Sweet itches: are you all coping out there??

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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As title really.

Thought I'd be OK to leave my boy out for the past few (mild & midgey) nights: alas not so, have had to bring him in.

Yesterday was grooming him ready to hack out, and found he was all lumpy and itchy around the bit where there's a gap in the front of his rug (he normally wears a Rambo SI Hoody) - this was probably a gap where the midges had a nibble at him, poor lad.

So in he went overnight! Out this morning. Have dug out an old Pagony rug (which I can't stand, damn thing) and put that on. He looked like a mare-in-foal with it on, and there seemed to be this huge space between the edge of the rug & his legs/flanks..... SO in desperation I bunged on an ordinary light fly-sheet on top to cover the gaps!

Shoved him out, then the mare - bless her, she had a good look at 'im, could barely recognise her man! Funny or what. :)

Hells teeth; blimmin' midges. A curse on 'em. Bleddy things.

Anyone else struggling?
 
I feel for you! My mare lives out 24/7 in the summer (she gets far to grumpy otherwise) but she is always turned out in her rambo sweet itch hoody. She usually has a 'mild' case but this year she has been really bad. She is so itchy despite everything i do and all the lotions and potions. In a desperate attempt i have put her onto global herbs scratch, started it 2 weeks ago (a bit late, but better late than never) and the flies are leaving her alone, but she still seems to be quite itchy. Was hoping to leave her naked during the day on sunday as it is meant to be very hot and she sweats underneath it, but looks like she may have to stay rugged :mad:

Any thoughts anyone? Would love to hear peoples experience with Global herbs scratch and how long it took to work. And if you leave them unrugged at any point? Thanks
 
HoneyB24 said:
Would love to hear peoples experience with Global herbs scratch and how long it took to work. And if you leave them unrugged at any point? Thanks
Click to expand...

Mmm, yes agree would be interesting. My experience with "supplements which are supposed to help SI" are, I have to say, not exactly positive.

I tried the "Think Fly" stuff a few years ago; it was/is bummed up as being wonderful but as far as my boy was concerned it was just expensive gunk that did sweet FA good.

I now do the old fashioned stuff like Brewers Yeast/marmite; Linseed oil & Cider Vinegar, plus some Seaweed occasionally. Plus topical application of Killitch and/or Pig Oil with a few drops of Neem Oil in it.

This weather is gorgeous for sure, so shouldn't complain hey, especially as a lot of the farmers around here are doing another cut of hay, so that should relieve everyone's anxiety about hay for the winter months, BUT its not the heat necessarily, its the lack of breeze that's the real problem as the midges/flies are just hanging around the whole time.
 
Our boy has done really well this season. We have taken Alec Swan's (Many thanks Alec) advice on here and used cattle fly tags. He is so much happier I can't tell you. He isn't entirely fly/midge free but he is a lot less stressed at midge time of day and we hardly ever see a fly on him at all. He is still wearing his Bhurka but I have been able to take off the headcover.
 
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