Botanica review for horses with sweet itch.
Do you have a horse that suffers from sweet itch each year? Are you looking for effective products for the treatment and prevention of this terrible condition? If so, then the following product review from Botanica’s equine care range will be of great interest to you.
Made from 100% natural ingredients, Botanica Natural Skin Care offers a range of products suitable for sweet itch, mud fever and other problems.
The Trial
We trialled two products from the Botanica range on a horse suffering from sweet itch each year. Beauty, a black Welsh cross mare, had been suffering from the condition (over the spring and summer months) for the past two years. As her beautiful long mane and thick tail turned to a frizzy mess, leaving her skin red and raw with blisters, her owner was at a loss for what to do.
Spending a fortune on products without success, the new season was already in full swing and the problem was again causing significant irritation. Scabs appeared where she had rubbed her mane away, and despite a selection of rugs/products used to try and relieve the mare, she continued to suffer.
After only one application of the cleansing wash and anti-itch cream, Beauty’s symptoms started to ease. Despite the skin being sore to the touch, the mare didn’t mind standing while the products were applied. Within three days of repeat application, the skin’s appearance had dramatically improved with irritation being minimised.
Beauty’s loaner, Laura, spoke of how she found using the products
“We were genuinely shocked at how quick it worked”
“I was literally amazed at the difference it made”
she continued.
Application
The process requires using the Botanica Cleansing Wash first, followed by applying the Botanica Anti-itch cream once it is dry.
Mix two capfuls of the wash with a bucket of warm water. With a clean sponge, apply to the area making sure you do your best to remove any dead skin without causing further irritation. Leave on, do not wash off. The wash should take around 4-5 minutes to soak into the skin. Then, using your hands, apply the Botanica Anti-Itch cream. Try not to cover the area immediately after application.
Available in large containers, the products last approximately 6 weeks. When the application was stopped the problem slowly returned, although not quite as aggressive as before. It would be for this reason we recommend continual use throughout the season.
Conclusion
Start using the product around February/March as it helps build a barrier. On repeated application, we found these products to be highly effective and would recommend them to any owner of a sweet itch sufferer.
Both come in large containers, so they last a while. They have a pleasant natural smell and are applied easily to the coat. Neither of the products contains harsh chemicals, and they are kind to human skin, too. There’s no need for gloves if you don’t wish, and you’ll certainly leave the yard smelling delightful, with a happy, comfortable horse in the field, too.
Overall rating 5/5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Additional Product Information
Botanica Cleansing Wash 500ml—This natural herbal wash is designed to clean, purify, and sooth the skin. It contains a unique combination of natural herbal ingredients blended to make a soothing, natural herbal wash that actually works. Botanica Cleansing Wash is highly effective yet mild enough that it can even be used on your own skin!
Botanica Anti-itch Cream 550ml—This concentrated blend of natural herbal ingredients in a water-based moisturising cream helps soothe and moisturise. Its unique blend of herbal properties means it acts quickly to sooth the area, while its in-built natural insect deterrent helps to further defend against the insects that cause Sweet Itch.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.