Conference noted::equitation

    THE EQUITATION SHOP IN NO. ANDOVER CARRIES IT...
    
    

I've always used regular fly spray but a friend of mine has just become an Avon
representative and I thought I would try Skin-so-Soft.

I'm assuming you add water.  Can you tell me how much?

By the way, if anybody else needs it I can order several and send them to you.
I'm located at FXO.

Sue

    NOTE:  Avon's Skin-so-Soft is a product MADE to be mixed with water
    (yeah, it's a concentrate)!  The manufactures advise the product
    NOT be applied to skin directly without mixing it with water.  It
    can and has caused serious rashes as a result of misuse.
    
    

    I've been using it on my mare this year, diluted 50/50, and it is
    great! Works super on the black flies, not perfect but as well as
    any of the stuff sold in tack shops. The only problem I have with
    it is that is works better if you mix it up only a little at a time,
    what you plan to use that day, else it gets foamy and clogs up the
    nozzle. My mare drops her head down and tilts it sideways for me
    to put it in her ears....it must do something for her! :-)
    

    Mary...
    There is an Avon rep who works out of Paintables in Sterling.  It is
    just as you come into town after the Light Plant on Route 12.
    Don't have her number but she must be in the book.
    
    

    I didn't know that Avon recommends diluting Skin so soft! I use it
    straight from the bottle for myself and 50/50 for Jasper (my horse).
    I haven't had any problems concerning rashes. Actually, I'd fare better
    with a rash than with a black fly bite.
    		Cindy
    

    A couple of years ago we got this receipt off the notes file.
    
    	2 Cups Vinegar ( white or Red)
    	3 Cups Water
    	1 Cup Skin So Soft
    	1 tsp Oil of Citrenella
    
    You can get the Oil of Citrenella at the pharmacy, you may have to ask
    for it, but thats where we found it.
    
    If you don't mind the vinegar smell it works on people also.
    
    	dave.
    

    Re: .7
    
    Does that make the horse's coat sticky at all?  What does the oil
    of Citrenella do?
    
    **Marti**

    Thanks to everybody for the replies.  I just found out about another 
    place to get the skin-so-soft.  There is a veterinarian at 5 points in 
    Lancaster who sells it direct from his office (his wife is an avon 
    rep--they keep it in stock).  To get to 5 points take 117 to Bolton 
    Orchards, turn onto 110 toward Lancaster/Clinton.  1 to 1 1/4 miles down 
    across from the Cumberlands.
    
    

    re:  oil of cintronella question
    
    I've read that the oil from the skin of citrus fruits is a natural bug
    repellant.  One of NPR's earthday suggestions was to use it, in
    combination with other stuff, instead of flea collars on cats and dogs. 
    To make your own you simmer a bunch of orange or lemon peels (I guess
    until the peels are pretty much gone), then cool it and rub it on your
    pets coats.  Sounds like oil of citronella is the commercial version.
    
    Mary

    cintronella is the stuff used in bug repellant candles. I make a goop
    for use against the little bugs that attack the inside of horses ears.
    The recipe is 1 8 oz. vasilene melted in the microwave, stir in 1/2 oz.
    oil of cintronella and cool. Smear this stuff on every 3 days all
    summer, putting a thin coating on the inside of the ear, also can be
    wiped thinly around eyes. My vet recommended this 4 years ago and I
    have almost used my first jar up. Cheap, works, and lasts a long time!
    Sandy
    

    Marti,
    	I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I was travelling and
    have not been able to catch back up yet.
    
    	The receipt I gave for bug spray does not make the coat sticky.  It
    does give them a great shine.  My filly is a very dark brown, almost
    black, and we use this on her frequently.  She almost glows in the dark
    her coat is so shiney.
    	The Oil of Citrenella is the same stuff they put in those candles
    you burn to keep the bugs away at night.  The smell is not something
    that the bugs like so it helps keep them away.
    	The smell of the SSS is enought to hide the smell of the
    Citrenella, if the smell is bad.
    
    	So as far as I can see this receipt has only good points.
    
    	Dave.
    

