The best ride-on fly rugs are just what you need if your horse is sensitive to flies or prone to sweet itch. Combining a ride-on fly rug with one of the best fly sprays can help you and your horse enjoy hacking again.

These fly rugs are designed for use while riding, offering protection without overheating your horse. For maximum defence, we suggest pairing it with one of the best fly fringes or best fly masks.

Best ride-on fly rugs: H&H’s quick guide

Best premium pick ride-on fly rug: Bucas Buzz-Off Riding Fly Sheet

Best ride-on fly rug for UV protection: Masta Ride-On Fly Rug

Best ride-on fly rug for coverage: Busse Fringe Exercise Combo Ride-On Fly Rug

Best ride-on fly rug for largest horses: LeMieux Ride-On Fly Rug

Best ride-on fly rugs

How to choose the best ride on fly rug

The best ride-on fly rugs will offer your horse additional protection, without getting in his way or making him hot. Riding is hard work as it is and the warmer weather doesn’t help matters.

As with the best fly rugs for turnout, there are a few different designs – some have detachable necks, while others have some level of belly protection. It’s important to weigh up what’s most important to you when it comes to protecting your horse from flies. Some are hi-vis, too, which makes them great for hacking in.

• For unlimited access to the latest product news, buying guides and reviews, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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The best sweet itch rugs can help prevent midges from biting your horse when out in the field. Think of them as a level up from the best fly rugs – they offer an even greater level of protection.

Sweet itch can be a summer nightmare for horse owners. Caused by an allergic reaction to the bite of the midge, sweet itch is an unpleasant itching sensation that leads the horse to bite, scratch or rub at their skin. It most commonly affects the base of the mane and tail, but some horses are affected over the body, too.

Keeping horses prone to sweet itch covered and protected is the best method of defence, and can be used along with one of the best fly sprays that targets midges. This selection of sweet itch rugs have been designed to provide maximum coverage and help your horse battle those summer irritations.

Best sweet itch rugs: H&H’s quick guide

Best sweet itch rug for a rug-wrecker: Horseware Rambo Hoody

Best sweet itch rug for UV protection: Premier Equine Sweet Itch Buster

Best value sweet itch rug: Masta Combo

Best protective fly rugs to keep out midges that cause sweet itch

What is a sweet itch rug?

It’s important to be aware that these “sweet itch rugs” will not treat your horse or cure him from the condition and are not a replacement for veterinary treatment. They can, however, be used as a preventative measure to reduce the chance of a horse who is prone to the condition from being bitten in the first place.

Most cases of sweet itch are seen between March and October, so purchasing a rug and putting it on your horse before the season starts is best – once your horse is suffering he will already be itching and likely damage even the most robust of rugs.

How to choose a sweet itch rug

The best sweet itch rugs tend to offer more coverage than even the best fly rugs so as to provide maximum protection, but as they are worn throughout the summer months, it’s especially important that they are lightweight and breathable.

Choose one with excellent coverage – look for extra-large tail flaps, belly coverage and extended necks. Consider fastenings – the more there are the more covered your horse is likely to be, but if he’s not a fan of you fussing around him they need to be quick and easy to do up and undo.

Chest fastenings usually have the most variation – while surcingle type hooks are quick and easy, they don’t offer anything in the way of adjustability, whereas adjustable buckles can be fiddly to use. The gold standard is usually buckle for adjustment with quick clips for fastening, but this is likely to result in a more expensive rug.

What is the difference between a sweet itch and fly rug?

A fly rug is designed to protect against larger flies, while a sweet itch rug is made of a fine mesh fabric that is specifically designed to block smaller insects like midges, offering more extensive coverage and a tighter weave mesh material.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Ceiling fans, avoiding watercourses and important skincare tips — don’t let sweet itch cause you and your horse misery this summer.

Richard Morris MRCVS, director of Fenwold Veterinary Group, an XLEquine member practice, shares the following top tips for managing this common allergic skin disease.

When managing sweet itch make sure you do:

1. Call your vet to investigate your horse’s skin problem. There are a large number of causes of equine skin diseases, such as fungal (ringworm), bacterial (rain scald), parasitic (lice, mange), as well as allergic reactions to bedding, insect bites, dust mites and pollens.

2. Use insect repellents or fly sprays regularly to reduce attack from biting insects.

3. Use a fly rug or a sweet itch rug to help avoid contact with the biting insects.

4. Install a ceiling fan in the stable — midges can’t fly if the wind speed is over 5mph.

5. Apply a fly screen to the stable door.

6. Use topical oils (such as Avon Skin So Soft) to discourage midges and black flies from landing on the skin and feeding.

7. Move your horse to a windy hillside where there is less chance of encountering biting insects.

Things to avoid

8. Don’t keep your horse near watercourses and trees, where there are high numbers of biting insects.

9. Don’t leave your horse outside at dawn and dusk when it is open to attack from biting insects.

10. Don’t only rely on corticosteroids because of the risk of laminitis.

Fast facts about sweet itch

• Sweet itch is an equine hypersensitivity reaction to biting insects. In the UK these are the black fly (Simulium) and the midge (Culicoides), which are active from March to November.
• They swarm at dawn and dusk in wooded areas near slow-moving streams, and the females need a blood meal to form and lay their eggs in the soft mud, and so settle on any nearby animals to feed.
• Signs develop from four/five years of age and get worse as the animal gets older.
• It affects about 5% of UK horses, and is the most common allergic skin disease.
• There is a strong hereditary component with certain breeds being over represented (Welsh, Shire and Icelandic breeds).
• The main sign is itching of the mane, base of the tail, and under the belly.
• Initially the problem is seasonal, but it becomes progressively worse over time and eventually affects the individual all year round.
• Self-inflicted trauma from rubbing produces hair loss, bleeding and thickening of the skin.
• Diagnosing sweet itch is best by your vet, because there are many types of antibodies involved in allergies and, to date, blood tests have not been helpful.
• Intradermal skin tests can be useful. A vet will also take skin samples to help rule out other similar diseases, such as ringworm, lice and chorioptic mange.

You may also be interested in…

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If you’ve spent any time in the great outdoors this spring (and if you’re horsey, you certainly have) you might have asked yourself ‘are midges worse this year?’ They might be tiny, but it’s as hard to ignore these buzzing, biting beasties as it is horseflies. It doesn’t take much exposure to their mischief to have you wondering whether there are more midges about than usual this year.

But is there any truth to the notion that midge activity is on the up in 2024? We spoke to Dr Alison Blackwell (MSc, PhD), who spent four years conducting post-doctorate midge and insect behaviour research. Dr Blackwell continued to study midges and other insects for a decade and went on to form APS Biocontrol, the company that produces Smidge, an insect repellent.

When asked what inspired her career in insect behaviour research, Dr Blackwell told H&H: “I don’t really know! By chance I ended up working on midges in Scotland and they’re an interesting insect in that they are so successful in a relatively inhospitable habitat. They have lots of great survival mechanisms. They don’t transmit any human diseases in the UK, but this year there is Bluetongue virus (BTV) in some areas. This affects sheep and cattle and is midge-transmitted, so they are important to consider.”

Midge activity: are midges worse this year?

A part-indicator in midge activity according to Dr Blackwell is a boost in customer purchases.

“It’s got really busy for us in the last week or so sales-wise. I think it’s because of that warm spell we had, which was preceded by wet weather. These are perfect conditions for midges emerging.

“Last year, we had peak populations for the first half of the summer in Scotland and then there was a really dry spell. The second generation of midges was much lower than you’d expect because of that. This was on a localised scale, though.” Dr Blackwell continued to explain that midge numbers can vary significantly depending on your local weather conditions. “In contrast, in parts of the north west of Scotland where it’s more damp, the midges keep going in large numbers.”

