Author: Marie-Theres and Veronika Conen, Sportsfreund-Studios
We spent a long time researching, tinkering and testing to find the ideal solution for an eczema/fly rug. Have we finally designed the perfect blanket? Most likely not, the requirements for an eczema blanket are far too complex for that. But we think we are very close.
We didn't want to launch just any other eczema blanket on the market, but a really new and improved one. So we studied eczema sufferers and their blankets and thought about what their strengths and weaknesses were and whether we could improve them. As we have an eczema horse of our own, we are very close to the problem. We are now happy to present you with the solution that we and the horses are very happy with.
When does my horse need a sweet itch blanket?
Sweet itch is a skin disease caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of gnats or other stinging insects. The horse feels intense itching, there is rubbing of the mane and tail, this in turn sometimes causes larger sores which can then be entry points for parasites, bacteria and fungi. Source: Hestakofi
Diet and grooming play an important role in the prevention and treatment of sweet itch. However, wearing a Sweet Itch Rug is essential and offers the most reliable protection against bites.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to give a general answer as to which months an anti-eczema blanket should be worn. It always depends on the weather. Normally, we would recommend using the blanket from at least April to October. However, if the weather is unusually mild in autumn or spring, it may be necessary to use it earlier or later.
Just pay attention to when your horse shows the first - even minimal - symptoms. If he has been rubbing the same spot for three days in a row, you should cover him up at the latest.
At the beginning or end of the season, however, you can reduce to wearing the neck piece alone, provided your horse has no sensitive areas elsewhere on the body.
Freshly imported Icelandic horses should always wear a sweet itch blanket during their first summers in Germany, regardless of whether they show symptoms or not.
How should the ideal sweet itch blanket do everything?
The fabric of the ideal sweet itch rug is light, breathable, waterproof and completely mosquito-proof. It is comfortable for the horse yet as durable as chain mail. The cut is impeccably tailored. The workmanship is flawless. The price is low.
However, these requirements cannot be met. After all, a fabric that is waterproof and completely indestructible cannot also be lightweight and breathable. And sophisticated cutting technology and high-quality workmanship do not come cheap.
The dream idea of an sweet itch rug is almost impossible to fulfil
We’ve done our very best and launched our new Sweet Relief eczema blanket in 2026! We hope this blanket will make life easier for horses with sweet itch,
Do you need assistance or advice?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Hier findest du weitere Antworten zu unserer Ekzemdecke SWEET RELIEF.
- Need personal advice? Schreib uns ekzem@sportsfreund-studios.com