    Horses with sensitive skin can have real problems with the
    skin-so-soft.  I sprayed a mix of 25% skin-so-soft, 25% vinegar 
    and 50% water on Algiers last Saturday.  The result is scurfy rashes on
    his neck, behind his elbows, on and under his flanks and inside his
    thighs.  This is now one sore & itchy horse!  I shampooed him with baby
    shampoo last night to try and get off any residues.  Worst case of
    diaper rash you'll ever imagine!
    
    Mary

Subj:	Not a joke, just FYI (I use this stuff as a paint/grease remover)
Subj:	Skin so soft warning
Subj:	fyi - info/warning on Skin So Soft bath oil (when used full force as a bug repellent
Subj:	Skin so soft not such a good mosquito repellent.
Subj:	Skin so soft warning...


    In my last visit, we got on the discussion of insect repellents and I
    mentioned **** Skin So Soft as a  recommended and easy way to ward off
    bugs.  He handed me a May 19, 1989 copy of a newsletter called 'The
    Medical Letter" which is published by The Medical Letter, Inc, 56
    Harrison St, New Rochelle NY, a nonprofit publication. This particular
    issue contained information on insect repellents with specific
    information devoted to **** Skin So Soft.  This following paragraph is
    taken directly from the newsletter:
 
    "SKIN SO SOFT - A commerical concentrated bath oil, **** Skin So Soft,
    has come into wide use as a "folk medicine" mosquito repellent.  This
    product contains di-isopropyl adipate, mineral oil, isopropyl
    palmitate, dioctyl sodium  sulfosuccinate, fragrance, and the sunscreen
    benzophenone-11. In one study, the bath oil did repel Ae. aegypti, the
    mosquito carrier of yellow fever (LC Rutledge et al, Mosquito News,
    42:557, 1982) but, according to Medical Letter consultants, Skin So
    Soft may protect against mosquitoes for as little as 10 to 30 minutes,
    and the safety of repeated, widespread application of the concentrated
    bath  oil to the skin is unknown." 
 
    My allergist added this additional information - The first 2
    ingredients of Skin So Soft - di-isopropyl adipate and mineral oil have
    been  combined have been  known to cause brain damage and liver damage
    in children.  The  problem comes in when these 2 substances are
    directly applied to the skin (as opposed to being used in the bathtub) 
    they are obsorbed by the body.  The body has on way of getting  rid of
    these 2 substances and the levels just keep increasing in  the body. 
    Sounds like the same principal of alar in apples. Bottom line, he
    strongly cautions against using Skin So Soft as an insect repellent for
    the above reasons.
 
    For the record, I have nothing against the **** Company.  I  as a
    general rule, like their products.  As I have seen Skin  So Soft
    mention in both misc.consumers, and rec.pets, I thought I would post
    this information on to others who might be smearing Skin So  Soft on
    themselves, their children and their pets this summer. 
    
    ----- John Allred 
    BBN Systems and Technologies Corp. (jallred@bbn.com)
 

    Now here's a real case of both sides of an issue!
    
    Forest Ranger types all over the country use Skin-so-Soft, as well
    as hunters, etc. - now we hear it could be toxic.
    
    I've been using it for some time, but diluted 3 parts water to 1
    part SSS.  It works great for keeping the bugs off, makes for a
    nice shiny coat (no rashes so far for us) - but then, here in
    Georgia if it's warm enough to need SSS for the bugs, it's also
    warm enought to be hosing the horse down after riding.  We do
    night turnout during the summer, so we only use the SSS when
    we're riding and then rinse it off.
    
    P.S. Hi, Mary Mistovich!  See you're still at MRO.  How are you?
         I'll be up in August - will give you a call.
    

    
    
    I have never heard of Skin-so-soft being used on horses! But reading
    the notes in here from the US it seems like an everyday thing. I take
    it that it's the bath oil which can be used as an insect repellant?
    Hmmm, I do't think I'll be using that in MY bath, it's sounds pretty
    strong stuff. I can't imagine asking my Avon lady for a gallon of
    Skin-so-soft for the horse...
    
    (Although I do use human herbal shampoos and conditioners on mane/tail
    for show preparation now and again, brings them up lovely and makes her
    smell nice for a while!
    )