All in all, Dr Blackwell believes there is some truth to it – ideal midge conditions have increased midge activity, so people are justified to speculate ‘are midges worse this year?’. The good news is, not all of them are out for blood.

“Also, you’ve got lots of chironomids, non-biting midges,” continues Dr Blackwell. “These the kinds of insects you see swarming over streams. They literally emerge for 24 hours, mate and die off. There’s truth to it, but not all the midges are biting, I don’t think. There are other species around too.”

Why are midges important?

It might be tough to swallow (especially if you’ve ever experienced having one fly directly into your mouth), but midges are an essential part of life, confirms Dr Blackwell.

“They’re part of the ecosystem, part of the diet of bats and small birds,” she says. “The juvenile larva stages are about four to five centimetres below the soil surface and are part of decomposition in the food chain. They digest decaying organic matter, so they are important.”

Which months are the worst for midges?

According to Dr Blackwell, midges spend the winter in their larval stages, hibernating under the soil. But when the days get longer and warmer, they spring into action. “That’s when they can turn into adults and emerge,” she tells H&H.

It’s at this stage that wet spring weather can be an advantage to the midge. “If it’s damp, it’s easier for them to get out of the soil.

“Most years, you have your first big midge emergence in the first week of June and then the adult females lay their eggs. Those eggs develop into a second batch of midges about six weeks later. So, about mid-July, you get a second peak.

“The second peak females mate and their eggs will normally develop all the way through to the final larval stage. Often by that time, it’s September, and they go into their hibernation state. However, if you get a warm autumn, you sometimes get a third peak of midges.”

That’s not to say that midges are a permanent summer fixture. When we ask: ‘are midges worse this year’, we perhaps should be wondering if they’ve simply got off to a good start. As we move into warmer months a heatwave could send them packing. “They don’t like very hot, dry weather,” continues Dr Blackwell, “and they don’t like windy weather. They’re tiny; they only have a 2mm wingspan, so they dehydrate really quickly and they can’t cope with much of a breeze.”

Horse owners in Scotland can make use of Dr Blackwell’s sophisticated midge prediction tool.

“We run the online Scottish midge forecast, we’re seeing fours and fives on there with people reporting more midges.

“It’s a bit like the pollen forecast, you click on any town in Scotland and get your five-day forecast.”

How to keep midges away from horses

The obvious answer is using the one of the best fly sprays or best fly gels on your horse. Dr Blackwell tells us the active ingredient in Smidge is picaridin, and though Smidge isn’t licensed for animal use, riders can apply this to themselves. Unlike DEET, a common ingredient in equine fly sprays, picaridin doesn’t have a destructive effect on materials such as plastic and nylon, so it’s safe to use around your equipment, such as your best fly rugs and fly masks.

“Other things to use are CO2-producing traps,” she continues. “These traps pretend they’re something the midge wants to bite. They put out an attractive scent and the midges get caught.

“Good hygiene on yards and farms will help, so managing your dung heap well and keeping your stable as clean as you can.

“If you horse is in, create some kind of air current if you can. Midges don’t fly in a high breeze, and I know people who have put fans up to turn the midges away from getting into stabled areas.”

In the past, Dr Blackwell has been involved in a research project into a sweet itch vaccine development. While no vaccine was produced, some vets in the UK recommend vaccinating sweet itch-prone equines with a medication that was originally developed to combat ringworm, but appears to reduce the signs of sweet itch.

What does the future hold for midges?

While midge numbers are affected by yearly fluctuations in weather, they’re definitely here to stay – and our climate may become more midge-friendly.

“Midge numbers largely depend on the conditions each year,” Dr Blackwell tells us. “That said, generally with climate change conditions, warmer, wetter weather is probably going to extend the season of the midges a little bit more. We might see this third generation of midges more frequently in September/October time.

“It probably won’t extend their habitat, because they’re limited to where they can breed and where the soil is preferable to them. But the general thinking is midges could be around for a bit longer [each year].”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

• This article has been edited and approved by Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.

Sweet itch in horses can be described as pruritus – the technical term for itchiness, the unpleasant sensation that leads horses to bite, scratch or rub at their skin. Sometimes the sensation is so strong that horses will cause severe damage to themselves or their environment, while in extreme cases, horses cannot tolerate tack on their skin, let alone a rider.

Although poorly understood, pruritus is known to result from the stimulation of special nerve endings and receptors in the skin. In the horse, the three main factors inducing itchy skin are ectoparasites (such as biting insects), allergies and some infections. Biting insects including lice, midges, black flies and horse flies can trigger cases of pruritus, but milder cases can occur simply as a horse sheds its coat.

Sweet itch in horses: Signs | Prevention and management | Treatment

In most cases a severe itch is made up of a number of smaller itches. The point at which a horse responds to an itch will vary from animal to animal and is known as the pruritus threshold. Below this threshold the horse may have potentially itchy stimuli present, but not respond to them.

One example is that a horse can carry a burden of parasites such as lice, which cause damage to the skin, without showing any clinical signs. However, once the damaged skin becomes infected, this additional level of discomfort can push the horse beyond its pruritus threshold, causing it to rub or bite itself.

Sweet itch in horses is the term for the itchiness caused by midges, which typically appears in spring and settles down to virtually disappear during the winter provided it is cold enough for the midges not to be flying, which is usually less than about 4°C. For this reason, purchasers need to be aware of the potential risk of buying a horse with no signs of skin disease during the winter which, by mid-summer, could turn into a major sweet itch case. Any signs of irregularity and discolouration of the skin, most noticeable when the coat is clipped should be viewed with suspicion. Similarly if the mane or tail are a little thin or threadbare, do not just dismiss them as a rug or hood that rubs.

Sweet itch develops when the affected horses and ponies, which are more commonly the worst sufferers, are sensitive to the irritants in midge saliva.

Typical signs

• Mild to severe itching and rubbing, usually along the mane, back and tail
• Loss of tail and mane hair
• Bald patches, which can look ugly and grey due to permanent hair loss and skin damage
• Areas of sore, open, broken skin, which tend to bleed
• In some cases, itching along the legs and under the belly

Different types of midges will attack different parts of the body, resulting in different areas of skin being affected, but true sweet itch mostly affects the mane and base of the tail, which is a clue to the identity of the problem.

Prevention of sweet itch and management of itchy horses

• A good midge repellent is essential – your vet will be able to guide you on this
• The problem can be controlled in many horses by moving to field that is away from water courses and where there is often a strong breeze
• Small areas of water can be midge breeding areas, such as water troughs, so they need to be cleaned often
• Stable your horse from about 4pm to 8am when midges are at their worst. Using insect-proof mesh on the windows and door of stables may help
• Keep your horse’s skin covered using an ear-to-tail sweet itch rug designed to help prevent midges accessing your horse. This is really important and needs to be started while the weather is still cold and the midges are not out, otherwise the sweet itch sufferer will already be itching and will shred any rug
• Use strong ceiling fans in stables as midges cannot fly against a strong air current
• Carry out medicated treatment frequently (it is often required on a daily basis), otherwise the midges will start to bite, which triggers the itch/scratch cycle
• Although there is limited research available, anecdotal evidence from owners of horses suffering from sweet itch suggests feed supplements designed to support and maintain good skin health can help
• It is hoped that in the relatively near future, vaccines may become available to make affected horses and ponies tolerant to the irritation

Investigation into the causes of pruritus should focus on the major trigger factors of parasites and allergies, while remembering that it is common for more than one problem to be present. With parasites, such as mites, reinfection is common.

The distribution of the sore areas, such as the classic rubbed mare and tail associated with sweet itch, can help identify if parasites are responsible by simple pattern recognition of the lesions present.

