Sweetitch rug?

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poiuytrewq

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Can anyone recommend one please?
it’s for a l/w cob type.
I’d particularly like a belly flap rather than surcingles but that’s not a be all or end all.
 
I really like the Horseware Rambo Sweetitch Hoodie. It's not cheap, but it gives great coverage, there's no chance of insects biting through the fabric, has a belly flap and I like the closure system on the chest (ring with two trigger clips) but most of all it's DURABLE. Mines going into it's 3rd season now, only had to do one small repair on the tail flap last season.
I've just bought a second in the Naylors sale, they had an extra 50% off sale items that the hoodie happened to be in, absolute bargain at about £65.

Can't comment on whether the Vamoose upgrade is worth it or not, as I use Deosect regularly anyway.
 
Another for the Horseware, the one here has tried a few different makes, Derby house was good but changed and not so good when replaced, now going into the second year with Horseware which is better if a bit more pricey.
 
Boett rug 100%. Tried every lotion and potion that was out there, I found kill-itch by Carr Day & Martin was probably the best lotion I have tried. I even tried different feeds but the Boett Rug has helped my mare have a normal summer.

It is quite pricey but it’s more than worth the money for the happiness and comfort of my mare. The Company itself was very helpful and had lots of advice, the rug comes with so much extra material but it’s hardly needed as the rug is quite hard wearing. You can also ride with it on ☺️
 
Theres quite a few good ones now.

The boett I thought was good but one of my horses hated it going on and off over his head. I tried him in a Rambo sweet itch hoody and that worked just as well but is much easier to manage so I ended up getting one for my other SI pony too.

They still managed to put holes in them every year so I tried the shires highlander which is really good too but half the price.

The premier equine is good too but it is very thick and they seem to get hotter in it
 
I personally found the Boett to be a complete faff (and my mare hates anything that is pulled over the head which doesn't help), so much so I ended up selling them both and buying the Rambo.
 
The Rambo one.
Had we not been in lockdown, would have suggested that you speak with your vet and try the injections,assuming you haven’t already been down that route.
 
Lone voice in the wilderness here - I like the Snuggies. Mine will be going on him tomorrow as the flies were awful today.

Two ponies at our yard have had the injections this year, and one was rubbing so hard on the box wall that it was shaking this evening.
 
I don’t even know if it’s sweetitch but if worsens I’m summer, it’s all year but minimal over winter. It’s not constant, worse when he’s warm. After exercise it’s worse for sure. It’s not only neck and not at all tail
His face, neck and body are effected.
He’s had mite injections and vets have looked at him but when they arrive he’s stood munching a hay net or whatever and they comment he’s not really madly itchy... but actually he is!
 
Surbie said:
Lone voice in the wilderness here - I like the Snuggies. Mine will be going on him tomorrow as the flies were awful today.
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I used to really rate Snuggies, in fact I have about 5 sweet itch rugs and a plethora of hoodless necks from them, stored away.
However, in my experience, they're just not very durable. Zippers breaking, itchy horses nibbling holes in them, catching on things and ripping, seams popping, edging stitch popping, and I found that they put a lot of pressure over the withers, where the fleece pad is (presumably to try and distribute the pressure). I do feel a good chunk of the issues could be solved using a much more heavy duty thread and stronger stitch, but I'm sure there's a reason they use what they use.
Despite the linings, the hoods seem to chronically rub my girls' manes.
I just can't justify the price for them.
For what it's worth, I bought almost all my Snuggy stuff during their end of season sales, the prices can go very low then, so they might still be worth picking up for a horse that treats it's rugs very well.
 
poiuytrewq said:
I don’t even know about the injection?
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Ask your vet. It’s a course of 2 , maybe 3, injections. A friend has used it on her mare. I will try to find the name of the injection out,but has to be given by a vet.
Possibly not possible atm, because of the virus, and I think it needs giving before the midges start, but definitely has improved my friends mare by something like 80%.
 
Spottyappy said:
Ask your vet. It’s a course of 2 , maybe 3, injections. A friend has used it on her mare. I will try to find the name of the injection out,but has to be given by a vet.
Possibly not possible atm, because of the virus, and I think it needs giving before the midges start, but definitely has improved my friends mare by something like 80%.
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I did have a google. Definitely worth a try for next year but I imagine by the time vets are up and running again it would probably be too late for this summer. Thanks for the mention though!
 
The Snuggy ones look quite warm?
Also, whilst he is very good with rugs his friend isn’t so they generally get wrecked (hence needing new summer stuff this year ?)
 
