Marmite?!?!?
- Thread starter Kc Mac
- Start date
I used to give Blackie a dollop in each feed-tbh it didnt really help with his itching so gave up feeding it, although different horse's react to different things so you may find it helps 
Kis Vihar
Nutty Saddlers !
Is it just for sweet itch or is it meant to keep bugs away generally? Never heard this before! MORE INFO please from people 'in the know' would be great! 
The theory behind it working is due to the amount of a certain B vitamin in it (can't remember specifically which one) which discourages biting insects.
It also works for people who tend to attract mozzies. An overdose of this vitamin (around 100mg a day) for a few weeks before you go on holiday works wonders
It also works for people who tend to attract mozzies. An overdose of this vitamin (around 100mg a day) for a few weeks before you go on holiday works wonders
Kis Vihar
Nutty Saddlers !
The theory behind it working is due to the amount of a certain B vitamin in it (can't remember specifically which one) which discourages biting insects.
It also works for people who tend to attract mozzies. An overdose of this vitamin (around 100mg a day) for a few weeks before you go on holiday works wonders
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
I get eaten alive by mozzies!!!! 
THANKS!
*runs off to stuff her face with Marmite*
isnt there a vegiemite (sp) - would that be more suitable for feeding to horses?
anyone tried brewers yeast? its supposed to have similar effect.....????
anyone tried brewers yeast? its supposed to have similar effect.....????
Duke gets sweet itch so he has a marmite sandwich every day. Buy the squirty stuff as it's a nightmare to spread, literally give it a good squiggle down the bread and he loves it! . He's also on garlic to keep flies off and a good flyspray, plus Boett and weekly baths/lotions/potions. I'm trying anything basically to help before it kicks in.
. He's also on garlic to keep flies off and a good flyspray, plus Boett and weekly baths/lotions/potions. I'm trying anything basically to help before it kicks in.
I tested this out. Both mine had a good dollop in their feeds. The flies would hang around, land then jump off, 'brilliant' I thought. However the midges were still invading manes!! And each morning when I went into the yard, the cup where I kept the marmite spoon was always covered in midges!?!? They seemed to love it?!?!
as wonkeywoody said it is the B vitamins in marmite that are supposed to deter the midges.
Brewers yeast mixed into feed will have the same effect as marmite...so those of you whose horses don't like marmite, give brewers yeast a try.
Brewers yeast mixed into feed will have the same effect as marmite...so those of you whose horses don't like marmite, give brewers yeast a try.
Marmite is just yeast extract, so is vegetarian The idea is that biting blood sucking insects like mosquitos and midgies do not like the flavour of blood that has a lot of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) in it, and they can smell this off Marmite (and Brewer's Yeast) eaters and choose not to bite them.
I don't know how much research has been done to confirm this Also, the midgies wouldn't necessarily find a spoonful of Marmite repulsive, it needs to be metabolised by an animal first 
Having said all that, I did feed my horse a tablespoon of Marmite a day last summer, and he was definitely less tail swishy than the other horses he shared with at dawn and dusk. As it happens, he likes all sorts of weird flavours and would actually quite happily lick the Marmite off my hand, but as he was already getting chaff with magnesium for his feet, it was easy to just mix it in (and I think it made plain chaff taste better...)
It's worth experimenting and seeing if it works for your horse (BTW Kis Vihar, any research that was done was done with humans and mosquitos - so if you can bring yourself to either eat Marmite (euch) or a Brewer's Yeast tablet, it might work for you too!)
ETA - because I'm supposed to be researching something else and am procrastinating, I decided to go off and see if there was any evidence... and alas, there's evidence that it has no effect at all
The idea is that biting blood sucking insects like mosquitos and midgies do not like the flavour of blood that has a lot of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) in it, and they can smell this off Marmite (and Brewer's Yeast) eaters and choose not to bite them.I don't know how much research has been done to confirm this
Also, the midgies wouldn't necessarily find a spoonful of Marmite repulsive, it needs to be metabolised by an animal first Having said all that, I did feed my horse a tablespoon of Marmite a day last summer, and he was definitely less tail swishy than the other horses he shared with at dawn and dusk. As it happens, he likes all sorts of weird flavours and would actually quite happily lick the Marmite off my hand, but as he was already getting chaff with magnesium for his feet, it was easy to just mix it in (and I think it made plain chaff taste better...)
It's worth experimenting and seeing if it works for your horse
(BTW Kis Vihar, any research that was done was done with humans and mosquitos - so if you can bring yourself to either eat Marmite (euch) or a Brewer's Yeast tablet, it might work for you too!)ETA - because I'm supposed to be researching something else and am procrastinating, I decided to go off and see if there was any evidence... and alas, there's evidence that it has no effect at all
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Brewers Yeast
Hi all... This is the first time that I have posted but I wanted to share our experience with Brewers Yeast. The active ingredient in Marmite is Brewers Yeast. This seems to have a number of positive effects.
1. It helps to keep the flies and midges away.
2. It is an excellent calmer
3. It seems to have helped to keep away Mud Fever in our Arab.
4. It really aids with the digestion of food in horses. For that reason I think it will probably help with Laminitis
We have been feeding it to all our horses as a supplement in their food all winter. The main reason is to help our Cob who suffers from Sweet Itch. We also swear by Nettex Itch Stop. This seems to really help too. At the moment I am beginning to think that Brewers Yeast is a must for all horses. You can buy it in powder form for about £2.50 a kilo but the postage can be quite high.
Hi all... This is the first time that I have posted but I wanted to share our experience with Brewers Yeast. The active ingredient in Marmite is Brewers Yeast. This seems to have a number of positive effects.
1. It helps to keep the flies and midges away.
2. It is an excellent calmer
3. It seems to have helped to keep away Mud Fever in our Arab.
4. It really aids with the digestion of food in horses. For that reason I think it will probably help with Laminitis
We have been feeding it to all our horses as a supplement in their food all winter. The main reason is to help our Cob who suffers from Sweet Itch. We also swear by Nettex Itch Stop. This seems to really help too. At the moment I am beginning to think that Brewers Yeast is a must for all horses. You can buy it in powder form for about £2.50 a kilo but the postage can be quite high.
poohsmate
Active Member
i was down on the Glenda Spooner yard last year, and they told me they use it there, i'm pretty sure you have to use it everyday throughout the year though..
Helps with mudfever-gotta get some! Beau's a fussy eater so powdered/granules would be better: where, apart from a home brewery shop, do we get brewer's yeast and how much do we feed?
Yum, Marmite! (Vegemite tastes like cr*p comparatively)
Yum, Marmite! (Vegemite tastes like cr*p comparatively)
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