Skin scrapings are useful in many cases, enabling the vet to check for lice and other skin parasites, such as mange mites. A detailed dermatology examination, including biopsies of the areas of freshly damaged skin are often more informative than skin scrapings alone, however it can be hard to obtain a diagnosis on longstanding cases, especially when the skin has been coated in a variety of lotions and potions. Sometimes treatment has to be stopped to enable the vet to obtain a true picture of the problem.

Your vet may recommend further investigations to establish the precise cause of skin irritation and itchiness. This may include equine intra-dermal skin testing, which involves the intradermal injection of a range of potential allergens relevant to the geographical area. Results are scored subjectively and there may the option to consider immunotherapy depending on the results, which will work in some, but not all cases.

Treatment of sweet itch

Prevention is better than treatment, which should include all possible measures to reduce the exposure to biting insects, including the use of fully covering sweet itch rugs, fly masks and fly sprays or fly gels.

Steroids can be used to combat the irritation, but unless they are accompanied by treatment for the underlying cause of the pruritus, a relapse is likely. They may be beneficial to give short-term relief, although they are not always as effective as one might expect. Side effects also need to be considered, especially with long term usage.

Steroids are not the only option available to make the horse more comfortable while further investigations into the cause of the problem are carried out. Soothing emollient shampoos, solutions and sprays can help some cases. Cold water hosing and ice packs applied to the irritated areas can also lead to an improvement. Shampoos containing colloidal oatmeal and oils such as borage, tea tree, evening primrose and aloe vera can also have palliative effects. Sulphur is one of the oldest anti-pruritic products available and has positive benefits in relieving the itch.

Both humectant and emollient sprays are available as therapy in pruritic horses. A humectant is an oil-free product, which increases the water-absorbency of the top layer of the skin, producing subsequent soothing effects. An emollient is an oil-based solution, which coats the skin and prevents water loss. Oil sprays applied via a simple plant sprayer can also prevent the skin drying out.

Antihistamines can cause drowsiness and are sometimes used with caution. There are currently no antihistamines specifically licensed for use in the horse, so any such treatment should discussed with your vet.

Sweet itch and other causes of itchiness are bad enough in any affected horse or pony, however it is especially problematic in competition animals. Not only can it affect their performance and appearance, but also special care has to be taken to ensure that they are not treated with prohibited substances during or around the time of competition.

Obviously it is not right to compromise a horse’s welfare by leaving it itching, however it cannot have potentially performance enhancing medication such as steroids or anti-histamines whilst competing. There have been high profile cases where competition ponies have been disqualified as a result of competing on such prohibited treatments. Thankfully there is a lot that can be done to manage sweet itch without using prohibited drugs. It is best to check with your vet to ensure any treatment is legal for use in competition. Your vet will also be able to advise on topical treatments, which are not absorbed internally. Fastidious management is very important, but may be challenging when travelling to events away from home.

Immunotherapy, which is treatment designed to adjust or reprogram the sweet itch sufferer’s immune system is thought to be the way forward to manage sweet itch in the future. There are anecdotal reports that a European vaccine designed by ringworm has been useful to moderate sweet itch signs this year; however it is too early to know whether this is effective.

You may also be interested in…

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8 rugs designed to protect sweet-itch prone horses and ponies from midges

10 ways to beat sweet itch this summer

12 of the best fly rugs that offer horses extra protection from summer pests

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Struggling with mud fever? Here’s what you need to know to tackle it…

Lice in horses: how best to deal with this itchy pest

Breaking the cycle of persistent irritation is the key to coping with summer skin problems, explains Karen Coumbe MRCVS

The skin is the body’s largest organ, serving as a protective wrapping against the elements. It quickly becomes obvious when something goes wrong with this outer layer – especially in these warmer months, when a combination of sunshine and insects can worsen skin irritations.

Itchiness, properly termed pruritus, is more than merely a cosmetic issue. The discomfort can irritate a horse to the point that he loses weight, and in severe cases it can even be confused with colic. A skin problem can become a serious welfare matter, since an itch is actually a modified form of pain.

We all know how irritating an itch can be. The unpleasant sensation leads a horse to bite, scratch or chafe his skin, which may be rubbed raw. In desperation, he may resort to finding a fence post or similar for relief.

For long-standing or recurrent itchiness, try to establish the reason rather than just disguising the signs with antihistamines, which rarely work well on their own, or steroids, which are effective but can have side effects.

It is far better to work with your vet to identify a cause, so that more specific and focused treatment can be selected where available. Giving your vet detailed information about your horse’s history and current lifestyle will often provide vital clues.

Attack zones

The most common causes of equine pruritus are parasites, such as lice and mites, which tend to be a worry in winter, and allergic reactions that are more commonly seen in summer.

Sweet itch is a classic summer skin problem; it is rarely encountered when temperatures drop below around 4°C and the biting midges stop flying. Reported to affect more than 5% of the UK’s equine population, and more often ponies and heavy breeds, the condition is an insect bite hypersensitivity caused by an allergy to irritants in midge saliva.

Typical signs include mild to severe itching and rubbing, usually along the mane, back and tail. Areas of sore, open or broken skin may bleed and the resulting bald patches can appear ugly and grey due to permanent hair loss and skin damage.

Different midge types attack different anatomical areas, resulting in varying distribution patterns of soreness. As fly rugs protect the standard midge attack zones, vets frequently see cases where the itching is worse elsewhere and is not always immediately recognised as sweet itch by the owner. A study recently showed that of 12 horses exhibiting clinical signs of sweet itch on veterinary examination, only one of the owners thought one horse suffered from the condition.

Sweet itch can usually be diagnosed on the basis of the typical summer itchiness together with a history of exposure to biting midges, which are at their worst around dawn and dusk, especially in warmer, damp weather. Although bigger flies also plague horses, they tend to cause more localised, painful reactions and skin lumps.

Catching rays

Sunburn can affect horses with pink skin, particularly around the muzzle and heels, or in damaged, depigmented areas.

Grazing with good shade available is clearly best, otherwise avoid turnout in the middle of the day. Apply a high-factor sunscreen to sensitive areas and consider using UV-protective turnout masks, rugs and boots.

A separate condition easily confused with sunburn is photosensitisation, where skin becomes overly sensitive to UV light and is irritated by sunlight. This usually occurs in areas without much hair or with white hair – the face and heels, again, but also the lower limbs.

The horse may become uncomfortable, scratching the affected areas until they become sore. If the condition is caught at this stage and he is taken out of direct sunlight, then the problem will usually resolve itself. However, if exposure to sunlight continues, discomfort will increase as scabs form in the sensitised areas. Medication may then be necessary.

Photosensitisation can also be a side effect of liver damage – sometimes linked to eating poisonous plants like ragwort – as a damaged liver is unable to break down toxins effectively. Your vet may want to run blood tests to rule out liver problems.

Lesions and lumps

Certain summer skin issues may be less itchy but nevertheless troublesome. Sunshine can trigger leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which typically affects the white-socked lower limbs of pasture-kept horses and is commonly found on the outside of the cannon bone.

If you notice that your horse has something similar to mud fever when the weather is dry or sunny, it is more likely to be leukocytoclastic vasculitis. A biopsy of the skin may be needed to make a definitive diagnosis, but a vet will usually diagnose this by observing the fairly typical lesions.

The area may be quite sore in the early stages, when the skin breaks out in crusting or ulcerative scabs, and may develop secondary bacterial infection. Treatment relies on avoiding light, ideally stabling your horse during the daytime or using some form of UV light-protective leggings. There are a variety of “sun socks” on the market, but they do need to stay in place without rubbing to be safe and practical for turnout.

Applying soothing creams can help, but corticosteroids, administered topically or as tablets or an injection, may be required in severe cases. The condition can result in disfiguring dermatitis if left, so is best treated immediately.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that affects the margin between the skin and the lining tissues around a horse’s eyes, nostrils and other areas such as the penis and vulva. This relatively common condition accounts for approximately 20% of all equine mucocutaneous (where skin meets mucous membrane) tumours and often presents vets with a therapeutic challenge.

