Hedgewitch Essentials

26/06/2025

AFTER-BITE GEL
It doesn't matter how many precautions you take, bites happen. Insect repellents don't give 100% protection over a prolonged period and determined biting insects have been known to bite through clothing and rugs.

Bite & Sting gel harnesses plant power to magically take away the discomfort associated with insect bites. Bites resolves in hours, not days! Don't take my word for it; this is what a customer recently left as a review:

"It really is magic!
This gel has been a lifesaver over this week of high temperatures & insect bites. Whereas previously a bite would cause quite a lot of localised swelling, application of this gel has kept heat & swelling to a minimum. Brilliant stuff!"

Bite & Sting contains peppermint essential oil which very effectively kills the itching sensation, and German chamomile essential oil which is a natural antihistamine.
Now in an airless container for improved hygiene and a much longer shelf-life once opened. Once tried, it's not something you'll want to be without 🌿

24/06/2025

SUMMER THRUSH

Although we often associate thrush with wet conditions and stabling, thrush can catch you out in summer very quickly. These conditions, where we've had a few showers and then it dries quickly again, can lead to mud baking onto the soles and in the collateral grooves. The warm temperatures encourage rapid overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and thrush can quickly explode.

Keep picking out those feet and dive in with some frog & Sole before you have a bigger problem on your hands. 🌿

22/06/2025

If you know, you know! 😉

20/06/2025

WHY THE SPRAY PATTERN MATTERS

If you're new to icaridin and used to squirting fly spray onto a few spots and letting its smell do the work, then it's important to understand icaridin is different. To get good coverage, it's essential to apply it as a fine mist for good coverage. This is because icaridin doesn't redistribute over the skin surface; where you put it is where it stays!

To set up your trigger spray, check that the nozzle aperture is fully closed by turning it clockwise. At this point you can no longer depress the trigger. Then turn anticlockwise about a quarter of a turn—at this point you will just about be able to depress the trigger again. It's a narrow window, so if you have a stream, you've opened the nozzle too much.

To make sure you get the best coverage, hold the spray bottle about 30cm from the target.

Icaridin works by confusing the insect's ability to locate you accurately enough to land. This means you may see horseflies hunting you by sight, but they tend to veer off and go find easier prey.🙂

20/06/2025

Used daily in the Hedgewitch yard. It truly makes a huge difference (especially to TB feet!)

In this hot weather Hedgewitch Healthy Hooves has been a game changer.
Vally hooves used to get dry and would break and crack easily; but since using Healthy Hooves she has been holding up very well.

19/06/2025

This was me this morning as I forgot to spray myself!

18/06/2025

Itch management: Every horse is different.
For this horse's sweet itch, the key has been using our horse oil with sweet orange & peppermint. We've just written a series of posts/website blogs on the factors that attract biting insects and how they can combine to make what works for one individual useless for another. We advocate a strategy using several tools to manage sweet itch but for this particular horse, there has been an incredible improvement from switching tactics this season. The photos show 2024 versus 2025 for tail, mane and backside!

Here's the message we received from Charlotte Powis (🙏) with the photos: "I just wanted to share some photos I came across of our pony the other day. They are from June 2024 when I was using other sweet itch products.
Coming into the itchy season this year, I have used nothing but Hedgewitch horse oil and she has no rubs! She is out in the field from 9am to 3pm with no fly rug (she would start itching like crazy as soon as I put it on, so I decided it was making things worse) and I apply the oil on her crest and tail when I get her in each day and spray her with it before going out in the morning. (This might be overkill, but it seems to work for her 😊).

We love to hear your success stories or try and help solve your ponies' problems, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.

14/06/2025

NOTHING IS WORKING!!
Finding the right insect repellent can be a challenge—you don't have to look very far to find products that work well for some individuals and not others. That's not a huge surprise if you've read our previous post, 'WHY ME?'.

Insect repellents work by overriding the many factors that make you or your horse attractive, and these add up to something different in everyone.
🦟 Body odour & skin chemistry—is unique.
🦟 Carbon dioxide—its output changes with your level of physical activity.
🦟 Body heat—sweating makes you more attractive to biting insects AND dilutes insect repellent.
🦟 Skin microbiome—influences the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that act as attractants, making some individuals more susceptible to bites than others. Insect repellent will be less effective.
🦟 Genetics—a 2015 study published in the journal PLOS One found that DNA may account for nearly 67% of mosquito attraction. You can't change that factor.
🦟 Colour—often dark colours attract biting flies the most. BUT, as we've learned, this is just one of a combination of factors. So your grey or chestnut horse, for example, may be more attractive because their genetics and/or skin microbiome/odour override their colour cue to insects.
🦟 Movement equates to increased body heat and carbon dioxide production.

So the performance of insect repellents is affected by all of these factors. Some products may work for an individual better than others, depending on how they are disguising your attractiveness.

This complexity is why legal insect repellents are now all regulated and undergo controlled efficacy testing on a range of individuals to produce label claims that are statistically valid. Even then, there will be outliers, so although it works well for most people, there will always be exceptions to the rule.

14/06/2025

WHY ME?
Are you that person that always gets bitten on holiday or when out walking or riding? Or maybe your horse is a horsefly magnet and suffers from fly bites more than others?

Although it seems unfair, the reasons for this are firmly grounded in science. From genetics to sweat to behaviour, our biology plays a big role in how insects perceive us.

🦟 Body odour and skin chemistry—how delicious are you?
🦟 Carbon dioxide—the homing beacon
🦟 Body heat and infrared radiation—are you running hot?
🦟 Skin microbiome—your invisible scent signature
🦟 Genetics—how bite-prone is your family tree?
🦟 Colour—how an insect sees you
🦟 Movement—are you drawing more attention to yourself?

We dug more deeply into this in our blog so head to our page if you want to understand why bugs love you or your horse so much—and more importantly, what you do about it. 🦟

Understanding these factors not only helps you avoid bites but can also enhance your time outdoors.

04/06/2025

Zero-waste hoof dressing

Do you know the connection between that lovely glass of vino and our Healthy Hooves dressing? It's the oil that comes from the grape seeds when they're pressed to make wine.

Cold-pressed grapeseed oil offers several properties that can be beneficial when used as a dressing for horses' hooves:

1. Rich in Essential Fatty Acids
Grapeseed oil is high in linoleic acid (omega-6), which helps maintain the skin's natural barrier and supports keratin structure in hooves. It also contains oleic acid (omega-9), contributing to hoof flexibility and strength.

2. Contains Vitamin E
This oil is a source of vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant essential for maintaining hoof structure and promoting healthy growth.

3. Lightweight and non-greasy
Its light texture allows for easy absorption without creating a heavy barrier, making it suitable for regular application to maintain hoof moisture balance.

4. Antioxidant properties
Grapeseed oil contains antioxidants that can help protect hoof tissues from oxidative stress, supporting overall hoof health.

5. Natural and sustainable
Being a by-product of winemaking, grapeseed oil is a natural and sustainable option for hoof care as nothing goes to waste.

We spice up this already nutrient laden goodie with essential oils that act to stimulate horn growth as well as decrease bacterial and fungal loads, protecting foot health. By incorporating our grapeseed-based hoof oil into your horse's hoof care routine, you can help maintain healthy, strong hooves.

As for all skin and hoof care, it's important to use it as part of a comprehensive hoof care regimen, including proper nutrition, regular trimming, and a clean environment.

03/06/2025

Black fly bites REALLY hurt. If, like Paul, you're having trouble with the little critters, icaridin may be your answer!