When it comes to managing a horse or pony with sweet itch, keeping them covered and protected from midges is of paramount importance.
Standard fly rugs just won’t do. You need a finer mesh fabric that can prevent the small midges from getting to your horse – that’s where this sweet itch rug from Equitheme comes in!
Designed and manufactured purely to help combat sweet itch, this Equitheme sweet itch rug is manufactured from soft and tightly weaved 100% polyester. It’s these closely weaved fabric that acts as a barrier for all the small insects and midges that would otherwise be able to get through to your horses skin, bite, and causing the irritation that is sweet itch.
Even during the warmest months of the British summer the odd downpour is to be expected, luckily this sweet itch sheet dries very quickly and is suitable and comfortable to be worn for long periods of time – come rain or shine. An ideal choice for those horses that are turned out all summer – you can keep them protected from the midges regardless of the weather.
The rug is also dense and good at absorbing moisture, helping to wick sweat away to keep your horse at a comfortable temperature. Some owners of sweet itch afflicted horses put the sheets on as early as February, and during periods of colder or wet weather put a lightweight turnout over the top.
If sun exposure is also a concern (for example if your horse is photosensitive or has areas of pink skin you’d like to keep protected), you’ll be pleased to learn that the sweet itch rug has great UV protection which will help to prevent damage and also irritation for any horse that is somewhat sensitive.
Fitting
As you’d expect from a sweet itch sheet that needs to keep out the smallest of insects, the rug does fit closely to the body of the horse and protects the horse fully right from the next down to the tail.
There is also a sweet itch fly mask that is available separately that can be incorporated to offer full sweet itch protection and cover for your horse.
The rug comes fully equipped with adjustable flaps at the base of the neck along with adjustable elastic straps for around the neck and also hind legs with the aid of PVC clips.
As you’d expect from a rug designed to help combat sweet itch, the belly area of the horse is entirely covered thanks to a removable belly flap. This seperate flap strip is added to the rug once the main sheet has been fitted and is in place. The addition of a separate belly flap helps to ensure greater protection and coverage of this vital midge biting area.
Due to how the belly flap fits, it also doubles the protection of the flanks as it doubles over the protection of the main sheet as it is wrapped around the body and then clipped at the top of the horse’s back. A belt and braces approach to keeping the belly area protection.
This fully elasticated and adjustable rug ensures a snug and close fitting fit the whole of your horse’s body, preventing any small insects from penetrating through.
To keep the rug in position, the rug and the belly flag are secured around the body through loops on the horse’s back. A unique velcro and clip anchoring system helps to secure the rug in order to prevent its position riding back and removing any of its protection.
This sweet itch sheet is fully machine washable up to 30 degrees in a normal washing machine.
This sweet itch rug from Equitheme is one of the best sweet itch rugs on the market for fit, coverage and affordability.
Delivery
All orders received before 2pm Monday-Friday will be dispatched via Parcel Force 24 next day service and will arrive with you the very next day. This is a fully tracked service that provides a 1-hour delivery window notification.
PaulaW –
Keep the rug on 24/7 (don’t be told otherwise) and electric fence around anything that he can rub on.
Administer lotions and potions to soothe and repel the pesky midges.
Sophie90 –
It covers her belly a lot better than the shires one I was using.
alwaysbecob –
I’ve got one, it’s great, I ordered slightly bigger for my boy incase they were on the small side but didn’t need too
LauraWoods –
I have two ponies with sweet itch, both of them need a sweetitch rug, plus hood and fly spray every second they’re outside all summer. I’ve tried a few rugs but always circle back to these equitheme rugs. They’re cheap enough where if needed I can quickly replace them if they get ripped to shreds and offer great full body protection for my ponies.
Alongside the sweet itch rugs I keep them inside at night. Its not fun or practical, but it’s that or put them down to save them from suffering 😬
snoozie –
Very quick delivery! Ordered just before 1pm and it arrived the next morning. I got one for my mare and so far it’s holding up well, I like it and it’s a good fit on her.
Judypool –
I’ve had one of these, it lasted a whole summer, was light and comfy and dried really quick if it rained 🙂
Lolly –
They are really good but the zebra equitheme are a lot thinner and get a size bigger for long necks. My mare is 6’3/6’6 but I get a 6’9. Fits a lot better on the neck. I’m on my 3rd one now.
Cobgirl –
A rug is simply the best option, no matter if they sweat it’s a solid barrier. Especially if already itching (which means the reaction has already started) it’s a protective barrier to stop them rubbing themselves raw. I’ve tried a few sweet itch rugs now and this lightweight sweet itch rug from equitheme is a firm favourite.