoned her roots to minister to the people of Sunderland)
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Ah yes, I’d forgotten about the fireworks thing! She was indeed devoid of any common sense.
If the scriptwriters go out of their way to get an agricultural adviser so that storylines are plausible, I don’t know why they don’t do the same for horsey stuff. Actually, all they’d need to do is to join our forum!
 
I don't currently have midges. Lancashire. When I had a pony with bad sweet itch it only took a couple of warm days though to set him off itching. He went from his sweetitch rug to a full neck rainsheet as I have been caught out in warm winter spells.

They never mentioned lice though, did they?
 
poiuytrewq said:
:oops: I know the writer, well one of them.
I've not actually spoken to them In a year or two. I'd occasionally have the horsey bits suggested to me and found it incredibly hard to say "what? No that just wouldnt happen" then to have to explain why something like that may not happen, I'd then find myself agreeing because I felt bad :p Apologies!
I've never ever listened or would even know where or when to listen.
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Oh ho, so it’s all your fault!
 
I kept a SI rug on my last mare pretty much year-round. In Sussex we have had midges in December. When I first bought her, she had lice (unsurprising coming from barn kept bunch of young horses in NL); anyway - I got a vet to diagnose after I had treated the lice, but the itching persisted... Never, again :oops:...
 
Nancykitt said:
Honestly, it was only meant as a fun post - after all, it's essentially a soap...

If people have got midges in their neck of the woods then fine - I wouldn't say I'm envious of you but it's deep winter here on the north west coast and my boys still have winter rugs on!. But if midges are in the south of Scotland then they're very likely in Ambridge too.

It was really that Alice came over as so utterly clueless considering that she is supposed to be an experienced horsewoman. She knew about sweet itch, but didn't even point out the rubbed patches on the horse until the vet mentioned sweet itch.
I think there's a whole bunch of listeners who think that horse owners call out vets on a minimum of a weekly basis just to do things like confirm that a horse is fat - and to sell 'medicated shampoo.'

ETA - I've just been reminded that this particular vet once said that laminitis led to 'swollen hooves' so I'm not sure I'd be seeking his advice on anything really!)
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Not an Archerite, but can confirm in January, snow on the ground, icicles on the reeds, very still morning with bright sunlight - midges dancing over a stone water trough, and plenty of them.
I think sunlight and lack of breeze just wakes them up, creep out of the walls and start showing off.
 
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Petalpoos said:
I just heard the afternoon repeat and had a chuckle. Was amazed to hear they still use benzoyl benzoate. I remember buying that in huge quantities for a friend’s horse and it took me a few trips to the chemist before I realised it was used for scabies in humans 🤣
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Yep, it's still one of the first go-to products!

@Nancykitt I know you posted this in jest, but even for a very experienced horseperson, then unless they had personally had sweet itch horses before, they'd possibly not immediately think of sweet itch in February/March time.

To answer one of your questions though - I'm in Surrey and with the warm weather 2-3 weeks ago, my SI pony did start rubbing her mane. Both ponies were getting mite-y ears as well. Summer Freedom cream has been recovered from storage, which dealt nicely with the ears, and the SI pony is booked for the Insol jab next week (a month late, but vet still thinks it will have an effect).
 
maya2008 said:
Rug goes on by mid Feb each year.

But in March, with no previous history, I’d be looking for lice first!
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Yep - lice! Definitely. Have seen quite a few cases around recently.
The 'previous history' point is actually very important here. With a known sweet itch sufferer, you'd be looking out for symptoms.
In a horse with no previous history of sweet itch, I'd be looking for something else first.

Alice saying to the vet 'You don't think she needs steroids or antibiotics?' did make my eyes roll.

Petalpoos said:
I just heard the afternoon repeat and had a chuckle. Was amazed to hear they still use benzoyl benzoate. I remember buying that in huge quantities for a friend’s horse and it took me a few trips to the chemist before I realised it was used for scabies in humans 🤣
Click to expand...
I remember being told that someone had gone to buy benzoyl benzoate from the local pharmacy. The pharmacist called her over and said 'Is it for the crab lice?' - supposedly in a hushed voice, except everybody in the shop heard...
 
