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Equine Magazine Reviews

'Your Horse'. page 57.

Issue 307, March/April 2008

“Beating the bugs” Q. “My horse comes up in big swellings when he is bitten by insects. Is there anything I can use to stop this from happening?” A. “These swellings are called urticaria, and they are caused by an allergic reaction. Preventing the bites is hard, but try keeping him in at dawn or dusk when the mosquitoes and midges are around. You could try a Boett blanket, which covers most of the horse, and is made from a fabric that allows his skin to breathe. The rug was originally designed for horses suffering from sweet itch, but it can also be used to help with insect bite allergies. Fly sprays/repellents may help too.....” Marlene Jørgensen, MRCVS.

Scottish Icelandic Horse Association Newsletter

August 2005

As an owner of a horse who suffers badly from the dreaded sweet itch I thought the time had come to try out, with some scepticism, a Boett blanket. Purchasing said blanket was amazingly simple - I measured my horse, Gola, filled in all her details on the order form and popped it in the post. Her lovely new rug appeared 4 days later. The difference it has made is amazing. Usually by this time of year we have the typical tufty mane and tail and extremely painful-looking sores on her back from constantly rubbing and scratching. Not now however – her coat looks wonderful, no sores, no bites and best of all a happy and contented horse that isn’t constantly being driven demented by flies and itching. The rug is lightweight and doesn’t hinder her moving, rolling etc, in any way. Getting it on was a bit tricky at first, but once you get the knack it’s easy. All in all a huge success. These rugs are quite expensive but I would say are most definitely worth it. I would certainly suggest to any other owners who have horses also plagued with this horrible allergy to give the Boett rug a try. Susan Irvine, Approved by Gola!

Your Horse, March 11 to April 7, 2004, page 186	10 March 2004
Gearguide: (A Tried & Tested feature). Boett Blanket from Horses Etc. Features: over the head rug with plastic clip fastenings, separate adjustable belly shield, over the head hood. Materials: man-made water repellent fabric. Colours: dark or light brown and white to special order. Sizes: 11 sizes from Miniature Shetland to Shire. Tester: Milla Healey owns Maude a l6hh TBx mare who events at Novice level. Maude suffers badly with sweet itch and rubs her mane, tail, shoulders and back raw when the midges are at their worst. Milla tried many lotions but they didn’t stop her rubbing. Comments: Maude wore the Boett Blanket with a hood all the time, except when ridden, from the end of March to November. She even wore it on the lorry and at shows. The rug transformed her life. She rarely rubs, has a glossy coat, mane and tail but, most importantly she’s happy The rug is quite complicated to put on and takes both you and the horse time to master the art. [but full fitting instructions are provided and its easy once you have done it a couple of times! – Horses Etc.], The rug needs to be a snug fit and used constantly to be effective — you can even exercise in it, though we didn’t feel the need to. She has made a couple of holes in the rug, torn an ear and one of the fastenings has broken, but considering the amount of wear the rug’s had, it’s in great condition. The rug was breathable, but in extremely hot temperatures she did overheat, so we kept her in at these times. Although extremely expensive it is worth every penny and there is a friendly, helpful after-care service. Verdict: A fantastically effective product against sweet itch, with a great after care service—worth every penny.

Horse & Rider, April 2004, page 93	03 March 2004
Sweet Itch Solutions - Ditch the Itch. "Anti-fly sheets make any horse or pony's life more bearable during the fly season, particularly if they incorporate a neck cover and the face is protected by a fly mask. However whilst offerring brilliant protection against larger flying insects, they are not necessarily proof against midges, so check with the manufacturer first. One specialised cover-up that does offer protection is the Boett blanket, made from a special fabric whch midges can't bite through and available through the [National Sweet Itch] helpline. It is designed to be used 24 hours a day in all conditions and whilst it is usually removed for riding, some owners apparently leave it on. There are 12 sizes and prices start at around £115 plus VAT".

Horse	01 April 2002
Margaret Pyatt of Tenbury Wells, Worcs, owns Jenny, a 12 y-o part Hackney. "The Boett Blanket has really improved Jenny's quality of life. She has always been quite badly affected by sweet itch but, thanks to the blanket, her red-raw mane and tail have grown back fully. I use it on her in the stable as well as out in the field, and it has worn well. The extra material supplied to mend tears is useful. The rug is good value and people say she looks like a different horse!" Design ***** Performance ***** Value for Money ***** 15/15

Horse	01 December 2001
"I've been impressed by the Boett Blanket which has assisted many horses I know in the fight against Sweet Itch. The Blanket fits closely over the body. Face hoods are also available." Ms. Jo Holmes. MRCVS, Regimental Veterinary Officer for the Household Cavalry.

Your Horse	01 December 2001
"The Boett Sweet Itch Blanket from Horses Etc: The very best deterrent for sweet itch."

Horse & Rider	01 June 2001
"One of the greatest breakthroughs in combating Sweet Itch is the Boett Blanket. It is lightweight, which means that although the insects are unable to get through it, it doesn't cause the horse to overheat. The blanket covers the areas that are susceptible to Sweet Itch -the main, tail, back and belly"

Horse	01 August 2000
'Sweet Itch Blankets Tried & Tested', an independent report by reader Sue Walley with her 15hh Irish cob mare, Maggie: "Maggie suffers badly from sweet itch and will hack herself to bits. The Boett Blanket is brilliant and the best preventative I've tried. It fits well and has stopped her rubbing. It makes a big difference that she can wear it in the stable as well as out in the field". Effectiveness 5/5, Design 5/5, Value for Money 5/5 SCORE: 15/15: RECOMMENDED

Horse	01 June 2000
"The best of these products are made from tough but lightweight breathable fabrics and offer an excellent mechanical barrier to midge bites. The most scientifically produced is the Boett Sweet Itch Blanket from Horses Etc." Sue Paterson, MRCVS