Fight the Sweet Itch desperation!

At the bottom of this page there is a number of images.

But to begin with let's have a look at Krapi "boettlegged" - i.e. including the front legs trousers designed and photographed by Nelly den Boer:

It is recommended to put on the pyjama and the face mask without a halter, preferably in a box. The animal won't be able then to move or to run away; otherwise parts of the pyjama still lying on the ground could be damaged.

If you nevertheless rather tether the horse when (un)dressing, that is also possible by guiding the rope from the haltered horse through the rear end of the neck hose before fixing the rope to a hook or a beam.

When using a face mask you must take off the halter or fix it temporarily around the neck of the horse because it makes no sense leaving the halter underneath the face mask.

In case a face mask is not used, the corresponding steps below are to be left out. The procedure may vary slightly with model changes. In the newer models the belly part comes seperate, therefore pulling the attached belly part through the forelegs does not hold for these models. The seperate belly part is has to be fixed with two wide rubber bands on the back and two narrow rubber bands from the lower side of the neck, running between the forlegs.

Dressing

1. Pull the face mask over the head. Make sure the horse's nose does not get inadvertently into one of the eye openings of the mask.
2. Put your hand into the rear of the face mask and push the ears of the horse into the ear parts of the mask.
3. Put on the pyjama: roll up the neck hose a bit, pull the hose over the horse's head and spread it loosely over the back of the horse. The belly part of the pyjama is now hanging loosely on the ground between the forelegs.
4. Fasten the clicking catch on the long rubber band of the face mask to its counterpart in the neck hose (approximately at the withers). Adapt the length of the rubber band at the first use in such a way that the rubber band is slightly tightened when the horse is grazing.
   The rubber bands under the jaws are perhaps too loose for horses with a relatively small head. With needle and thread you can adapt the tension.
5. Pull the back part of the pyjama snugly over the horse's back and over its tail. The two sewn-on loops on the back must be positioned along the spine.
6. Position yourself on the right side of the horse and pull the belly part of the pyjama towards the belly, between the frontlegs of the horse.
7. Lift the belly part and push the two rubber bands with the catches through the loops on the back. Let the catches temporarily get hooked loosely in the loops.
8. Now move to the left side of the animal, grab the two other rubber bands from the belly part and close the catches on the back.
9. Check with your hand along the external seams of the belly part of the pyjama at both sides of the horse if the cloth fits snugly and leaves the sheath free in geldings and stallions. Adapt the tension of the rubber bands on the back if required.
10. Close the clicking catches around the hind legs. It is advisable to loop the two catches through each other. An agile horse could otherwise quite easily step out of one loop and subsequently free itself of the other loop, too - and here your sewing machine is working again...
11. (In case a separate tailpiece is present:) Close the tail piece with the clicking catch and/or or velcro strip. Do not tighten too much in order not to impair the blood circulation. For some models: put the rubber band in a loop around the tail, draw the end through the strap and close the catch.
12. If you do not use a face mask, tighten the hose opening behind the ears but do not overstretch.
    If you use a face mask, the neck strap of the pyjama must first be pulled through the loop in the neck of the face mask and then be fastened in the buckle. In case another loop is present below the jaws you should proceed in the same way.
13. Perform a daily check if the horse is still properly "dressed".

Undressing

1. (In case a separate tailpiece is present:) Open the velcro strip of the tail piece. With older models: open the catch at the tail and pull the rubber strap from the loop.
2. Open the catches around the hind legs.
3. Open the catches on the back and let the belly part fall on the ground.
4. Roll the pyjama up from the tail over the back up to the withers.
5. Open the catch of the rubber band of the face mask in the neck hose at the withers.
6. Open the strap behind the ears and, if present, also the strap below the jaws.
7. Remove the face mask.
8. Pull the pyjama over the head of the horse.

Cleaning

Pyjama and face mask by most consist of breathing polyester jersey which can be machine-washed at 40 degrees centigrade / 104 degrees Fahrenheit. You should wash every 4 weeks or so - your nose will tell you when. The Bucas Buzz material is 'ballistic nylon' (= parachute material?).

"Dress Code"

The pyjama must be worn 24 hours per day during the entire sweet each season except when working the horse. If you do not keep this strict dress code, the mosquitoes will find their victim easily.

Wearing comfort

Horses wearing the pyjama do not suffer from hot weather. Body motions are not hampered, the bodily functions can be performed normally including rolling. Above approx. 30 degrees centigrade / 86 degrees Fahrenheit light sweating on the chest can be observed. Even in hot weather a horse will not always look for a shady place.

Horses with sweet itch generally understand quickly that the pyjama is doing them well and will allow (un)dressing with little or no problems.

It is disadvised to put on a wet pyjama. For such cases a second, already dry set is recommended.

Wear & Tear

With geldings and certainly with stallions who are more prone to play and fight the pyjama will last approx. 2 years; this period should be longer with mares. From time to time youŽll have some needlework to do.
When ordering you should ask for a few extra cloth patches. A weak spot is the corner between the belly and the hindleg; you should stitch on an extra strip of cloth.

