Sweet Itch Hood

Complete Sweet Itch Protection for your horse, pony or donkey! The Snuggy Sweet Itch Hood offers total protection from midges, biting insects, flies and harmful sunshine rays. It comes complete with mesh eyes, built in ears, optional zip, adjustable noseband & elastic poll adjusters for secure fit. The Sweet Itch Hood also has a no-seam silky lined mane & shoulder area to prevent rubbing/chaffing and an adjustable belly strap.

The Snuggy Sweet Itch Hood is featured in Horse & Hound's "Best Sweet Itch Rugs Available"!

The Snuggy Sweet Itch Hood is designed for comfort and protection. The noseband is soft on the inside and the neck is cut extra long so the horse can stretch down comfortably to graze.

This unique Hood is made of fully breathable, water repellent, heavy shower proof, lightweight, stretch fabric which is durable, cool & comfortable. The Sweet Itch Hood is fully machine-washable and designed to be worn 24/7, in field or in stable, rain or shine.

The Sweet Itch Hood covers ears, face, neck, shoulders and chest. We recommend to use this Hood with the Sweet Itch Rug for maximum coverage, nose to tail. The Sweet Itch Hood and Sweet Itch Rug is our best-selling combination for Sweet Itch prevention.

The Sweet Itch Hood is self-fixing so it can be used with any other rug such as a fly rug or Summer sheet. If you don't require the horse's head to be covered you can choose the Headless Sweet Itch Hood for amazing protection without covering the horse's face.

ZIP OR PULL ON ? - we would always recommend a pull on hood unless the horse is head shy. Why? Less fiddly, Less to break, Less Bulky. If your horse is head shy or would find fitting stressful or upsetting, we would always recommend a zipped hood.

There is the option to add on Front Legs, Udder Cover or Sheath Cover providing extended coverage for the severe Sweet Itch sufferer. These items are purchased separately and designed for use with the Sweet Itch Rug or Bug Body Fly Rug.

The Snuggy Sweet Itch Hood has been successfully protecting horses and ponies from Sweet Itch for over 20 years, all over the World! This is a much loved, extensively tried and tested design which has helped thousand of equines enjoy a more comfortable Summer season and therefore better quality of life.

As with all our products Snuggy Hoods offer a full after sales service that is second to none. Alterations, repairs and general advice are offered for the life of the product ensuring it is not a one season wonder!

Snuggy Hoods proudly support HorseWorld in Bristol. Several of their resident rescue ponies suffer severely with Sweet Itch and their Sweet Itch Hoods and Rugs help them lead a more comfortable life especially in the Summer months. To view a video of HorseWorld's itchy ponies modelling their Snuggy clothes CLICK HERE.

What is Sweet Itch?

Sweet Itch is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the Culicoides midge and, to a lesser extent, Simulium Equinum. At present there is no known cure for Sweet Itch. Once an equine develops the allergy it is generally affected every Spring, Summer and Autumn. There are two approaches to improving the comfort of an affected animal: to minimize the allergic reaction with corticosteroids, anti-histamines or soothing lotions or to minimise midge attack using a Sweet Itch Hood/Rug. The second method offers the most effective protection and avoids the need to use harsh chemicals, expensive repellents and messy oils or greases. The Snuggy Sweet Itch Hood has been approved by Veterinary professionals for the prevention of the midge bite allergic reaction.

• XXXS - Miniature Horse

• XXS - Miniature Horse/Shetland (34″ and under), Small Pony Foal

• XS - Around 11.2hh, Small Shetland, Small Section A, Lead Rein Show Pony, Small Riding Pony - wearing a  Small Pony-Shetland Bridle. Usually wearing 4’6″-4’9″ Rugs

• S - Around 12.2hh, Heavier Section A, Dartmoor, Section B, 12hh SHP 
Small Pony – Pony Bridle. Usually wearing 5’0″ Rugs

• S/M - Around 13.2hh, 13hh SHP, Larger Sec B, 13.2 Show Pony (Bigger Fronted) Pony Bridle lower holes. Usually Wearing 5’3″ or 5’6″ Rugs

• M - Around 14.2hh, 14hh SHP, Section C, Exmoor, Fell, 14.2 Riding Pony, Small Arab Pony lower holes -Cob Bridle middle/higher holes. Wearing 5’6″ to 5’9″ Rugs

• M/L - Around 15hh-15.2hh, SHP, Finer TB, Small Highland,  Anglo Arab, larger Sec D, Andalusian type, Sports horse, Quarterhorse Connemara type wearing Cob (middle/lower holes - Full Bridle (middle - higher holes). Usually wearing 6’0″ to 6’3″ Rugs

• L - Around 16.2hh Large sports horse/IDX, Large Spanish horse, Sports horse, Lightweight Show Cob, Full Size Bridle on middle/lower holes. Usually wearing a 6’6″ to 6’9″ Rugs

• XL - Up to 17.2 Irish Draft, Large Warmblood, Heavy Show Cob, middleweight Hunter, Extra Full size Bridle (middle/lower holes), Usually wearing 6’9″ or 7’0″ Rugs

• XXL - 17.2hh+, Heavyweight Hunter, Shire, Clydesdale, Percheron, 7’3″+ Rugs, made to measure Bridle

• Midge/fly/Insect proof fabric
• Stops harmful UV rays
• Close fit, no gaps
• Cool, breathable & comfortable
• With ears & optional YKK zip
• Soft, adjustable noseband

Please make sure to study our Fitting Advice and Size Guide pages for further information. You will also find helpful videos on fitting your product properly.

PLEASE BE INCREDIBLY FUSSY WITH THE FITTING OF ANY PRODUCT COVERING THE HORSES FACE. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HORSE UNATTENDED UNLESS YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE HORSE IS HAPPY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE FIT. IF UNSURE, PLEASE REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT US, OR PHOTOGRAPH IT ON YOUR HORSE IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO CHECK.

AS WITH ANY ITEM, ILL FIT CAN CAUSE RUBBING AND CAN MOVE WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. THAT SAID, WE MUST ADD, THAT THE BEST FITTING HOOD AND RUG CAN MOVE IF CAUGHT ON SOMETHING OR RUBBED OR PULLED AT. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

• machine wash
• up to 40 degrees cycle
• fast spin
• can be refitted damp

(tumble dry not recommended)