Risk factors include chronic exposure to ultraviolet light and chronic skin irritation, particularly in horses with less pigment in these areas, such as palominos, cremellos and Appaloosas. Early recognition of tumours and prompt intervention is associated with a positive outcome, so consult your vet immediately if you notice a problem with your horse.

Sweet itch: the latest thinking

Hopes for a solution to this frustrating condition have been dashed many times, when tests on potential vaccines or other purported cures have proved inconclusive. Recently, vets have been using a European ringworm vaccine, but there is no UK licence for the product. Experts are optimistic, however, that a suitable vaccine may be produced.

In the meantime, prevention is better than treatment. It is crucial to take a multimodal approach to break the itch scratch-itch cycle:

• Apply a good insect repellent at regular intervals – your vet will be able to advise you. There is some evidence that certain products such as citronella may actually attract midges.
• Move grazing away from still water, such as ponds. An area with a strong breeze, such as a hilltop or coastal field, is ideal.
• Keep your horse’s skin covered while he is out grazing with a full, lightweight rug designed to prevent the condition. Midges will get through tiny gaps, so use barrier lotions as well – again, ask your vet.
• Clear the yard of any stagnant water, where midges typically breed, and clean water troughs regularly.
• Stable your horse from around 4pm–8am, to avoid the midges at their worst. Insect-proofing buildings with a fine mesh material will also help.
• Install a sturdy ceiling fan that blows air downwards, if safe to do so, since midges cannot fly against a strong air current.
• Bathe the horse with a soothing shampoo, especially in hot weather.
• Consider trialling feed supplements designed to support skin health; while there is limited scientific research regarding their efficacy, anecdotal evidence suggests that they may help.

Ref Horse & Hound; 2 July 2020

You might also like:

Best equine skin and coat supplements: what are your options?

8 rugs designed to protect sweet-itch prone horses and ponies from midges

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Summer pasture is home to all manner of biting pests and parasites, as Karen Coumbe MRCVS explains...

Being outdoors at this time of year can mean battling an army of bugs and bacteria, seemingly intent on targeting the hacking or grazing horse.

Whether lurking in the long grass or flying above it, these pasture-borne pests can be more than just a nuisance – causing anything from mild discomfort to more serious ill health and even spreading disease. It pays to know the enemy and take preventative measures where possible.

The British summer produces the perfect conditions for flies, which generally benefit from a mild, wet winter, flourish around damp, woodland areas and fly in warm weather. They tend to breed in muddy, wet and unhygienic conditions, such as marshes, ditches and unkempt muck heaps.

Midges will only fly if the wind is less than four miles per hour, so a breezy hack, or a hilltop or coastal paddock would be perfect for the pony with sweet itch – a condition caused by an allergic reaction to midge bites. Other flies, including black, stable and horseflies, are also incriminated in allergic skin reactions.

In hotter, drier conditions, insects such as bees, wasps and hornets can irritate. There are stories every year of horses who have injured themselves in panic after an insect attack. Little can be done to prevent this, beyond good fencing to minimise injury risk and the sensible use of decent fly repellents, bug rugs and fly masks.

Hey, sucker

Reports suggest tick numbers may be increasing, possibly as a side effect of global warming. With climate change affecting the habitat, range and active period of tick species in the UK, along with greater international movement of domestic animals, including horses, there is increasing concern about tick-borne disease.

Ticks live in thick vegetation and attach to mammals, such as livestock, horses and dogs. They prefer areas with dense ground cover and shade, so heathland, bracken, tall grass and woodland all provide a suitable habitat. Since they avoid direct sunlight and low humidity, they thrive in springtime and a mild summer.

There are many species of tick in the UK, but Ixodes are the most numerous. Infection is more common in certain areas such as East Anglia, along the south coast and near the New Forest, so local knowledge is important. The presence of large numbers of potential hosts, particularly deer and sheep, will increase the number of ticks in an area.

Only the adult female tick sucks blood, and after a meal can measure more than 1cm in size – bigger than a coffee bean. Before feeding, ticks are smaller and harder to spot. They typically attach themselves to horses’ lower legs, heads (particularly the ears and nostrils) and areas of soft skin, including the inner thighs and under the elbows.

While infection is not thought to occur until ticks have been attached for 12 to 24 hours, they should be removed as soon as they are found. This can be difficult, however, because of their barbed mouthparts, so consult your vet rather than using a hot match, nail polish or some other home remedy. Although these methods might induce a tick to detach, they can stimulate further nasty secretions into the bite wound.

Avoid handling ticks with your bare hands, too. Any ticks found can be sent to Public Health England’s tick surveillance scheme for identification – again, ask your vet. Ticks can transmit serious disease, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Louping ill in the UK, and piroplasmosis globally. Severe tick infestations can also cause skin irritations and even anaemia.

There is debate among vets and recent published research as to whether Lyme disease is overdiagnosed in horses. While blood tests reveal that many horses have been infected, very few show genuine signs of illness. So if a horse is tested and is positive with Lyme antibodies, this does not indicate that he actually has the disease – rather that he has been exposed to the infection at some stage.

Lyme disease can mimic many other illnesses and is difficult to confirm categorically, although more specific lab tests are now available. Clinical signs are vague and can include sore eyes, skin lumps, weight loss and occasionally neurological issues. The disease may be a cause of swollen joints, shifting lameness and lethargy, but there are many other explanations for such signs.

Certainly, a history of exposure to ticks increases the likelihood that Lyme disease may be present. An affected horse can be treated relatively easily with certain antibiotics but, unless the diagnosis is definitive, this may be neither beneficial nor appropriate.

Tick control includes use of insecticide repellents containing permethrin or cypermethrin, to discourage attacks and to protect the horse by irritating the tick and causing it to drop off before attachment. Products based on natural ingredients, such as botanical oils, may offer some protection for short periods.

Cutting back undergrowth and clipping or mowing pastures will make areas inhospitable for ticks and less attractive to deer and other mammals that may be carrying them.

Unseen dangers

The bacterial spores that can cause tetanus infection may be present in any soil or manure. Wherever horses graze, they have a high risk of contracting tetanus, especially if turned out in a field with additional hazards such as barbed wire. Every horse, young or old, retired or in full work, should be fully vaccinated against this frequently fatal disease.

Parasitic worms are another risk factor, but one that can be managed. An important step is to reduce the number of horses in any one paddock. Regular removal of droppings, while never a popular job, is nevertheless effective in reducing contamination of pasture by worm eggs and is far more effective than harrowing, which merely spreads the droppings around.

All the recent studies show that regular faecal worm egg counts are important in monitoring an individual horse’s worm burden. This provides a guide as to if or when treatment is needed, with the aim of minimising wormer use and reducing resistance to these important medicines.

Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a devastating condition that only affects horses with access to grass. Vets tend to see more cases at this time of year, especially among young horses and those turned out on new grazing.

The exact cause remains unknown, despite extensive research, although the condition is thought to be linked to a particular type of Clostridium bacteria picked up from the soil as horses graze. Reports suggest that risk increases with earthworks, such as holes dug for fence posts or even fresh molehills.

The disease is prevalent in certain areas, so local knowledge is useful before turning your horse out somewhere new. Supplementary feeding, with haylage on a daily basis and gradual turnout, may help, but there are no guaranteed preventative measures. Ask your vet, who will know about regional variations in EGS and other risks such as sycamore toxicity.

I have seen horses with nasty complications as a result of all sorts of incidents, from adder bites to Chinese lantern trauma. Yet despite the sometimes unusual and unpredictable hazards out there, the benefits of fresh air and exercise are many.

