Sweetitch rugs

[poiuytrewq]

What sweetitch rugs do people rate as being best?
Ive been looking at the Boett copy types, Equitheme and Kramer do them. Sadly/annoyingly firstly out of stock and Kramer are no longer shipping to the UK
Also think snuggy hoods look good but they don’t seem to sell them anymore.
I have a Shires and could get another but these types look like they may provide better cover?
Secondly when do you start using it erring on the cautious side?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh, and is clipping helpful? Horse is pretty hairy all year round
- for no other reason than he’s not a TB but that’s what I compare him too ? he’s not got cushings

 

[MereChristmas]

For my previously owned SI mare
A Shires sweet itch rug with belly, neck with ear holes
plus
a Snuggy udder cover
plus
a fine mesh head with ears
plus
a chest cover altered to make the strap between the front legs wider. This protects the triangle behind the front straps and neck and also between the legs.

 

[Gloi]

Duplicate

 

[Gloi]

Shame Kramer are no longer shipping they are good rugs.another pita from Brexit. Boett are good and so are de meulenkamp which are similar. Buy the hoods to go with them.
Personally I do not like snuggy hoods I find they get very heavy in the rain and drag down.
I never clipped and can't see a reason to for the sweet itch. I moved from full neck winter rug to sweet itch rug after the worst of the winter weather.
Make sure your electric fencing is up to scratch and there's nothing to find to rub on. After having two with bad si , one for over 20 years, it's a relief my current one hasn't developed it.

 

[Fjord]

I found the silky Boett types rubbed badly so ended up with a proper Boett. I bought one second hand and it was brilliant so bought a new one. They are really expensive but I'd spent nearly as much on cheaper rugs so in the end it was worth it. They are really easy to repair too.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I got the cornerstone brow band lady on eBay to make mine they are brilliant made to measure and such lightweight yet bite proof material and they just fitted perfectly and lasted really well, I ended up selling them on eBay after I lost my mare as they where still in really good condition after a good few years of use.

 

[EmmaC78]

I have a Rambo Sweetitch Hoodie for my shetland and it worked well last year. Seems to fit well.

 

[saddlesore]

Rambo sweetitch hoody

 

[Britestar]

Shires SI one has really worked here. This year also used Goodbye Flys, which really helped too, so much so that he 'downgraded' to the thinner shires fly rug. 1st time in 5 yrs he didn't tear his face to bits.

 

[Micropony]

I rate the rambo sweetitch hoody for fit and comfort. Also very robust and lasts well. Any sweet itch rug makes horse warmer than would be otherwise, so you may find you want to clip through the summer if you wouldn't usually.

 

[Red-1]

I have had the Rambo Sweetitch Hoodie, the Shires sweet itch one and the Boett. I rank them in that order.

The Boett was protective but a faff to get on. It also once had the hood slip and the holes were no longer where his eyes were. Good job he was spotted and someone called us as he was stumbling and falling round the field. Dread to think what would have happened to him overnight.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

I would never ever recommend the Snuggy Hoods for turnout - I bought one and it was destroyed within three days. Turned out in an electric fenced paddock with one other (old) horse. When I asked for a refund they were really bad about it, poor customer service, although I eventually got a refund after threatening to go to Trading Standards. These rugs may be fine worn in a stable but in my experience are not fit for purpose for turnout.

I used the Rambo up until last year where I bought the Shires rug, and I really like it, except for the breast strap fastenings - I prefer the one on the Rambo. I love the Rambo except for the bit that goes over the ears - the ears never stay in the holes and sometimes the whole flap will go right over his eyes. I would love it if they had a fastening where it could be pinned back so it just went up to the back of the ears like a normal neck rug.

 

[Gloi]

I find the rambo and shires type good and hard wearing unless the sweet itch is really bad when the coverage isn't as good as the boett.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

I find the rambo and shires type good and hard wearing unless the sweet itch is really bad when the coverage isn't as good as the boett.

Good point, my horse has mild sweet itch and using a normal SI rug is sufficient, but they probably wouldn't suffice on a horse who has it really bad.

 

[Chuffy99]

I really rated the De Kamp rug bar it stretched over time and I had to put several tucks in it but it really did protect.
Had several Snuggy hoods over the years bought at Sale time, all wore ok and when we lost pony they sold for as much as I’d paid for them on EBay.
If it turns warm end February/early March get them rugged, once they start rubbing it’s much more difficult to control, we used rugs and Killitch and the pony showed successfully

 

[poiuytrewq]

So I’ll cross Snuggy hoods off my list then, not great reviews for that one and it’s pretty expensive.
I do have a Rambo as a spare but just don’t like it much! I bought it second hand and it’s a bit old but it never seems to sit quite right and it always off his ears and hanging to one side. I’d certainly consider a new one but worry it may be the same!
The clipping was in part to keep him cooler if he’s going to be in a SI rug permanently and partly as I wondered if applying products directly to the skin would be easier?

 

[Gloi]

So I’ll cross Snuggy hoods off my list then, not great reviews for that one and it’s pretty expensive.
I do have a Rambo as a spare but just don’t like it much! I bought it second hand and it’s a bit old but it never seems to sit quite right and it always off his ears and hanging to one side. I’d certainly consider a new one but worry it may be the same!
The clipping was in part to keep him cooler if he’s going to be in a SI rug permanently and partly as I wondered if applying products directly to the skin would be easier?

If the coverage of the rug is good enough you don't need to cover the horse in products, only the legs and any other bits that stick out of the rug, and a good dose of fly spray whenever you take the rug off. With the Boett type, at bad times you can just remove the belly part and ride in the rest if you are just hacking or doing light riding where you aren't sweating them up, handy for if you need to ride in the evenings in summer when the midges are bad.
When doing your paddock put the water in a soft trug if you can so they can't rub on a trough or the like.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve bought another Rambo to try on in the GS sale.
I may also try adding extra bits as @Meredith’s suggestion!
He’s no longer ridden. I’m hoping that will make a huge difference at controlling the itching as he was always at his worst after being ridden.

 

[MereChristmas]

My mare last spring, before the addition of the mesh hood and chest cover although it could hardly be seen when on.

 

[poiuytrewq]

My mare last spring, before the addition of the mesh hood and chest cover although it could hardly be seen when on.

The hood, is it a snuggy hood?
Maybe you need to go into sweetitch rug design! You could make a fortune.

 

[MereChristmas]

Yes it is a snuggy head. She never moved it but the midges affected round her eyes so I took the fringe off and put a fine mesh hood over it.
She was never over hot and barely rubbed at all.
I don’t own her now,

 

[Quigleyandme]

This is an interesting thread. I like the Equitheme stuff and have two complete outfits. They are light and stretchy, really bug proof, surprisingly robust, wash and dry really well and quite straight forward to put on once you and your horse gets used to it. I can struggle with the hood but Seamus is really huge. I have a Bucas but it is very restrictive around his chest and shoulders but he is exceptionally big so that is not meant as a criticism.