Which sweat itch rug??

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vickitrezise

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Hi there,
I have 15hh cob who has developed sweat itch over the summer. She has rubbed off most of her beautiful mane and her skin has started to thicken on her neck.
Today I bought a Saxon fly rug for her with a built in neck cover, I tried it on her and the neck cover nearly strangles her when she puts her head down. Has anyone else had this problem and can they suggest a better fitting rug for a thicker necked horse? As she's a cob (and a little chubby) she has a thick neck. I did look at the Rambo rugs, but can't tell if they would be ok.
Many thanks.
 
When you say your cob "has developed sweet itch over the summer" presumably there was a time when you had her, when she didn't have it??

Sorry, not trying to be nitpicky, but I just wonder what might have precipitated the sweet itch if its happened this summer and not before? Have you just bought her? Or perhaps moved to different pasture?

I've gotta cob and he's got sweet itch. I've not tried the Boett rugs (available via the National Sweet Itch Centre) but whilst you'll probably not like the price apparently they are brilliant - flexible and fit to the horse so should be fine. I've tried the Pagony rug which is basically a cheapy version of Boett - don't bother, the quality is **** and it didn't fit him (made him look like he was in-foal), plus he somehow got himself tangled up in an elastic strap bit of it which freaked him out a bit.

I've used the Premier Sweet Itch Hoody - OK'ish but needs possibly to be a bit wider over the chest for my boy; but best buy was the Pessoa Sweet Itch Hoody - got it in Robinsons sale last year and its absolutely brill, but not seen one on their website since.

Others will no doubt have recommendations and/or ones to avoid.

The other thing with your sweet itch is that its gotta be total management rather than just one "fix", i.e. you need to look at everything, such as when do you turn out? (if you can avoid dusk & dawn that's when the cullicoides midge which causes sweet itch, is the most active, so I bring mine in for the night, much easier). And where is your field? Are you high up so catch the breeze? Or have trees/common land nearby? Or down in a valley, near a stream or standing water - it all makes a difference. The ideal place for a sweet itch would be somewhere high up and/or near the sea (even better).

Also, you've got to start protecting from midges from as early as February/March time coz if the horse starts to itch then you've left it too late!

Mine's having linseed oil and brewers yeast, also we're on the BioEos trial (available via National Sweet Itch centre website) so we'll see how that goes.

Also apparently Clivers (the sticky weed growing in hedgerows) is very good for sweet itch, again if feeding supplmeents or whatever you have to start early.
 
100% second the Boett recommendation. We used one on an old pony who had horrible sweet itch and he would rub himself raw. We started putting it on before the midges came out in force, before he would normally have started rubbing, and he never had a problem again.
 
Thanks for your message. She was turned out in a field with a stream running through it untill I moved her. Thats where she developed the sweet itch. I've had her 4 yrs now and she's never had it before. I think that field may have to be a 'winter' field from now on. She doesn't seem to have it too badly at the moment, I'm hoping I've caught it in time. She's had kill itch on, but really need a well fitting rug now.
 
if it is sweet itch, then unfortunatly a 'normal' fly rug won't help as often the weave is too open and the midges can get in. My girl has quite a sturdy neck as she has the rambo sweet itch hoody which fits really well and doesn't slip at all. She is in it 24/7 as she lives out during the summer, no itchy horse and no rubbed bits - perfect!! It was about £100, but I would consider it more than worth it as the midges make her so itchy that it must be awfully uncomfortable for her. In this she is happy and comfy and the midges go away hungry!
 
My shetland is in a snuggie hood - all over including face. Others have complained about these, but it has been brilliant for us. She didn't sweat in the really hot weather and it dries quickly after rain. I also have a pagony it's OK, but I should have bought a size bigger.
Nobody seems to complain about a boett, they do seem to be the best.

Ditto good management, in the rug from March to October and last year we had her in an electrically fenced paddock. This year she's been able to stay in her normal field.
 
Definitely 100% the Boett blanket - our Shetland has had one for four years now and results are fantastic :) Yes they are expensive but very worth it, and they do last. The company are also very helpful - they keep a record of the size your horse has etc, and will send out extra material for patching in you need it.
 
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