| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| spirit |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 12:58:14 PM
HI, please can you share your experiences of the different fly rugs on the market.
My horse is grey and has sensitive skin and I try my best to protect him from the biting flies where ever possible.
He currently wears the Mark Todd combo rug which has an extended neck. This rug had a good secure fitting belly band on it that fastens up with Velcro. This is a pretty good rug but there are others on the market that seem to cover more of the horse, such as around the tops of the legs, more of the belly etc. He also wears a Shires Mask with ears.
Some rugs that come to mind are the Boett, the De-Meulenkamp, the Pagony, the Snuggy Hoods Sweet Itch rug etc.
Have you ever tried these rugs and are they worth the money? He hasn't got sweet itch but I need to protect his skin.
One vet that came on the yard said that most fly repellents are useless but recommended the Coopers Fly Repellent Plus, which she said worked.
Thanks for any help. |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Roseanne |
Posted - 01 Jul 2010 : 11:46:39 AM
My Andalusian developed a wart on his neck, just about where his fly rug lay. My vet recommended dabbing it with caster oil once a day for two weeks and it went, never to return.
I used a Boett on him for a while but it did make him sweaty. I found the best fly rugs the Shires Maxiflow and the Mark Todd, both of which have three-point-connections for the detachable neck cover. The Mark Todd has a super silky mane protector along the crest too,
However I like the look of the Snuggy Hoods one and am going off to check them out!
Flyspray-wise we find Barrier (v. expensive in small bottle form, but you can buy a gallon and have it sent by the makers and that's a fraction of the price) is good but it can form a black rubbery 'scum' around the belly which is hard to wash off.
Our vet supplies a mixture that is highly concentrated and is meant to last in the skin for two weeks. Not sure this wasn't called Barrier too in its commercial form! You mix up an amount and sponge it on the horse.
The people who bred my andalusian routinely used cattle tags on their horses. You get them from vets and they attach to a headcollar. The anti-fly product infuses into the skin of the horse. I never used it as I didn't want to poison my horse!! |
| spirit |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 10:22:49 PM
Thank you so much for your responses, its very helpful!
It sounds to me that for that added protection, the Snuggy Hoods rug and the Boett stand out. They both cover the body, neck and belly.
I am ordering the Coopers fly repellent plus as its well recommended.
I'm also getting the Absorbine fly bonnet with ears as there's a slight rip in his now.
Any more comments on the fit, style and usefulness of these rugs before I buy would be of great help. |
| Gerri |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 6:42:43 PM
I use the flymax spray, it is great and last two weeks per application, the flies do not bite at all with it, certainly the best thing here for the flies its expensive but does last |
| sab2 |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 5:33:33 PM
I use the Boett rug on my boy and he never gets sweaty in it , my other horses have the Rambo Protector and i have just ordered the Rambo with fly repellent built in. I find the Rambo rugs very hard wearing if they are to be used 24 hr a day.I tried the Global herbs Skratch powder but i also could not convince my mare to eat it, so i have ordered the syrup from them.I cannot put a flyrug on her as she has a foal at foot so lets hope the syrup works. |
| Pony slave |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 4:41:50 PM
Hi sorry for the delay!!
I use a Rambo (horseware) sweet itch hoody (looks like lots of other favourable comments on these too!!
Global herbs products are very good BUT smell strong I never ever managed to get our sweet itch mare who was not at all fussy (in fact a bit of a piglet!!) to actually eat any I ended up mixing the product with baby oil and painting it on her so it was not wasted!!!
PS xx |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 2:39:15 PM
I think the boets are 100% polyester. The do dry very quickly if you wash them and if it rains. My mare never gets hot or sweats in hers and we have had some really hot days lately. Also they are a special weave so that the midges can't get or bite through them. That's something you need to think about if you are making your own.
x |
| delly-b |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 12:35:04 PM
Can i ask those people with Boetts... Is the material 100% polyester too? I'm asking as I am going to make one to a design between the pagony and sweet itch styles to suit my and horses needs/tastes. I was thinking of getting a poly/cotton mix tho it wouldn't dry as quick, however poly is not as cool in summer. Would be interested to know about these. Thanks |
| Timberwolf |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 10:40:08 PM
Hi Spirit, I haven't seen the snuggy extras just read about them. The rubs my pony gets are the very base of her mane towards the wither and on the girth line behind her elbows. The rubs are not bad or at all sore just a bit bald. I just use it mainly when the boett is in the wash or being repaired like today as she ripped the hood off!! Grrrr.