Our vets offer an: "Off-Licence Sweet Itch Vaccine" it was originally developed for Ringworm in horses but has shown to decrease the itchiness associated with Sweet Itch. It comprises 2 injections, 2 weeks apart and cost £150 this year (which includes the visits and the vaccine). It needs to be given before the start of the midge season so possibly too late for this year. I haven't used it, but this was the information we got sent out.
 
poiuytrewq said:
The Snuggy ones look quite warm?
Also, whilst he is very good with rugs his friend isn’t so they generally get wrecked (hence needing new summer stuff this year ?)
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I haven't found them to be hot - and my heavy cob wears them all summer. I do buy the beige or blue ones rather than the dark brown.

I like them as they come with the zip option and cobbus absolutely freaks at things going over his eyes. These he now puts his head through for me. Doddle to put on.

As for durability, in the last 3 years I have never had an issue with the zips, seams or stitching, but I replace the velcro sometimes. I get the odd small tear here and there but generally they are long-lasting. His mane has never been rubbed out or withers seemed under pressure so perhaps it just varies from horse to horse.

Teeth are a whole different ball game! Cobbus was out with a very jealous PRE last year. A third coblet was added to the mix and overnight I had a body rug in absolute tatters. It's only good for patch material...so I wouldn't put them on with a companion who is a rug ripper.

Am waiting for more reports on how well the injections work, given the rugs manage his symptoms really well.
 
I’ve used the Rambo Sweet Itch hoody and the Boett, but my favourite is the Premier Equine, as the coverage is best. The Boett rubbed round her armpits and the belly constantly rotated. She also had some wardrobe malfunctions with it. The Rambo was good but the coverage wasn’t as good as PE. Ordinary fly rugs just don’t do the job and the little black midges bite through the mesh.
 
I've used the Rambo hoody for about seven years now (and bought maybe three) but none of them have ever had a belly flap on them. They have all had three straight surcingles. The rug does cover quite far down but the belly underneath is still exposed.

The Rambo fits my Welsh cob really well over the shoulders but I hate the hoody/ear holes part as they always come off and end up all round his eyes. Maybe because he doesn't have a giraffe neck. I always fold it back so it just goes to the base of his ears. It's the best one for my horse so far, despite the ear hole thing.

I would never in a million years recommend Snuggy Hoods. Bought one and it lasted two days. I spoke to them on the phone for sizing help and my horse was turned out in an electric fence paddock with one other older horse and I went down there on the second day and the rug was ripped to shreds and was hanging off him. Not fit for purpose for turnout IMO. I can only assume it twisted around him and he stood on it when he stood up. They were terrible for customer service as well although they did eventually give me a refund.

Had the silver coloured Mark Todd one years ago and it was way too tight over his shoulder - probably would have been fine for a TB.

Bought the Bucas zebra sweet itch rug last year and although the coverage was excellent it fit my horse dreadfully - really tight over the shoulders and the breast strap was fitted so high up it was strangling him as he grazed.
 
I have Premier Equine, Shires and the Rambo. The Premier Equine are the most robust I think and fit well. I've a couple that are four years old and have only a couple of tears in them. They also cover up around the body the best. The Shires have nylon around the top of the head and I find that is ripped quite easily and on one the binding around the ears has come off. Having said that they fit well and don't rub. I put the Rambos on when it gets hotter as the pony seems to stay cooler in these - I don't think the overall coverage is as good though and there are more gaps for the midges to get in. I bought a vamoose one early on and don't think it made any difference. You might be best looking out for some good second hand rugs to see which suits you best.
 
Haniki said:
Our vets offer an: "Off-Licence Sweet Itch Vaccine" it was originally developed for Ringworm in horses but has shown to decrease the itchiness associated with Sweet Itch. It comprises 2 injections, 2 weeks apart and cost £150 this year (which includes the visits and the vaccine). It needs to be given before the start of the midge season so possibly too late for this year. I haven't used it, but this was the information we got sent out.
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Mine had the depo provera jab a few weeks ago, is the one you’re talking about a different one? Apparently it’s not licensed for use with animals, it’s a human contraception ?‍♀️
 
Surbie said:
Any chance the necks are XL and the bodies 6'6? If they aren't brown? ;)
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One of the necks might actually be an XL! I shall have a look when I'm up tomorrow if you're interested.
The bodies are all 6ft - 6'3 unfortunately!
 
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