While there is evidence that horses come to more harm turned out in a field than they do out competing, this may be because there are more out grazing to be injured. All we can do is minimise risks – hacking with care, turning out horses in as safe an environment as possible and dealing swiftly and sensibly with any problems that occur.

Ref Horse & Hound; 28 May 2020

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Rugged, thrifty, sure-footed… Certain characteristics spring to mind at the mention of native ponies. These qualities, honed through centuries of hard, physical work and exposure to the toughest environments, have made our home-grown ponies popular around the globe.

But are modern-day animals as hale and hearty as their ancestors? We asked veterinary experts to outline the state of our natives’ health and to highlight the challenges they face…

Trouble afoot

Native pony breeds are typically blessed with quality feet, according to Richard Stephenson MRCVS of Pool House Equine Clinic.

“Their hooves tend to be slightly more upright, with better heels, than in some of the larger breeds where the thoroughbred has had more influence,” explains Richard. “The Shetland has small, hard feet with soles that are more oval in shape. They rarely require shoeing, yet all too often suffer hoof-care neglect as a result.

“While many natives manage well without shoes, their hooves still need trimming by a qualified farrier [DipWCF, or above] at eight-week intervals or less,” adds Richard. “Where shoeing is necessary, thought must be given to how the pony moves. The lightest possible shoe is usually applied for showing, as heavier shoes tend to give choppier movement.”

Following the emergence of hoof wall separation disease (HWSD) in the Connemara pony, genetic testing for this inherited condition has become more readily available. HWSD, which is caused by a recessive gene, can lead to the wall splitting away from underlying structures.

“A foal must inherit one copy of the HWSD gene from each parent before he will show signs of the disease,” says Richard, explaining that a pony can be a carrier while remaining unaffected.

“The Connemara Society has been proactive in seeking to eliminate this devastating disease from the breed and requires all foals to be tested before registration. The safest option when breeding from a Connemara mare is to use a completely negative stallion.”

Build quality

“These ‘working class’ members of the equine community have historically fulfilled multiple roles,” says Dr Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher of Endell Equine. “Harness animals, such as the Fell, Dales and Welsh Cob, pulled and towed, while pack animals, including the Highland, Shetland and Exmoor, carried heavy loads across inhospitable terrain. Others, namely the New Forest, Connemara and Welsh ponies, developed under saddle for shepherding and hunting.

“Natives were thus never intended for speed, power or extreme athleticism,” she explains. “Instead, they evolved for strength, hardiness, stamina, agility, soundness and longevity — and their conformation reflects this.”

Many excellent conformational attributes remain, says Rebecca, common to all native breeds — from a deep chest offering ample heart room to short cannons with hard, flat bone, strong hindquarters and a good width and depth of jaw.

“There are also numerous breed-specific differences, which the breed societies work hard to maintain and promote,” she adds.

Their original duties may be largely obsolete, yet natives are in demand as riding ponies and for the increasingly popular mountain and moorland showing scene.

“This surge in competitive use has resulted in certain traits being selectively bred for and in some cases exaggerated, with worrying health implications,” says Rebecca. “An example is the excessive ‘dishing’ of the Welsh section A head profile, leading to increased dental problems. Magnified knee and hock action in some of the harness breeds can result in more joint and soft tissue ‘wear and tear’-type lamenesses, while a tendency to refine the riding pony-type breeds threatens the native pony toughness and sturdiness that defined them in the first place.

“Our native breeds are admired worldwide for their inherent strength and soundness,” she adds. “We must be mindful of this as market pressures continue to influence their roles within our society.”

Top coats

Natives tend to be well equipped for outdoor life, thanks to a natural set of winter woollies. The Exmoor’s double-layer winter coat, for example, provides insulation and waterproofing. Yet skin conditions can arise, as H&H vet Karen Coumbe explains.

“Breeds with abundant feather are prone to mange mites, known as Chorioptes, often evident because the pony bites and rubs the backs of his lower legs,” she says. “Lice can also be an issue. Both problems are more likely in the stabled pony.

“Pony breeds in general are prone to sweet itch,” adds Karen, explaining that hypersensitivity to bites from the Culicoides midge can cause severe itching and scratching. “Topical treatments recommended by your vet should help, along with fastidious management that includes insect repellents and specially designed protective rugs.

“Try stabling the affected pony at dawn and dusk, or in still, humid conditions favoured by the midges,” adds Karen. “Stable fans or insect-proof netting on doors and windows will help, while turnout should be as midge-free as possible — ideally a windy, open field with no standing water.

“Research is investigating vaccines and dietary supplements as potential solutions, but currently the best option is to prevent midge bites in the first place.”

Foal fatalities

Sensible breeding is critical to maintaining the genetic health of our native breeds, as highlighted by a serious issue arising in the 1990s.

“Approximately 25% of Fell pony foals were dying at birth or shortly after,” explains Professor Derek Knottenbelt, who was instrumental in identifying “Fell pony syndrome”, now known as foal immunodeficiency syndrome (FIS).

“Affected foals displayed clinical signs including anaemia, fever, poor weight gain and wasting, diarrhoea and opportunistic intestinal and skin infections. More subtle signs included tongue hyperkeratosis [skin thickening] and fungal infections of the mouth.”

Like HWSD, this fatal disease is caused by a recessive gene.

“As a result of a forward-looking approach from the Fell Pony Society, which included widespread genetic testing in UK, the condition has been controlled,” says Derek, who adds that the gene was subsequently found in the Dales breed.

“Over the next few decades, it’s likely that the disease will be bred out. Using a known non-carrier stallion eliminates the risk of breeding an affected foal, as well as reducing the number of carriers.

Weighty issues

An ability to make a lot of very little has been the undoing of many native ponies.

“These breeds adapted to survive harsh British winters on relatively poor-quality pasture, such as Dartmoor or the Welsh hills,” says Edd Knowles MRCVS of Bell Equine.

“Due to hormones and genes, they’re very efficient at digesting feed and putting on weight. These characteristics​ are less well suited to a more luxurious lifestyle grazing richer pastures without needing to walk far to find food.

“Under these circumstances, ponies tend to put on extra calories as fat,” adds Edd. “The most notorious disease linked to obesity is laminitis, but excess weight can lead to a range of other health problems, including a swollen sheath or mammary glands, and may be involved in the development of some tumours.”

With obesity rates thought to be as high as 70% in some native pony breeds, owners are encouraged to take a two-pronged approach by restricting a pony’s food intake and helping him burn off any excess calories.

“Provide plenty of fibre, but bear in mind that a native rarely requires more refined feeds,” says Edd, who suggests reducing paddock size or turning a pony out with sheep or other animals to limit grazing.

“Give him regular exercise and try not to over-rug him in cold weather.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 25 July 2019

With many owners battling sweet itch this summer, Rachel Fraser speaks to equine vet Dr Francesca Compostella, RSPCA equine senior clinician, to dispel some sweet-itch myths and find out how to best manage the condition.

There’s a common thought that sweet itch only affects ponies, is this true or can it affect any equine, of any age?

“Sweet itch is a common term to refer to ‘insect hypersensitivity’ or bluntly said: allergy to insect bites, in particular to bites of Culicoides spp midges” explains Dr Compostella.

“It can affect any equine, of any age, breed and sex. However, as it is an allergic reaction, it gets worse with repeated exposures (just as in human allergy cases). It is thereby most obvious and severe in older animals, which have been exposed to the insect bites every summer.

“This type of allergic reaction recruits a specific type of white blood cell in the body called eosinophil. It is possible that the speed and degree of recruitment of these cells may differ between ponies and horses, as it is likely to do after repeated exposures explaining why older animals seem to be most affected.

“If a horse is genetically predisposed to the allergy, it will affect them regardless, following exposure to the insect bite.”

