DeMeulenkamp "Itch-Off" rug

Queensland Itch (Sweet Itch) is an allergic reaction to midge (Culicoides) bites. The use of insect sprays, lotions, feed supplements and other treatments may help a little, but the best way to help your horse is to prevent him being bitten in the first place.

There are a number of horse rugs on the market designed to protect your horse from insect bites, including summer sheets, neck rugs, hoods and tail bags. There are also a range of specially designed Queensland "itch rugs" which work by preventing insects like midges and flies from actually biting your horse.

True sweet "itch" rugs are specially designed to prevent midges from biting your horse. Unlike ordinary fly sheets which allow midges in through gaps around the legs, tail and belly, Queensland "itch" horse rugs have a tightly fitted belly piece. Many so-called "sweet itch horse rugs" are no more than glorified fly sheets as their material allows midges to bite straight through the rug!

The DeMeulenkamp "Itch-Off" rug was developed by an Icelandic horse breeder in Holland, who was pleased with the results compared to using other Sweet Itch horse rugs (he was previously the Dutch Boett Rug dealer). He decided to invent his own rug and sell it at a price that is reasonable. During this process he improved upon the original design, using stronger elastic, darted shoulders and three girth straps to prevent sagging of the belly piece.

DeMeulenkamp Itch rugs have become a recognised treatment for Queensland Itch (this brand has been around for over ten years) and are recommended by numerous vets.

An Australian veterinarian trial was run on a sufferer of Queensland Itch. The horse had been in a electric yard with a standard cotton combo horse rug. The owner was spending a fortune on lotions twice a day taking up to 20mins each time to try and stop the midges. The horse wore the DeMeulenkamp "itch" rug for a month and the results were great.  

The protection works both against insect bites and the sun. Itching is soothed or eliminated completely. Horses calm down and show normal behaviour. The visual impression of a horse wearing this  unique style horse rug might make your neighbour smile but the Queensland itch sufferer will be quite happy with the new look!

DeMeulenkamp horse rugs are lightweight and breathable, and very comfortable for your horse to wear, with darted shoulders, shaped back and neck, and plenty of adjustment. The unique material is a very fine yet strong weave to withstand horseplay and completely deter the bites of midges. These rugs are meant to be worn 24/7 whenever midges might be around, and you should not need to stable your horse. They are showerproof, but if they get soaked in heavy rain they dry quickly and can be left on the horse.

It is recommended that these rugs be washed every 2 weeks and they are fully machine washable.

Horses with Queensland Itch usually adapt quickly to wearing the DeMeulenkamp "itch" rug and will allow it to be put on or off with little or no problems. It is not advisable to put on a wet rug. For such cases a second, already dry, rug is recommended but these rugs do dry very quickly. 

DeMeulenkamp "itch" rugs are no hotter than conventional summer horse rugs. Horses all over the world are wearing these horse rugs, including Saudi Arabia, Dubai, California, Florida, Southern Spain and Greece and so on. In Australia there are several people using the DeMeulenkamp "itch" rugs in Far North Queensland (in places like Cairns, Tully, Innisfail, Mission Beach) where the weather is very hot and humid and they say this also. Being mesh, if there is any breeze, the horse will cool down.

Body motions are not hampered and horses can carry out other behaviours normally including rolling and suckling foals. In temperatures above 30oC(86oF) the horse may sweat lightly on his chest or neck, but no more than un-rugged horses.