Its that time of year again and my new pony is scratching away all the hairs from his dock.
I have checked him for midges and can't see anything and he is on garlic to keep flies away.
Has anyone got any 'tried and tested' tips to stop him losing the rest of his tail?

you cant see midges. as they will be biting away whilst hes out in the field. the itching then stays once they are in that itch/scratch cycle.

i found garlic actually made things worse. try a fly rug with a big tail flap. net-tex stop itch is good but greasy so it depends how much showing you are doing but it washes out. (i use it for ears). decent fly repellent like coopers works sometimes. but basically nothing is as good as covering it up to stop it happening at all.

i was recommended flea powder (buy it from horse shop) at the weekend but not tried it so not sure how effective it is.

Global herbs Flyfree, does a good job,at detering biting flies and improves skin and hair too.You add it to the horses feed, smells wonderful.

Barrier health did a Midge fly repellent that worked really well.But generally I find fly sprays expensive and not very effective.

I agree, covering up seems to be the best option.

If its still available Benzyl benzoate on the itchy bits soothes the area affected and to some extent discourages biting midges.

i thing there is going to be a big problem with the dreaded midge this year, we are usually not so badly affected, but there are clouds of them already!Must be the wet summer we had last year.

Off fly rug shopping on the net!

Post edited by: appynospots, at: 2008/04/29 21:24

I find a cheaper alternative to pre-mixed fly repellant is to make your own, especially if you have a midge affected horse and need to slap it on twice a day..

Take a half litre bottle, i.e. the small water bottles you get with volvic or evian:
15ml citronella oil (Available behind the counter in pharmacies - superdrug always have it in)
25ml Vinegar (I use bog standard on your chips stuff)
and a very small drop of washing up liquid as an emulsifier to help bind it
Fill the rest of the bottle up with water to the top and shake vigorously before use.

The first time you use it on the horse use a small amount and leave for 24 hours to make sure they dont have a reaction.

This is just my own recipe but I have found although it only lasts a few hours, it really helps at dawn and dusk when the midges are at their most prevelant!! Also the vinegar makes the coat shiny but not too oily like some greasy products can if you are riding.

If its still available Benzyl benzoate on the itchy bits soothes the area affected and to some extent discourages biting midges
It is still available but be warned it can lead to embarassment! I asked at the Pharmacy in a large (and busy) Tescos if they had any, there was a bit of a discussion behind the counter and then I was asked what strength I would like, "er not really sure" I replied. A small white box was offered containing a 250ml bottle for the princely sum of £2.45. Great,off I went quite happily. Next day I decided to get out the full instructions because I wondered exactly what the purpose of benzyl benzoate is - yes you've guessed it, it is for pubic lice and genital mites!!!
Thing is I need to get some more now so I am thinking of sending other half to get it this time!
By the way, I use a little in my mare's ears 2/3 times a week through the summer to deter those horrid little black flies that cause them to shake their heads, it works a treat.

Hee hee I had a similar experience when in boots asking for benzyl benzoate, its a human scabies treatment which i didnt know until I asked for it!
Ive recentky bought a new boy and he had 'areas of hardened skin' quote vets report, which we assumed was last years sweet itch. He was also totally bald, clipped out with no mane at all and a tail which was in a sorry state of disrepair. So, we knew we would be in for a challenging summer and you may read tales of despair later in the year but for now..he is covered head to toe in a bug rug, it has 3 straps around the belly which I keep pretty tight,it has a really long tail flap and goes up over his ears. I would love a snuggy hood one but they are twice the price of a bug rug so got to save up! Ive already had reports of him skidding along the field on his belly so obviously he is itching already. I go thim some 'Killitch' today which , when I got home, I realised is benzyl benzoate again- wish i got it from a chemist now!
Anyway, hope you sort your pony out, its a horrible thing being itchy and seems increasingly common. Fingers crossed for a midge-less summer!