My 2-yo SWB gelding (Mr. Smartypants for some of you). We've done some Parelli-stuff and Dually halter training, but I've never attempted a Join-up for any number of reasons.
So he has sweet itch and is in need of regular attention for which I let him into a fenced off portion of the field - so the other two horses don't try to steal his food or chase him away from me. He isn't too happy about this attention and while he loves being scratched, he can do without the "gooey" stuff, and walks away.
Usually, I bring a halter, but I forgot it the other day and had to follow him around to rub some more into his mane/tail before he walked off again, and so we went on until I was done.
When it was time to let him out again, I opened the gate, but by now he was too busy eating grass in the far corner, and wasn't about to let me touch him again while the bottle was still in my hands.
Halterless as I was, I then tried a different approach: I walked up to him, coming in from an angle from behind then turned away on a semicircle that took me close to his head, made that "kissing sound" I always use when I want him to follow, and walked away.
And he just stopped eating and jogged after me, close on my heals. Followed me out into the big field and wanted to cuddle all of a sudden. *LOL*
Not sure if it qualifies as a Join up, but it was a pretty good feeling when he tagged along like that. :)
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(Btw, if anyone has something that really works against the itching, I'd be delighted to hear about it!)
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We use a product called 'Killitch' at the sanctuary. We've got quite a few horses with sweet itch and so far it seems like the best thing. One of the shetlands who gets terrible sweet itch had a few sore bald bits and about 5 days after applying this every day his hair is already growing back and the itching is much less. If the weather permits we will bath them just before the 'itchy season' starts and apply 'kill itch' every day, twice a day on the worst afflicted horses. We've also tried another product called 'Switch' which you apply only once a week but this isn't nearly as effective on horses who have already started itching, probably needs to be started well before the season starts.
Great news about the 'join up'. By the way I also use 'KillItch'. My chap doesn't have sweet itch but does get really itchy and I think he would develop into it if I didn't put it on. Works like a treat - start it early in the season as soon as there is any sign of itching / midges.
Thank you so much for the tip about Killitch!
I know of and use Switch, which I think works well enough, but if this product works better, I will definitely see if I can find it! :)
I've been feeding him (scalded and swelled) buckwheat the past couple of weeks on recommendation from people who had success with it on account of it being a natural antihistamine.
I'm not sure of its effects yet, but the itching has actually become less this past week. Mind you, we had a rainy and overcast week before this, so that could be a factor too.
Global herbs also do a product to feed your horse called 'skratch' (http://www.globalherbs.co.uk/equine.html) they have good products on their site, I have used some of them for various things and have seen good results. If the itching has already started then maybe using it in combination with something like kill itch would work, and next year you could start feeding it earlier. Kill itch is a bit expensive but really does work!
Oh and well done on the join up! ;-)
Thanks for the link, Jayne!
I have heard of the company but never used their products. Googled Skratch for forums where I could read reviews and discussions. Seems to me this product has a lot in common with the German Ökozon; both is either a true miracle cure or a huge waste of (lots!) of money. There's no knowing beforehand, I guess. Also, it seems that Skratch smells rank, so I can understand why some get a problem with getting it into the horse to begin with.
But I am very grateful for every suggestion of things that really seems to work. The Killitch arrived in the mail yesterday, so I will go with that first and see what happens.
Jayne,
If you read this, I want you to know that KillItch worked miracles for my youngster this summer. I had to be persistent with it - and I also fed him buckwheat for whatever good it might do - but he has most of his mane and tail in place where last year he had almost none.
The itching was on and off and we were lucky with not so many gnats/midges etc this year. Will be standing ready with it in good time next spring -(and pray it doesn't affect his kidneys or something!)