What are the best ways to manage sweet itch?

“The best cure is prevention. Avoiding lowland areas near stagnant water, with large bushy patches is paramount” advises Dr Compostella.

“Animals affected should be kept covered with fly rugs and insect repellents used daily. Among insect repellents, those containing pyrethroids have been proven to be most efficient offering up to 2 week efficacy against culicoides, and rugs could be soaked in such repellents for maximum effect.

“Avoid turnout in times when midges are most active and preferably choose a windy, dry field. Mosquito nets can be placed on the stable walls and fans to keep the airflow and stop the midges being able to land on the horse.

“Immunotherapy to stop the inflammatory reaction are being looked into, but will require a bit longer to perfect and become commercially available.

“Anti-histamines can be beneficial in some mild cases, but in most severe and acute ones you may need to contact your vet which will treat the reaction to relieve the inflammation – commonly with a dose of steroids. This type of treatment however carries side risks, such as triggering laminitis, and should not be used lightly.

“Prevention is by far the best cure.”

Is the cause of sweet itch known?

“Yes” says Dr Compostella, “It is due to a reaction to proteins contained in the saliva of midges, which trigger an inflammatory reaction in the horse.

“This reaction can be really acute – Type 1, within 6 hours – or delayed, Type 4, within a few days. They are all characterised by skin lumps filled with serum (fluid), which cause itchiness and can spontaneously break the skin or cause lesions as the horse rubs them.”

Continued below…

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10 ways to beat sweet itch this summer

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8 rugs designed to protect sweet-itch prone horses and ponies from midges

Can sweet itch be passed on to offspring, should horses with sweet itch be bred from?

“There is a risk in breeding from affected animals as a horse is genetically predisposed to react to the insect bite” Dr Compostella explains.

“However the disease is only triggered by environmental factors (the midges) so you could breed a top quality horse and keep it in a midge free area during the summer months and never have to treat the condition.

“It is a calculated risk that should be carefully considered however, as the disease has a noticeable effect on the welfare of the animal if not managed appropriately.”

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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A new vaccine for sweet itch has been described as “the first successful immunotherapeutic approach targeting a chronic disease in horses”.

The insect bite hypersensitivity vaccine, developed by a team in Switzerland, is the first to target the eosiniphils response — the white blood cells that become involved at the site of an allergic reaction.

Trials of the new vaccine, in 34 privately-owned Icelandic ponies, showed a significant reduction in signs, giving hope to those trying to manage this chronic seasonal ailment.

Sweet itch is the most common dermatological condition in equines, affecting up to 10% of horses worldwide. Sufferers experience an immune response to the saliva of biting midges, which causes inflammation, severe itching and hairless, weeping lesions that can turn ulcerative.

The innovative treatment blocks equine IL-5 (eIL-5), a protein which acts as the “master regulator” of eosinophils, and was considered to be a “safe” approach, which was “well tolerated” in the test horses.

The study was led by Antonia Fettelschoss-Gabriel, a researcher in the University Hospital Zurich Department of Dermatology, and was conducted as a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial.

The horses received three subcutaneous injections at monthly intervals, followed by a booster. Lesion scores were then compared to those that had been recorded monthly in the pre-treatment season and in the previous year from March to October.

“Seasonal progression of average lesion scores of placebo-treated horses were comparable for both seasons, whereas average lesion scores of eIL-5–CMVTT–vaccinated horses showed strongly improved clinical signs in the treatment year when compared with those in the pre-treatment season,” the study reported.

Half of the test herd showed a 50% improvement in their signs compared to the previous year and a quarter had 75% improvement.

Researchers believe the treatment — which could be available from 2020 or 2021 — offers an affordable, effective alternative for owners.

Continues below…

Sweet itch vaccine ‘will make a huge difference’

A company is developing a vaccination which would 'eliminate the need for continuous husbandry and treatments'

Sweet itch in horses: what all horse owners need to know

10 ways to beat sweet itch this summer

“Another advantage of the vaccine’s approach is the low cost of goods because much lower amounts of protein are needed for immunisation compared with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are usually applied based on body weight. Replacing the costly monoclonal therapies with active vaccination might also be an attractive treatment modality in human subjects, providing relief to health insurance systems,” the report added.

Horses were also tested for worm burdens during the trial, as eosiniphils play a role in parasite control, but he study showed no increase in intestinal parasites after vaccination. The report noted that more research in this area may be necessary.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Spillers’ equine nutritionist Clare Barfoot provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to feed to help manage sweet itch

Q: Sweet itch: “Our pony does not have sweet itch at the moment but I believe he’s had it in the past and it is well managed with keeping him in at night, and putting a fly mesh on him during the summer. I’m just wondering whether foods could affect him in any way? Could sugars irritate his skin, for example, sugar beet, and what about protein in haylage?”

A: Contrary to the name, ‘sweet itch’ has nothing to do with sugar or for that matter, dietary protein. It is an allergic reaction to the antigens present in the saliva of the biting female midge, particularly the Cullicoides.

Sweet itch can be a very distressing condition, however with careful management a less itchy summer can be achieved!

Continued below…

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• H&H forum: find out what H&H readers suggested
• Sweet itch: signs, treatment and prevention
• 10 ways to beat sweet itch this summer

Daily management should aim to limit the number of midges that can have access to the skin. Environment can play a big part in this; midges like damp ground, open water, lush vegetation and still air so opting for an open, breezy field on well-drained soil away from ponds and streams will make a big difference. Using sweet itch rugs, fly repellents, stabling at dusk and dawn and even installing ceiling fans in stables have all been shown to reduce the effects of sweet itch.

Alongside careful management, there are some specific ingredients that might help.

Firstly, having a balanced diet is key to general health, but also skin health which is ultimately the body’s first barrier of defence. If you horse or pony, like many in the summer months, doesn’t require the recommended amount of compound feed, a balancer is ideal for providing vitamins and minerals without unwanted calories; SPILLERS Daily Balancer is ideal in this situation.

The next nutritional strategy you can deploy is feeding aromatic ingredients to help provide a deterrent to the midges by omitting their strong aroma through the sweat glands. One of the most traditional ingredients used for this purpose is garlic.

Feeding ingredients that support general skin health and the immune system might help ‘dampen’ down the allergic response that causes the intense itchiness. Look out for supplements that contain some or all of the following ingredients: omega 3 fatty acids, particularly from linseed oil; MSM, which may have anti-inflammatory properties and will help support general skin health; niacin, a B vitamin that may help protect the barrier function of the skin; biotin, another important vitamin in hoof and skin health; antioxidants both from key nutrients such as vitamin E and C, zinc and selenium and from plant-derived natural antioxidants. Lastly, there are some traditional herbs that have been used for centuries to promote skin health which include clivers, nettles and chamomile.

Hopefully if you deploy all these management strategies your horse will be well on the way to an itch-free summer!

For more information on body condition scoring and managing weight call the SPILLERS Care-Line on 01908 226626.

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Anyone who has had to deal with sweet itch knows the extent to which it can blight your horse's summer. Horse & Hound meets one owner to find out how she is managing the problem

The horse: Gambrinus, a six-year-old 16hh dressage horse

The problem: Sweet itch

Symptoms: Bred in Portugal, Gambrinus was sourced as an unbroken three-year-old by Sussex Lusitanos. Amateur dressage rider Nina Rahmatallah has owned the gelding for two years and wasn’t initially aware of sweet itch being a problem.

“He’d been broken and had been in light work for a couple of months,” Nina says.

“He was a bit rough around the edges — as they are when they’ve just come in from the field — but he hadn’t got into that obsessive rubbing cycle they get into.

“However, what I’ve realised about sweet itch is that it tends to get progressively worse over the years.”

