Why are sweetitch rugs so expensive

carthorse

carthorse

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I bought a snuggyhood sweetitch rug which I had to return [because he would not let me put it on] and had a zip put in it. It was fine but I noticed they charged my credit card twice and I had to email them to get a refund [We can all make mistakes]
He was fine for a month just the odd small rip which I mended with hubbies silky undies [don't laugh]
Then the end of the zip came off and it kept undoing, I ordered a new zip but when it arrived it was much shorter [I wasn't told this when I ordered it] I emailed to say they had sent me the wrong zip but the reply was 'they are made abroad and we can't get the length of zip over here'.I sewed up the neck instead because he was used to it now and I could slip it over his head.
Since then it has been a nightmare and every other morning he comes in with the hood in pieces, I then sew it up and patch it but within 2 days they have played tug of war and it is ruined.
So today I thought, after mending it with a panti-girdle, yes waist band is around his nose and gusset goes up between his eyes and other bit goes under his head,all machined on and looking very good ,even the bow.I would order another hood and asked if there were any special offers on. Answer 'No, it would be £92.50 with postage.
Why are they so expensive ,is it the material, because it isn't very strong. My friend had the same problem with a boett. Why don't they give you a 10% discount for a second rug [you need two really ,as they have to washed every couple of weeks.]
Are these as good
http://www.solva-icelandics.co.uk/sweet1.htm
and is the strap around the throat area safe [he is accident prone and I don't want him to strangle himself.
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Hi C. I have the same problem with Barney. I am on my third Boett now. He is in size 10 (largest) for £235 and as usual is ripped, has taken the belly off and has slipped, it has also started to rub.

I tried a Snuggy Rug which lasted 2 weeks.

I wash Barney's every 2 weeks, but have to dry it same day to put it back on for the night shift
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I havnt tried the Solva people yet, thats for next time. They are in Pembroke which is just an hour west of me.
 
We have to post my sister out the Bucas version to Australia because its cheaper to buy over here and post than buy over there but I still cringe and paying £90 odd, for the flimsy thing!

I use the weatherbeeta version for £40 odd, comes with free mask, I'm happy with that one sooo far as it seems its working.
 
I cant understand why you have both had such a hard time with the rugs. Ive used Boett rugs on a number of liveries for many years and apart from the odd small tear caused by over enthusiastic play they have stood up very well.

I presume you are making sure there are no projections and places in the field and stable for thehorse to rub on or catch these rugs in, if so you must fence them off with electric tape.

Never had a problem with the throat straps on Boetts although I know one pony who would jiggle the hood round when he was in the field so he couldnt see where he was going. This was solved by taking it off at night when he was out in the dark.

IMO the Boett is the best one on the market if used properly and well worth the money.

ETA - have heard good things about the icelandic rug and also the Divoza excema rug.
 
Well hun, I havnt tried the Solva, but I went back to the Boett after Snuggy. Trouble is that geldings play and therefore the rug will get ripped. Its a real headache, but perhaps you should ask the Sweetitch Society why they are so expensive. Surely a darn good dressmaker could copy the pattern and save us all a packet.

I believe that this is why Barney was due to be pts before I took him on. His owners who adored him, lived in a very wet lowland area which was ideal for midges. They knew how expensive it was to keep a SI horse, and didnt want to sell him, only to be passed on from pillar to post, suffering, and end up going for meat.

Soooooo Cathy, when can you come down with your tapemeasure?
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Yes, have electric fence all the way round inside post and rails but the other horse in the field has taken to playing with him.It is his fault he is a torment [my horse I mean].
It has worked well and he is hardly rubbing when he comes in during the day [keeps rug on]and his coat looks amazing.
Just can't understand why they are so expensive
 
I cant understand it either Spaniel. His fav tree is electric fenced, he doesnt rub in his stable. He is an awkward 18.1hh who still has 3 years to develop and its rubbing him on one side of his quarters. This hasnt happened before. I have always been pleased with Boett, apart from the fact that he has grown out of them every season
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They are expensive because........ They know you have to have one and therefore will buy one regardless of having to take out a mortgage for it ....... and its for a horse...... we all know that everything for a horse is twenty times more expensive than it needs to be!!!!!!

