Sweetitch hoodies??

[Paint Me Proud]

I need to get Chico a new fly rug and have been looking at the sweetitch hoodie things (Boett, Equitheme, Masta etc).

I wanted to know how you put them on though?

 

[ThePony]

I've got the rambo sweetitch hoody and it goes on like a normal rug. Also have the snuggy hoods one and you put the neck on first (is just the same as their turnout ones, you can get a zip fitted too so you don't have to haul it on. Mare pokes her nose in when I bring it in to the stable!) then you have the body which also goes over the head (again, no probs with ours at all) and you velcro the belly straps up.

Both are brilliant rugs which do exactly what they say on the tin. The rambo one doesn't cover the midline/teat area which most years isn't a problem but the flys are evil this year and so we are using truck loads of fly spray to keep the buggers off! Hasn't every rubbed though and heading towards it's 3rd year of abuse and short of sewing the tail flap on each summer it is still in good nik.

The snuggy hoods one covers just everything, but because it fits snugly over the face it can bother itchy types if they are having it on 24/7. It does have the advantage that they can't get the face mask off as it is all built in.

Different strokes for different folks! Didn't bother with the boett and copies off as I didn't feel the material would stand up to the rolling/washing cycle that they get put through!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Didn't bother with the boett and copies off as I didn't feel the material would stand up to the rolling/washing cycle that they get put through!

Mmmm. I bought a "Pagony" which is basically a cheaper copy of the Boett: it didn't wash or wear at all well & was v.disappointing TBH. A waste of money!

Also, horsie didn't particularly like this style of rug as you have to put it on over the head, so I switched to the Hoody type rug - much better! and ever so much easier to put on, just like a normal rug.

The Rambo sweet itch hoody is superb; have also got a Pessoa hoody which I bought several years ago and is equal in quality. Both last well and do the job. A bit cheaper is the Premier Equine range: their hoodies are good and serviceable & I use them, but the one I've got hasn't got a tummy flap with some horses with SI might need. If you want a rug to put on a SI horse for standing in the stable, their fly rugs are superb; nice long necks which come up close to the ears - other makes are disappointingly short in the neck. A lot of people, inc myself, have bought the Amigo Mio fly rug (not a hoody) and have been disappointed by it.

Forget anything which calls itself a sweet itch hoody which is cheap & cheerful; coz it just won't last and will turn out to be a total waste of money. Derby House have brought one out but I've not used it yet, am keeping it as a spare in the tackroom. A lot of manufacturers are copying the Rambo hoody but are using poor quality fabric & workmanship.

Go for a Rambo hoody OR Pessoa (if you can get one). Forget the rest.

 

[horsemadelsie]

I have the hydrophane ones for my two, they are like the rambo hoodie one, so go on like a normal rug, but you just flap the ear bit over and do up a couple more bits of velcro on the neck. I love them, especially since one of them gets bad sweet itch but won't stand anything covering his ears.
I know people who have boetts, I hear they are good generally for wear and tear, but do not stand up well to biting from other horses, and they take ages to learn how to put them on (they actually come with an instruction booklet!)

 

[Fransurrey]

Yup it goes on like a normal rug, albeit with more velcro straps! Am very pleased with mine. It's had a lot of abuse and has stood up to it all. Even if I had to buy one of these a year, I'd probably do it. The last fly rug I bought (an amigo if I remember correctly - it's a silvery one) was torn within hours. This one hasn't had one repair and she's had it since feb, alternating between that and amigo 1200 lite turnout, according to weather!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I have the hydrophane ones for my two, they are like the rambo hoodie one, so go on like a normal rug, but you just flap the ear bit over and do up a couple more bits of velcro on the neck. I love them, especially since one of them gets bad sweet itch but won't stand anything covering his ears.

I have one of those already, but branded as a Derby house rug. It is good but the front chest closure doesnt stay done up and the velcro has rubbed a sore on his chest while I have been on holiday.

I like the look of the Rambo Hoody, good job i didnt spend any of my holiday spending money after all!!

 

[KVH]

I have the Premier Equine version which goes on like a normal rug.
Seems to do the job, no complaints thus far.

 

[starryeyed]

My late gelding had the Boett rug and it was fantastic - was definitely the only rug that let him lead a "normal" life, he didn't itch with it at all and seemed so much happier. I was a bit concerned that it would overheat him as the material feels quite thick but it never seemed to.
They're expensive but his lasted for years and years, survived all the violent horse play it got put through and didn't actually have to repair it once, despite it coming with a bag of spare bits of material just in case.
It did go on over the head which took some getting used to but he was the spookiest horse alive and for some reason this didn't seem to phase him at all! x