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suyents
Platinum Member
 United Kingdom
1651 Posts |
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Lindsay
Gold Member
Scotland
944 Posts |
 Posted - 06 May 2008 : 7:41:57 PM
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| Personally no as up here we have loads of midges so it wouldn't be fair on the poor ned. |
   
Paidir dóibhsean le fiántas ina gcroíthe acu, atá coinnithe i gcaighin |
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Jenni5
Gold Member
England
849 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:03:20 PM
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| If I lived by the sea I wouldn't mind buying a horse with sweet itch, seeing as research shows there less midges around, but if where I am now, I would have to consider more. At the mo I part loan a arab with sweet itch, and he has obviously rubbed, which is annoying! |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:05:58 PM
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| nope - seen plenty of sweet itch horses managed adequately but it would drive me mad watching the poor horse itching itself to distraction. |
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suzanna
Bronze Member
Wales
223 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:24:48 PM
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I bought one with an allergy to midges (sweetitch) We manage it very well with neem oil and access to her stable at all times. Quite easy really. |
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rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:37:20 PM
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I bought one who suffered with sweet itch quite badly before I owned him, although I didn't know this at the time . Since I have had him there has been no sign of if, BUT, my paddocks are very open, no trees or hedges, and this seems to be the answer for him . I think it all depends on how bad the sweet itch is and your own circumstances with regard to turnout etc. |
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Offira
Platinum Member
England
1583 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:42:43 PM
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No, a filly I bred had it very badly and it was a huge committment to keep her itch free. She was a lovely horse and worth all the effort, but I wouldn't go there again if I had a choice.
Lots of things can go wrong with horses so I would try to start with as few known problems as possible - that's the theory anyway |
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rhoni
Gold Member
United Kingdom
910 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:44:07 PM
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Honestly, no - unless I lived somewhere else.  I think it's proliferating, too - just as bluetongue is spreading into previously unknown territory, so too are the midgies. We've been here for 7 years with no problem but last autumn and this spring have been a nightmare. We're considering a move to the coast - sea breezes and salty air are the perfect antidote. And we're going out tomorrow to buy 2 midge-eating machines cos I really can't bear to see the horses distressed and stomping any more, whether they're sweet-itchy or not  |
Edited by - rhoni on 06 May 2008 8:58:39 PM |
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kate b
Gold Member
Wales
1418 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 8:44:46 PM
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I have one! I do manage to keep her relatively comfortable. She does still scratch a bit, but the first summer I had her she rubbed till she bled. She is the most perfect horse in all ways and wouldnt part with her for the world, so no, buying a horse with sweet itch wouldnt bother me in the slighest. But, each to their own, if you can get over the fact that your horse will never have a flowing mane, and you are happy with the extra 'care' they require, then go for it!
Kate |
      
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Edited by - kate b on 06 May 2008 8:46:35 PM |
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highridarabians
Bronze Member
England
128 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 9:11:11 PM
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i have one and the secret I have is a spoon full of marmite every day in thier food and it stops the itching !!
we do have midges too !!!
Vikki xxx
she actually likes it on a sandwich ha ha ha but you can just put it in the feed |
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rhoni
Gold Member
United Kingdom
910 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 9:28:32 PM
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Vikki - got to laugh at that one - my best pal has just gone to Indonesia for a month and was (is?!?) concerned about Dengue fever - I said "take B vits" and she sid "yeah, a Marmite sandwich every morning - I've been told it's an old wives tale" Now, given that she's dicing with death and I'm doing the internet research and have just bought a huge quantity of B vitamins for my midged-out horses - who do you want to put your money on?!
Also, out of 17 horses and a donk, most think that the Bvits are seriously tasty and 2 think they're poison! Of course, I think the ones who like it have a deficiency... |
Edited by - rhoni on 06 May 2008 9:31:26 PM |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 9:36:29 PM
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I wouldn't Suyen, it's just an ongoing hassle. YOu have to keep the horse protected at all times, either with expensive potions or rugs which scrub out the mane anyway. Even riding out, you have to spray them within an inch of their lives!! You will always deter potential buyers if you want to sell the horse on and in my experience, there is hardly a month of the year now when there are not midges around so the horse has to endure a midge rug, in the very hottest summer or added to their winter turnout rug. It's a bum deal for the horse, always wanting to scratch and finding the humans have outwitted him by electrifying every scratchy thing in sight.
So many horses now are prone, mine an Andalusian - a breed I believe to be prone to sweetitch as don't really think the breed is genetically suited to the moist, humid climate of good old England. (Mind you I think they get sweetitch a lot in Spain).
It's a sad condition - especially for the horse. I definately wouldn't choose to have one. The good news is, if a horse hasn't got it by the age of eight (??think I'm right here - see www.sweet-itch.com) it won't get it.
Edited to add - just look at the management requirements on here!!! No way Jose! http://www.sweet-itch.co.uk/management.html |
Roseanne |
Edited by - Roseanne on 06 May 2008 9:39:54 PM |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 9:39:08 PM
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interesting - our feed has distillers pellets in so it smells a bit Marmitey and those at home (being fed) don't seem to be eaten much (despite a big muckheap near he boxes)
On sweetitch... No, can't bear it. BUT did buy the Sec C gelding
from a 'reputable' breeder
at Brightwells cob sales
UNDECLARED!!! in fact they DECLARED he definitely DID NOT rub!!!!
(Cob sale was in the October, come Spring and he rubs raw in 18hrs we contact auctioneers to query it - they tell us we had 14days to make a complaint.....duh!!! that's why he was in the Oct sale!
Anyway, we're managing him well now and he leads a normal existence with our bunch |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 9:40:29 PM
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Sorry to butt in, and slightly off thread, but can I just ask highridarabians - how long does it take the marmite to get into their system and take effect, please??
I posted a thread about this in The Panel, as someone told me about marmite being a good fly repellent, but I didn't know how much to feed, or even if it was effective.
We have a sweet itch sufferer on our yard (not mine), and the poor thing will sit like a dog, rubbing his bum on the ground, when the flies are bad, in spite of having a fly sheet on. Starts galloping around like a lunatic at dusk, too. I will mention this to his owner, she may like to try it . |
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rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 9:52:04 PM
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Rhoni, re:your comments about sea breezes and all that - that's probably why my boy doesn't have problems here, we about a mile and a half inland and it's pretty breezy here but the move from Warwickshire to Norfolk seems to have done the trick |
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rhoni
Gold Member
United Kingdom
910 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 10:16:40 PM
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It's official - midgies hate wind. Frivolity aside, the sweet-itch vectors can't handle wind.
Incidentally, I did a story a few years back in Sardenia on bluetongue. It is a grim and ghastly disease and anything we can do to prevent it spreading would be good. |
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Sahir
Gold Member
England
847 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 10:54:50 PM
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| Interesting question Suyen !! Why are you asking, are you thinking of buying one ?? |
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honey
Platinum Member
N. Ireland
2634 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2008 : 10:58:21 PM
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| i have one that doesn't have sweet itch but suffers a terrible allergic reaction to fly bites. she goes crazy at the flys and someone was so thoughtful and put a pond at the bottom of the horses fields, so they are tormented with them, even a fly rug doesn't totally keep the midges away |
    