Jackie. x |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 10:12:12 PM
I have a mare with sweet-itch and i have a boett, a snuggy hood (hood) and a De-Meulenkamp. I used to have the body part of the sunggy hood as well but after 2 years it became really thread bare from the sun and when i put it on one my fingers went straight through it and made huge holes...! The same happened with the hood after about 2 years.
I bought a new hood this year and i use this with the De-Meulenkamp as my spare when i'm washing the boet. It's also good in the winter under her turnout rug to stop the mud....!
The De-Meulenkamp is a cheep version of the boet, it's ok for a spare but i wouldn't use it every day. The material is not as good and it slips back. (on her body and down her neck)
The boet is definitely a better material and it dries much quicker if it rains, but i prefer the fit of the snuggy hood rug. I suppose it depends on your budget..?
None of them are really cheap, especially if you have to replace them every two years..! The boet i've had about 5 or 6 years, it has a few patches on it where she has caught it on some brambles and i've had to sew it a few times, also the elastic on the legs and the belly piece have stretched and gone really baggy so i've had to shorten them as well.
Hope this helps..! |
| Aremeriel |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 7:51:33 PM
My horse used to get big patches of sores on his chest from the flies here in Norway. Last year it was extremely bad, so I bought Eldonor Absorbine UltraShield. Even though I can't see the horse all the time, I know it helped cause after a week all the sores were practically gone and no new ones. This year we've started spraying the horses before the insects came out and so far no sores. Of course you still get the occational fly, but my horse is nowhere near as bothered with the flies anymore as he used to be. |
| basbob |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 2:36:13 PM
I use a pour on from the vets called Butox. It's meant for cows but the vets will sell it here for horse use. You must dilute it but once on the flies and horse flies go away. I've never used such an effective fly product. |
| vjc |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 2:11:32 PM
I find applying new skin to any sores/cuts or lumps that the flies might try and get at works well, it seals them from biting insects. |
| guisburnfeefee |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 1:57:13 PM
Hi I have a sweet itch hoody - brilliant - I have the waterproof liner too. It's a little snug now - the boy has grown - so I've bought a premier equine version of the sweetitch hoody - brilliant much better fit (but then its a size bigger) and half the price. Doesn't have a belly flap but i also use the cashel belly guard so i can use a turnout when it's raining and you can ride with the belly guard. All expense..... |
| spirit |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 1:30:10 PM
Hi, Thank you so much for your other replies.
Timberwolf - Have you seen any of the Snuggy Hoods leg covers in action? Also, where did it rub your horse, shoulder, mane? This is the problem with some!
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| Timberwolf |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 8:21:05 PM
My daughters pony has quite bad sweet itch. I have a Snuggy sweet itch rug and a Boett both of which are very good. I prefer the way the snuggy goes on as you dont have to put the whole lot on over their head, I also like the tail wrap that is underneath the tail flap giving 100% protection. You can also buy extras for it such as udder covers and leg covers. I have however found that this one can rub her in a couple of places so I only use it occaisonally. The Boett is great and she wears it 24/7 from march to november. It never moves or rubs. The only minor dislike I have is that you have to put the entire rug on over their head which could be a problem in some horses. Out of the two I would recommend the Boett.
Hope this helps
Jackie |
| Callisto |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 6:44:54 PM
Lily has a recovering sarcoid between her forelegs, and the vet told us to keep the flies off it - they have been a real nuisance, and despite covering the sarcoid in barrier cream the flies would all be back in the morning/evening. We were trying to work out how to rig a defensive flap addition to her fly rug to keep them off (not easy given the sarcoid position), but then I bought some IV Horse Fly Repellent Gel, which is suitable for putting on minor wounds and sunburn. Wasn't expecting a lot but Eureka! No flies the next morning! It was only after buying it that I realised that it was developed a few miles from where I used to live in Scotland. The flies were so bad there that they used to eat an old scar on Harley's leg open. I am very impressed with the gel, and believe me I have tried all sorts in the past.