Me..... cynical.... never!!!
 
Captive limited market I suppose as they were always imported into the UK so they could set their own prices. With the icelandic one and the Divoza one on the market you would hope the costs could come down a bit.
 
Pagony sweet itch rug from www.divoza.co.uk is good, only just over £50 including p&p too so doesn't break the bank! My boy has been wearing his for around 3 months now, so far has magaed 2 tears (easily sewn up) and 2 or 3 tiny nicks. Have been VERY pleased with it for the price.
 
I have had two Boetts and they are very good but but I opted for one from Solva this year. It is excellent and £60 cheaper than the Boett. The belly pad is integral so you can't take it off and it has threee straps so it doesn't sag. The rug also has elastic inserts in the shoulders. I have bought a hood but I couldn't get it on so I havd had velcro put underneath but it still needs more alterations. I still have the one of the Boett's so for the first time this year I have kept the rug on 24/7 apart from riding and it is had a made a huge difference. The Net-tex sweet itch solve is excellent and although it is £20 you dont have to use it every day.
 
I boought the Boett last year and all last year ti was fab and my horse rarely rubbed. Now my horse has warn it for 2.5 months and she has itched a lot more and the tail areais getting very damaged. I am looking for a replacement rug in desperation now.
 
Whatever rug you have you have to take extra precautions..
A fan in your stable..midge are poor fliers
or better still out 24/7 in an electric fenced exposed paddock well away from the muckheap and any water source ie streams/lakes
regular grooming, mane and tail washing and applying a barrier cream such as Net Tex Sweet Itch salve.
I use a TCP solution in spray bottle for around the sheath..

I'm hoping that now there are so many sweet itch rugs about that the prices will drop but I suppose that only depends on if they work and people buy them. I still to my old failthful the Boett. I've tried Snuggyhoods and it was too thick for my cob and it snagged all over so am back to the good old Boett. It rips easily but it is also easy to repair and you get a bag of patches with it. I just pull the sides of the rip together and stick a patch over the top using Copydex glue...
 
sorry to be naive but would a fly rug with hood do the same job?had a mare with sweet itch but that was in the days when you got up before you went to bed and smothered them in good knows what 3 times a day...................................
 
i use plaiting thread on my geldings boette, its coming up for 4 years old now and is only just starting to give up the ghost!
 
hi
My pony has got through two boets, he winds Tico up and Tico grabs hold of the rug and rips it
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I tried the icelantic one because it was allot cheaper and joshy normally has to have a new rug at least once a year, i find it works just as well, its the same material as Boet number one. The advantages are that there are three straps round the belly peice so it tends not to sag too much in the middle, and the elastic seems to have lasted longer.
Although i have repaired it several times it still in not bad condition and is doing the job really well.
As for the strap around the neck being safe, in my opinion it is and have never had a problem with either rugs, its just to make the top of the neck a snug fit, trust me joshys into everything and if it was to cause a problem he would have found a way to cause the problem, but so far he hasnt,
Famous last words
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As for them being expensive, isnt everyhting expensive for horses that is a necesity
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Debs x
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have had two Boetts and they are very good but but I opted for one from Solva this year. It is excellent and £60 cheaper than the Boett. The belly pad is integral so you can't take it off and it has threee straps so it doesn't sag. The rug also has elastic inserts in the shoulders. I have bought a hood but I couldn't get it on so I havd had velcro put underneath but it still needs more alterations. I still have the one of the Boett's so for the first time this year I have kept the rug on 24/7 apart from riding and it is had a made a huge difference. The Net-tex sweet itch solve is excellent and although it is £20 you dont have to use it every day.

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The advantage of the removable belly pad on the Boett is that you can ride in the rug which means that the horse doesn't get so bitten when ridden which I don't think people really take into consideration with SI horses. A few bites and the reaction is off again...
 
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