Insurance

In the UK there seem to be insurance companies which accept such pyjamas as a treatment. You might try to ask for some refund for your expenses!

Sizes

Pyjama

Size 1: approx. 105-110 cm Shetland A-Pony
Size 2: approx. 115-120 cm Welsh B-Pony
Size 3: approx. 125-130 cm normal Icelandic horse, C-Pony
Size 4: approx. 135-140 cm large Icelandic horse, D-Pony
Size 5: approx. 145-150 cm light horse
Size 6: approx. 155-160 cm normal horse

Prices vary per country; body part approx. EUR 140-180 (also depending on size) (2002).

Face Mask

I heard that there are several sizes now - please contact your supplier.

Prices vary per country; approx. EUR 45 USD 43 (2002).

All prices include V.A.T but exclude shipping/handling.

Exchange rates updated daily

Colours

Dark brown, light brown

Distributors

Ms Kathrine Riqué-Popp
Gsteigstrasse 28
8049 Zürich
Switzerland
Phone +41 (1) 3417423 + 3421313
Fax +41 (1) 3421511
Website: www.boett.ch
E-Mail: info@boett.ch

Christine Abée - Arts & Crafts
Baumstrasse 11
53879 Euskirchen
Germany
Phone +49 (2251) 770417
Fax +49 (2251) 770418
Website: www.abee-boett.de
E-Mail: christine.abee@t-online.de
(Sales to end-users and dealers; head-masks in various sizes; custom-sized pyjama's, sewing service)

Horses Etc.
Dr E O and Mrs Jennifer Greaves
Rhos Uchaf Hall
Llanfynydd
Nr. Wrexham LL11 5HR
Wales
United Kingdom
Tel. +44 (1352) 771718
Fax +44 (1352) 771717
Website: www.sweet-itch.com
E-mail: info@sweet-itch.com

Boett in Sweden has its own website, mentioning a few more suppliers in other countries.

There is of course competition; the other producers I know of are:

• Ivanhoe Horse Equipment This Dutch firm produces not only full body pyjamas but also a neck blanket for horses that suffer only moderately.
  
  
  
  
  
  De Meulenkamp
  Itch Off® "Pyjamas"
  Emmerstraat 20
  7846 AJ Noord Sleen
  The Netherlands
  Tel.: +31 (591) 361932
  Fax: +31 (591) 361631
  Mob.: +31 (6) 53867826
  www.demeulenkamp.nl
  info@demeulenkamp.nl
  In the United Kingdom the Itch Off® pyjamas can be obtained at www.solva-icelandics.co.uk/sweet1.htm.
  
  
  
  Reitsport Zillke
  They produce their own brand of pyjamas.
  Ostlandstr. 6
  27283 Verden/Aller
  Germany
  Tel. +49-4231-73525
  Fax +49-4231-936131
  Mob +49-172-4269459 / +49-170-4854067
  Info@Reitsport-Zillke.de
  
  
  
  
  
• Reitsport Hämmerle - a German firm
  
  
  
  I am not sure whther a white pyjama and mask are very practical with a horse - the cloth will get filthy by rolling etc. pretty soon. On the other hand, a reader has indicated to me that this pyjama is very well washable and its advantage is the better heat reflection in hot sunny weather due to the light colour. light colour
  
  
• Elite Horse Clothing - a producer in the USA with a special belly protection and a detachable triangle for geldings and stallions; the seams are made from neoprene.
  
  
• Bucas Buzz: Here my same comment as above concerning to the white cloth.
  
  
  
  
• Rambo Ekzemerdecke Hoody: Here my same comment as above concerning to the white cloth.
  
  
  

Tail view of a badly affected sweet itch patient.
Image source: Horseweb UK



Krapi frá Deildartungu (*1987, imported 1992), summer 1993



Krapi, summer 1993



Krapi + Nelly, summer 1994



Krapi, summer 1997
Almost clean except some tiny spots between the forelegs (photograph: Babs Huurenkamp)




Pyjama on the Gate
A Boett pyjama spread out. On the left the tail piece, not a very good construction. The newer type (see next photograph) is much better. On the right the hose for the neck, below in the center the belly part which is led through the forelegs.



Tyrvingur
The fast Tyrvingur - an Icelandic five-gaiter - well covered with the latest tail protection model.



Needlework
After some "ear contact" and probably a disregard of a piece of barbed wire (it is not MY fence!) a pyjama needs needle and thread now and then.



My egg-laying mare
An unexpected effect of using Boett pyjamas is the formation of woolly eggs underneath the belly in the spring when (Icelandic) horses loose their thick winter coat over a period of 3 to 4 months. My Hrefna presented me 7 eggs of 0.14 ounces (4 grammes) within a few weeks; moreover she likes to produce hairpieces of approx 15 x 15 inches under the breast part of the pyjama!