This year, Gambrinus’ sweet itch flared up in April and Nina expects it to continue until November. “Unbelievably bendy” Gambrinus is able to scratch the top of his head with his hind hooves and can also scratch his tail with his teeth.

“You’re supposed to take away anything they can scratch on,” says Nina. “But I can’t take his teeth out or his back legs away.”

This season, he’s already rubbed half his mane off, and last summer he had bald patches on his face; around his eyes and on the top of his head, as well as a rubbed raw tail.

The Lusitano breed should be left natural, with a long flowing mane and tail. “Apart from the fact I’m upset it doesn’t look very nice and he’s rubbing away his beautiful mane, it is an ongoing source of anxiety for him and me,” says Nina.

Continued below…

Sweet itch in horses: what all horse owners need to know

23 ways to beat flies this summer

We might be excited about the prospect of

Management strategy: Nina initially went down the fly repellent route, applying Fly Away gel and feeding garlic as a food supplement, but found that garlic made the problem worse.

She then tried a number of topical solutions including Killitch Sweet Itch lotion and baby oil to keep the skin soft and moisturised, washing the areas with Hibiscrub and applying green clay.

“I’m not sure how good it is for them to be constantly putting chemicals on their bodies so I try to use Killitch — which does work — only when I’m desperate,” says Nina.

His snuggy hood has made a difference too.

“He’s had it on for six months now and it has definitely helped, although I find clumps of hair inside it, so he is trying to rub,” says Nina.

Adding Brewer’s yeast and micronised linseed to his diet has also been beneficial — “his skin is less flaky and scabby” — and Nina has just added spirulina to the mix.

Two additional treatments which she plans to try this year are Neem oil, a fly and midge repellent that also soothes the skin, encouraging the regrowth of hair; and Cavalesse, a natural food supplement containing nicotinamide (a form of water soluble vitamin B3) which suppresses the immune response (by reducing the product of histamine) and improves the skin’s barrier.

After using Cavalesse for two weeks, Nina noticed a “marked difference” in his rubbing.

“We’re still in trial-and-error mode,” says Nina.

If you are concerned about any summer ailments your horse is suffering from, please contact your vet

This article was first published in the 1 June 2017 issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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A company is working on a vaccination against sweet itch, which it hopes will be on the market by 2020-21.

Benchmark Holdings, an “innovation company” specialising in agriculture and animal health, is working with Swiss equine biotech firm Evax AG on developing the vaccine.

Researchers will be using virus-like particle (VLP) technology; a technique used in human medicine which mimics the behaviour of viruses.

Benchmark chief executive Malcolm Pye said: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a highly-regarded team to develop this much-needed solution for an issue which currently has no licensed vaccine treatment available.

“We continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies and are seeing further benefits from our investment in vaccine manufacturing at Braintree, where much of the development and all the manufacturing for this vaccine will take place.”

Sweet itch, or insect bite hypersensitivity is caused by an allergic immune response to midges’ saliva.

The VLPs in the vaccine would attach themselves to components of the saliva, rendering it non-allergenic.

Edwin Vanhees, from Benchmark’s animal health team, said: “This vaccine will make a huge difference to horses, ponies and their owners.

Related articles:

• Sweet itch: signs, treatment and prevention
• 10 ways to beat sweet itch
• How can you keep your horse’s skin healthy?

“Relief for the animals will come from being able to prevent and treat the condition, and thus their suffering, whilst owners will have access to a long-term cure.

“The vaccine will eliminate the need for continuous husbandry and treatments, allowing both owner and animal to continue their lives without unwanted interruption from one of the most prevalent skin conditions facing horses and ponies.”

The vaccine is in the very early stages of development, and any trials would be some years away. It has not yet been decided whether or not these would be open to the public.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

For many of us, the arrival of spring means that horses can be turned out to graze in mud-free fields and the winter grind of mucking out can be suspended for another year.

But not every owner will share this optimism. For some, the prospect of improved warmth and sunshine also heralds the return of sweet itch and the attendant rigmarole of rugs, stabling and application of insect repellents.

Sweet itch, or insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), is an allergic reaction of horses and donkeys to the bites of midges: a large family of small insects found in almost every part of the globe. At present, the only effective means of combating this condition is to prevent the horse from being bitten. While this can be successful in reducing the signs of disease, it requires continuing vigilance and is not therefore a cure.

Out for blood

Researchers in several European vet schools have been working for more than a decade to develop a truly effective sweet itch treatment. Before such a treatment can be devised, however, we need to understand how the disease is caused.

To begin with we need to understand why midges bite — and what it is about midge bites that makes them so irritating.

In fact, only female midges bite. They do so in order to feed on blood, which provides many of the nutrients that female midges need to develop and lay their eggs.

But blood is a well-defended resource kept in blood vessels, protected by tough skin. When exposed to the outside environment it forms a solid clot to prevent continued bleeding.

To overcome this, feeding midges chew through the outer skin and produce saliva containing enzymes that break down this barrier. Midge saliva also carries components that expand skin blood vessels causing blood to flow to the surface, as well as several components to prevent the blood clotting.

Rather like an infection or vaccine, the “injection” of midge saliva stimulates a horse’s immune system. While immune responses to vaccines are limited or fade when the infection is cured, however, midges just keep coming and the horse’s response becomes greater.

Building tolerance

Fortunately the immune system has a built-in safety mechanism called tolerance, which usually prevents such hypersensitivity from developing.

For example, tolerance is a normal part of the immune response to parasitic worms. While the initial immune reaction limits the severity of the worm infection, some adult parasites are tolerated as the damage caused by an ongoing immune reaction could be greater than the harm caused by a small number of worms.

Immune tolerance is also the typical reaction to foods, where the “foreign” material the horse eats is not associated with any physical damage.

In sweet itch, the damage of biting combined with the midges’ saliva proteins have misguided the horse’s immune system into continually reacting as if to a threat. So the goal of treatment is to re-educate the immune system of allergic horses, enabling them to become tolerant to midge saliva.

One potential way to do this is to put a few drops of a solution containing midge saliva proteins under the horse’s tongue every day until his immune system reclassifies them as food.

Over the past decade researchers have used modern gene analysis to identify the proteins in midge saliva. Using gene engineering, scientists can now make these proteins artificially in bacterial cultures.

Further research in the coming decade will aim to try out this “oral immunotherapy” on a small sample of horses, to see whether a cure for sweet itch can be developed in the coming years.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 21 April 2016

Z-itch has launched a new Sweet Itch Rug, to provide a physical barrier between your horse and insects.

The rug is made from soft, tightly-woven polyester and has elasticated edges to prevent small insects from getting underneath.

It is breathable and also helps to prevent UV damage to the horse’s skin. The rug is designed to have a close but comfortable fit and protects the horse from nose to tail. The hood, that attaches at the shoulders and incorporates a face mask, gives extra cover

“Since the successful launch of our pour-on sweet itch product Z-itch, we’ve been looking at additional ways to help horses and ponies who suffer from this horrible condition,” said a spokesman for Z-itch.

“We know that providing a barrier between the horse and the midge is a key way to help prevent the issue as you’re preventing the bite causing the reaction in the first place, so we decided to create a sweet itch rug that was comfortable, highly adjustable and that the horse would happily wear for hours on end.”

The Z-itch Sweet Itch Rug can be used with Z-itch liquid or on its own, is available in size 4’6”-7’0” and costs £80.

For more information, see www.z-itch.co.uk.

Further funding is needed for research to help horses and ponies with sweet itch.

For the past four years, the Exmoor Pony Society has been collecting blood and hair samples for a joint project with the Animal Health Trust to carry out research into a possible genetic predisposition to the condition.

But due to a lack of funding, the project has been passed to researchers in Sweden. They have been granted €200,000 to start work in the autumn, but €25,000 is still needed.