She is wearing an Amigo anti fly rug, and I really like it - not as heavy as the Mark Todd, the neck is sewn on, it has a metallic sheen to reflect the sun, the neck stays up and it has a nice long tail flap, and is softer than some to avoid rubbing. Doesn't have a belly flap tho. Lily comes over to have it put on, so I think she really appreciates it too. (She tries to run away from fly repellent spray). |
| LIV |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 6:44:25 PM
The Rambo sweet itch hoody is fab. We have four of them now. I have just come back from a hack where the horses were being eaten alive by horse flies on the tracks. My grey mare had blood on her shoulders, chest, tummy and around her tail where the flies had sucked blood. She has been out in the field all day with her rug on and hasn't got one mark but as soon as it's off they're attacking her. Thoroughly recommend it. Also good for stopping the sun from bleaching their coats.
Liv |
| spirit |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 6:12:10 PM
Yes I have tried the Vasoline and Sudacream - I do often wonder whether I should be putting it on the lumps though.
Has know one else tried all these Fly rugs and sheets???
It would be great to know before I waste money on one that doesnt do what it should!!!
Thanks |
| LYNDILOU |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 5:48:51 PM
I would put a big dob of vasaline or sudocreme on any warts or places they cant protect themselves from , Shani gets them under her belly right where her tail cant reach and between her front legs 
Ballerina would make a GREAT endurence horse  , she is so intelligent ( like her half sister Venus) that she needs lots of stimulation to keep her mind occupied ,she would love the wild open spaces and a good gallop  I am sure |
| spirit |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 4:34:28 PM
Hi, just a few more notes that might help and thank you for your first replies!
This horse seems to have 'Viral Papilloma' or 'Milk Warts' and they are in areas that flies get to very easily.He is 4 and has only developed them in the last 4/5 months. We are treating him with Global herbs and an Immune booster as he only came over from Spain Feb 2009 and he was a little run down. Any experience with Global Herbs??
My horses all go out at 6.30pm at night and come in at 8am. They prefer to be in during the heat and flies.
Pony slave - Was it the Snuggy Hoods rug you tried - How did you find it? Fit, Heat, Rubbing etc?
Delly B- I agree, I liked the look of the Pagony, it covers the horse well and is economically priced, but a lady on our yard has the more expensive 'Demeulenkamp' rug and it also slides down the horses neck - it has made a dramatic difference to her sweet itch but the whole idea is that it should stay in place! 
Lynda - Ballerina is fine, she also prefers to be in during the heat of the day and snooze in her huge stable, she also has access to an outdoor pen that she can wander round as she doesn't like being shut in - Its her way or the highway!! We are considering having a go at Endurance !
Hopefully more people with have experience with these problems, Flies, keeping warts and sarcoids covered etc. Please help if you can!  |
| delly-b |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 2:00:34 PM
I bought a pagony.... Fab rug and I think well worth the money.
Only problem I had was keeping the neck up. I had to use a head collar and fasten the top of the neck up. My horse seemed to get stressed/pressure points from it and used to do a really funny throwing the head up and yawn thing.
I have since made a head hood (like a show hood) and put a material chanel over the poll area to fasten one of the rug ties through. It hold it up lovely, and bye bye silly yawning thing!! Lol
I have looked at the snuggy hood range since buying mine and think the design on those look alot better. Their "turnout" neck (same fabric as sweet itch I believe) is a hood/neck cover that fastens on the girth then the body rug goes over it like a standard rug. If I went for another this would be the one I would try.
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| LYNDILOU |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 1:08:15 PM
the flies have been a right pain these last few days and I am afraid my only solution is to keep mine in during the day, the horse flies, the ones that need to feed on blood to breed , will always get to the horse rugs or not , sprays are not effective for long , when they first go out they seem to stay away thats when owners think they work , but I can see mine from the window and know they are being bitten still you still get the odd one who will brave the stables , but in general the horse's much prefer to stay in when its hot like this how is the wonderful Ballerina ? |
| Pony slave |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 1:04:24 PM
Sweet Itch hoody, brilliant, well worth the money,
PS |
