13 December 2007 10:47
My horse suffers from sweet itch every year and although I’ve tried different treatments, nothing seems to help. His coat looks ragged by mid summer and the itching drives him mad – he rubs his mane and tail raw. What can I do to prevent this happening?
Answer
By Your Horse
Sweet itch is an allergic reaction and affects the immune system. A delayed hypersensitivity to insect bites, it causes severe itching, hair loss, skin thickening and flaky dandruff, with the base of the tail and mane most commonly affected.
At present there is no cure, but there are several things you can do to alleviate the problem.
Ensure the pasture is well drained or move the horse to a more exposed, windy site. There are fewer midges on chalky grassland so this is an ideal environment for a horse with sweet itch as he won’t have to suffer so many insect bites.
Stable your horse at dusk and dawn, when midges are at their worst and close stable doors and windows – unless it’s too hot to do so.
Use an insect repellent such as Carr, Day & Martins' 'Kill Itch' and Pettifer's 'Sweet Itch Plus'.
Apply oil as midges dislike it. Try medicinal liquid paraffin, but be prepared to reapply. You can also use grease, but this is extremely messy.
Rug your horse from February onwards as this is when the insects start biting. Choose a rug that covers the mane and the base of the tail and one which the midges can’t penetrate - the Boett blanket and hood is the most used sweet itch rug – it’s available at www.sweet-itch.co.uk, tel: 01352 771 718. The Boett blanket has been extensively tested.