The Exmoor Pony Society has donated £5,000 from its Scientific Research Fund.

The research should benefit all breeds and if anyone would like to contribute, email: coedywern@tiscali.co.uk.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (12 July 2012)

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Does your horse suffer from the misery of sweet itch? Or have you owned a horse with summer skin conditions in the past two years?

If the answer is “yes”, then your help is being sought with a national survey aimed at improving the long-term welfare of equines which suffer from this condition.

To complete the survey – which should only take 10 minutes – please visit www.mogannonassociates.com/surveys/equineskin/

It should be completed by the end of November 2011. All participants will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three £100 Musto vouchers.

Sweet itch affects thousands of equines. Symptoms include itching, hair loss, skin thickening and flaky dandruff.

The top of the tail and the mane are most commonly affected, and the neck, withers, hips, ears and forehead may also suffer.

Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to insect bites, and therefore an immune system problem. These are notoriously complicated and difficult to deal with.

Topical creams, insect repellants, special rugs and supplements added to the horse’s feed can all help to alleviate the symptoms.

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The UK’s first Sweet Itch Awareness Month takes place throughout April to highlight the serious and distressing condition which can be a major welfare concern and is known to affect three to five per cent of horses in the UK.

A joint initiative between Janssen Animal Health, the British Horse Society (BHS), Redwings Horse Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare, the campaign will highlight the preventative measures that should be carried out to help alleviate sweet itch and the importance of management of the condition before the start of the midge season in the spring.

Helen Goldberg, marketing manager at Janssen Animal Health, said: “Summer skin conditions, such as sweet itch, can be difficult and frustrating to manage and they are often a real challenge for horse owners.

“Sweet Itch Awareness Month will boost awareness of all aspects of this condition and other summer allergies and highlight the preventative measures that can help sufferers.”

The management and prevention of sweet itch should include moving the horse away from standing water and boggy land, stabling at morning and dusk and the use of fly repellents.

The most effective fly protection for horses out at grass are light rugs and hoods which can cover all the areas of the horse susceptible to bites.

The company suggests the use of its products, which it says are easy-to-administer skincare products to help maintain a healthy skin in horses prone to summer skin allergies.

Cavalesse is a natural food supplement containing a specialised formulation of water-soluble vitamins and minerals, including nicotinamide.

Once a month the contents of each sachet are simply dissolved in water to form an oral solution, which can be administered daily via a special pipette, either by sprinkling over a small handful of feed or adding to a treat.

The supplement helps horses maintain a healthy skin and promotes normal immune function.

Cavalesse Topical is a skincare gel that can be used in combination with the Cavalesse solution.

The gel can be applied to the skin to help support natural immunity from the outside, whilst the oral solution works in partnership from the inside.

Lee Hackett, head of welfare at the BHS said: “Time and time again we come across horses that are suffering with sweet itch, it is a horrible condition that can be extremely distressing for horses and their owners.

“We are supporting the initiative because we firmly believe that knowledge and education are the key to preventing sweet itch.”

For further information on Sweet Itch Awareness Month, Cavalesse and Cavalesse Topical, visit www.fidavet.com or contact your local veterinary practice.

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Z-itch, a new product designed to help control sweet itch, has been launched, to help owners start their prevention regime before the start of the summer.

“Z-itch is a ready to use, pour-on solution” said a spokesman for the product.

“It is easy to apply and, for most horses, needs to be reapplied just once a week meaning that one bottle could last the full season, deldepending on the size of the horse.

“Ideally, treatment with Z-itch should start prior to the ‘sweet itch season’ for best results,” he/she added.

Introduced at the BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association) International trade fair earlier this week (20-22 February) Z-itch costs £30.40 for 250ml.

For more information visit: www.z-itch.co.uk

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A new feed supplement to help horses with sweet itch has been launched for this spring by Brinicombe Equine.

Think Itch’s 100% natural formula contains antioxidants, vitamins and trace elements and the company’s exisiting product Think Fly — a supplement the company says provides an “invisible shield-like effect for protection from flies”.

Think Itch supports the horse’s immune system to “provide a consistent, calming and soothing effect on the allergic response, while supporting the natural healing process”, claims Brinicombe Equine.

Hermione Perry, equine development manager for Brinicombe Equine said: “It is not surprising that Think Fly has been our best seller since the day we launched as it is such a unique and effective product. However, for severe sweet itch cases just repelling flies and midges is not enough, as it is the horse’s allergy to the midges that is the root cause of the problem.

“Think Itch is the result of 24 months research and development. We have combined our Think Fly formula with targeted ingredients to support the immune system and calm the allergic response.”

For more information visit: www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk

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Net-Tex has combined three existing sweet itch remedies into a ‘three-step’ Itch Stop Pack in time for summer.

Step one is 100ml of Itch Stop Pre-wash Shampoo, as Nex-Tex says midges are less attracted to clean coats.

“This product contains bacterial and fungicidal agents which are so effective at cleansing that vets use it as a pre- and post-operative skin disinfectant,” said a spokesman for the company.

Step two is a 300ml tub of Itch Stop Summer Freedom. The mixture of DEET, Tea Tree Oil and blended natural extracts is intended to protect, disinfect and sanitize existing sores, as well as prevent new bites for up to a week after one application.

Step three is a 50ml ‘twist stick’ of Itch Stop Twist and Repel. This is an emergency version of step two, for when midges attack unexpectedly while you’re riding out.

The pack retails at £18.52.

For more information on how to become a stockist visit: www.net-tex.co.uk.

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Do you own a horse or pony who suffers from sweet itch? The National Sweet Itch Centre is running what it hopes will be the final trial of the proposed sweet itch vaccine and is looking for volunteers.

Subject to approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, manufacturers hope to launch the product next year.

Sweet itch is a seasonal allergy caused by an overreaction to midge bites and can occur in any equine. The proposed vaccine, called BioEos, has been four years in the making and regulates the reaction of the immune system.

Four trials were carried out in 2006 and results from the first trial, on 217 horses, showed that 70% of owners considered the treatment a success. Animals taking part in the trial will receive three injections from a vet within two weeks and are then fed one capsule a fortnight.

The trial will cost participating owners £235, plus vet’s fees. Contact Jennifer Greaves (tel: 01352 771718) or e-mail: horses@sweet-itch.com

A new vaccine designed to alleviate the distress of sweet itch is available for horse owners to try. The vaccine, which works at removing the excessive reaction to the bites of Culicoides midges, has had promising effects in preliminary trials. Participating horses will be given three injections before the sweet-itch season starts, followed by monthly capsules from April to October. Owners have until 10 February to register their horses for these trials.

Over the last two years a team from University College London (UCL) has been working in collaboration with the Sweet Itch Centre near Wrexham and with other centres to find a cure for the symptoms that make summer a distressing time for horses and owners. A series of small studies were initiated with horses vulnerable to sweet itch, testing a range of reagents aiming to regulate the reaction of the immune system to the midge bites.

The majority of horses do not have an allergic reaction to midge bites, but in an unfortunate 5% the immune system over-reacts producing irritable skin conditions. The team from UCL have endeavoured to return the horse’s immune system to its prime function of recognising, regulating and responding to assault, thereby maintaining the health of the horse. In the most extreme cases repeated doses are necessary but animals with a short history of disease can be treated easily and swiftly.

During the first year of research the most effective of these bacterial immuno-modulators was identified. In the second year it was established that 25% or more of horses received excellent benefit and 50% of animals showed a measurable improvement in their symptoms. Overall, three years of research showed that with an improved and more intensive protocol, the symptoms of a great majority of horses showed a marked improvement.

Following the success of these preliminary trials, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has approved a larger scale trial, which horse owners have until 10 February to register for at a cost of £235. For further information contact the National Sweet Itch Centre (tel: 01352 771718) or www.sweet-itch.com.

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