If you see what look like midges on frosty days in January they are not the biting midge but non biting winter gnats.
bugwomanlondon.com

The Fourth Day of Christmas – Winter Gnats

Dear Readers, there are very slim pickings for the insect enthusiastic in December, but if you take a walk on a cold, sunny day you might see clouds of these tiny flies. Known as winter gnats, they…
bugwomanlondon.com bugwomanlondon.com
 
Gloi said:
If you see what look like midges on frosty days in January they are not the biting midge but non biting winter gnats.
bugwomanlondon.com

The Fourth Day of Christmas – Winter Gnats

Dear Readers, there are very slim pickings for the insect enthusiastic in December, but if you take a walk on a cold, sunny day you might see clouds of these tiny flies. Known as winter gnats, they…
bugwomanlondon.com bugwomanlondon.com
Click to expand...
Could be them, if they also hang out above troughs. Must confess, was too wintry for a lengthy inspection!
 
Alice is bad but Lilian ‘Woah there boy’ is even worse. I have been tempted on occasion to send them rather more normal horse vocab - or suggest they get some actual horse noises on tape - but I guess their priority is making it patently obvious they’re TALKING TO A HORSE, in case anyone was ever in any doubt.
 
I’m guessing it comes under the agricultural editors remit. Sybil roscoe. Who got the job done presumably cos she used to present farming today!!

I remember once when Shula had taken someone out for a hack and told one of the stable girls to take the harness off and put it away!! 🙄😂😂😂
 
As a horse vet I would regularly get called to mild sweet itch, and I have seen midges pretty much throughout the winter here (Midlands). So no, it didn't seem particularly weird to me! To be honest Jakob popping off to the coffee shop for lunch made me raise my eyebrows more - I don't know a horse vet anywhere who actually has time to stop for lunch!

The lambing scene with David and Ruth in the same episode (or the one before?) was far more ridiculous. Literally no-one talks to sheep or about ewes lambing like that!

There is a group for Vets Discussing Archers Ridiculous Veterinary Storylines, and I don't think anyone has had anything much to say about the sweet itch.
Unlike when Paul (vet nurse) took x-rays of Stella's dog, made a diagnosis and recommended treatment, all without a vet seemingly involved at any point!
 
Gamebird said:
As a horse vet I would regularly get called to mild sweet itch, and I have seen midges pretty much throughout the winter here (Midlands). So no, it didn't seem particularly weird to me! To be honest Jakob popping off to the coffee shop for lunch made me raise my eyebrows more - I don't know a horse vet anywhere who actually has time to stop for lunch!

The lambing scene with David and Ruth in the same episode (or the one before?) was far more ridiculous. Literally no-one talks to sheep or about ewes lambing like that!

There is a group for Vets Discussing Archers Ridiculous Veterinary Storylines, and I don't think anyone has had anything much to say about the sweet itch.
Unlike when Paul (vet nurse) took x-rays of Stella's dog, made a diagnosis and recommended treatment, all without a vet seemingly involved at any point!
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Yes I was howling at Paul’s diagnosis!!

Tbf if David and Ruth didn’t talk that poor ewe thru lambing it’d be a particularly silent bit of radio! 😂
 
Burnerbee said:
Alice is bad but Lilian ‘Woah there boy’ is even worse. I have been tempted on occasion to send them rather more normal horse vocab - or suggest they get some actual horse noises on tape - but I guess their priority is making it patently obvious they’re TALKING TO A HORSE, in case anyone was ever in any doubt.
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Realistic horse noises:
Farting loudly as you lead them out of the stable.
Kicking the door as you prepare breakfast (“oi, shuttup”)
Squeeling mare as you lead her boyfriend past
“Gaah, gettoff, that’s my foooot”
Much muttering of “where’s my bleedin’ hoofpick”
…sound of running water “did you have to, Ive only just mucked out”
 
Nancykitt said:
Yep - lice! Definitely. Have seen quite a few cases around recently.
The 'previous history' point is actually very important here. With a known sweet itch sufferer, you'd be looking out for symptoms.
In a horse with no previous history of sweet itch, I'd be looking for something else first.

Alice saying to the vet 'You don't think she needs steroids or antibiotics?' did make my eyes roll.


I remember being told that someone had gone to buy benzoyl benzoate from the local pharmacy. The pharmacist called her over and said 'Is it for the crab lice?' - supposedly in a hushed voice, except everybody in the shop heard...
Click to expand...
Was the go-to for pubic lice in 1960’s: sister and I in local chemists with our riding instructor - “ benzyl benzoate, yes, that’s it, biggest bottle you’ve got” - at full instructor volume, totally defying chemist’s attempts at discretion….
 
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