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rhoni
Gold Member
United Kingdom
910 Posts |
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Sahir
Gold Member
England
847 Posts |
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rhoni
Gold Member
United Kingdom
910 Posts |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2008 : 08:36:46 AM
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| Yes, have one, completely manageable with the right care and products and rambo sweetitch hoody rug, only lasts from may until october and doesnt cost any more than keeping other horses, wouldnt be withour her!! |
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pleasures
Gold Member
United Kingdom
781 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2008 : 09:09:13 AM
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I have one who was rubbed to the point that she bled before I bought her but I would not be without her for the world. With careful management it is not the hardest thing in the world to help them live a comfortabe life. In my experience it will always be a problem for the affected horse but if its the one you want then go for it.
I would echo what other have said however, I am sure that it is a lot easier if you are somewhere where there are good breezes away from trees and water.
I did speak to my vet about it and he said that if push comes to shove then cortisone injections are available but not the best idea if its a broodmare (slight risk of abortion). Thats up to the individual to decide it they want to go down that road.
Hope this help.
Sue |
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Rozy Rider
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4545 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2008 : 10:19:52 AM
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| No I would'nt knowingly buy one with sweet itch, had one once and once was enough, although I agree with carefull managment you can get by. A pal of mine that breeds ponies, has even had a couple put down that had sweet itch, afraid to pass them on and felt better off PTS than passed on and on. My own mare was shown in 14.2h Class's and won several, then at 8 years put in foal, more or less as soon as she was tested in foal the mare started rubbing and sweetich developed. I'm pleased to say that the offspring never had it at all in her life. Sue |
Sue
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2008 : 10:35:47 AM
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You have to be extremely careful about giving steroid injections to stallions - as my Andalusian was when he first developed sweetitch (and that's one reason why I had him gelded as they believe it's hereditary). Apparently they can 'drop down' never to retract again... Doesn't happen often but it's possible. God knows what you'd do then! I didn't realise steroids could affect pregnant mares too.
I believe my Andalusian wouldn't necessarily have developed sweetitch but we were in an area with a river running through it, a large carp pond and woods; absolutely perfect conditions for midge breeding. I was totally inexperienced about it and didn't realise he might need protection to allow his defences to strengthen over the years. By the time I realised, he'd really got a shocking case and had some nasty blistering all down his dock and his crest. It's a several-times-a-day management operation in hot, still and muggy weather. Poor horses.
Come on Suyen - has someone offered you one? Guessing games going on here... |
Roseanne |
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rafabreeze
Gold Member
757 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2008 : 11:19:38 AM
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| I have one with sweet itch and also a dust allergy, if I had know that when I went to see him I may not have bought him, but I have had him now 17 years and have loved every minute of owning him. With careful management it shouldnt be too much of a problem. But I think if I was going to buy one now and was told of the allergy, I would def think twice. Georgina |
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