Fly rug??

[Bobbi C]

there are a few on the market, which is the best?

it's become very clear i'm going to have to get one for the poor horse, she's already driven demented with the midges

[Napoles]

I used to use the Horseware ones on previous horses, but I got Derby House Tego rugs at Badminton last year and they are still going strong. Probably not quite as sturdy or hardwearing at the Horseware (or Bucas) but they were much cheaper. We use them for both the flies and to prevent their coats from bleaching in the sun.

It's these ones:
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=2993&a=srch

This is the Horseware one if you want something more hard-wearing:
http://www.tallyhofarm.co.uk/shop/rambo-sweet-itch-hoody-p-360.html

[xxkarenxx]

I got nice Amigo ones a while back. they are the softer mesh ones, I don't like the very rigid ones.

[Druid]

Horseware for me - have Rambo Protector, Rambo Fly Rug, Rambo Sweetitch Hoody and Amigo Bug Rug on various horses all very good!

[Bobbi C]

thanks guys. and do they really work? also does the horses get hot in them or are they super breathable?

[Druid]

Yes they do work - we live right on a lake and are plagued by midges. I was able to keep a Sweetitch pony happy with a fly rug here!

My showing lot wear them to prevent their coat's bleaching out and never sweat up under them unless they've really been hooning around

[rambling]

I have no personal experience of them. However the "sweet itch" vet recommended the Boett rug especially for the way it covers the belly.
One of the horse magazines had a letter a while back from a reader who bought a cheap sweet itch rug on the internet. She said her horse had been VERY badly burned. Apparently the material had rubber in it and it heated up in the sun . If I remember correctly the horse hadnt been checked the day before and it was in a bad way when they got to it and had to have veterinary treatment.
I dont want to worry anyone unnecessarily .
If you dont get one of the well known makes make sure you check everyday and especially if your horse is out in full sun.
Horsewears bargain bin had great prices on them recently.

[Little Miss]

I've had quite a few over the last few years as I've had three ponies with sweet-itch. I'll just mention a few that I had.

I had three amigo bug rugs, I used two of them, for sweet-itch I wouldn't be overly impressed from the fitting aspect of things.

The rugs constantly fell down the neck so I had to tie it to the headcollar and the neck part never actually goes up to just behind there ears and still there was a big gap and plenty of room for flies to get in.

Then they both ripped when they were about a month or two old, I found them to be nearly too flappy so to speak and the horses are out so I reckon when they were standing up they caught the rug. Even a friend of mine used one and commented on the poor fitting and how they are potentially dangerous.

So after that I sold the 3rd one on e-bay as I found it useless.

I had The masta zing-fly mesh rug I got it from ch showing is 35 euro, much the same as the amigo but it was better because it went up further on the neck which I can work with the rug myself and it was cheaper, the material is lighter than the bug rug but it was doing its job. It ripped eventually.

I also had one off e-bay much the same as the masta zing it served its purpose but eventually ripped, it must be just my horses!!!

The best one is the rambo, it fits very well and it covers the horse brilliantly plus its about 3yrs old been on the horse nearly all year round and wow it is lasting and one thing is it hasn't even got a tear.

If I was going for a fly rug for a horse with sweet-itch I'd get the rambo one. If its just for an ordinary horse go onto e-bay and have a look there's plenty of ones that you can clearly see from the photo that they fit nicely around the neck etc.... they are good value for what you intend t for but I wouldn't waste my time with an amigo bug rug solely because of its neck piece being ineffective, I would have been better off with an ordinary light rug on the horse.

They are brilliant, I have a filly that has all over sweet itch the poor little thing and she needs to be wrapped up and they are brilliant for her. I have two others that have it mildy but it is vital that there neck and tail is covered correctly and then I have peace.

Along with the rugs I use aloe vera on any bites and a little bit of iodine(sometimes), oh and some antiseptic shampoo that breaks down the dirt and cleans the area thoroughly, I use this before I do anything, then I also use a little summer freedom about once a week sometimes twice and I have a pour on that contains 5% permythrin (SP??) that I use every 2-4 weeks it really helps deter midges and with all that my 3 guys are healthy and happy, I must add though that the poor on and summer freedom are sufficient enough for the two milder cases.

[Bobbi C]

wow, thats great Little Miss, thanks so much!
she doesn't have sweetitch but the midges really drive her demented. she works herself into a sweat she gets so bothered by them. will do a bit more research and see what i can find out

[Napoles]

I used the Horseware one on a horse that had sweetitch too and between a combination of that and Summer Freedom we managed to keep her mane and tail in perfect condition for showing. She was also on lots of garlic and cider vinegar.
Must say I have found the Derby House ones to be pretty good for the money - they also have a nice big belly band to protect under the belly. They are the softer mesh and have nice silky patches for over the mane and on the shoulders to prevent rubs.
Anyone who visited my lads in the stables at the RDS last year would have seen them modelling them last year - they nearly live in them in the summer!

[Bobbi C]

just ordered the amigo bug buster rug with neck included. i tell ya if it works where we are it'll work anywhere!