Itchy horse?
Here are some basic
causes of that itching

If your horse seems to be scratching a lot, it’s important to find the source of his discomfort before you are able to provide some sort of relief.

Worms, spread by flies, can be a source of itching. Stomach worm spreads via intermediate hosts of various species. The infective larvae migrate from the fly to the horse when the fly alights to obtain moisture from the lips, eyes and open wounds. The female pin worm lays eggs around the horse’s rectum, causing irritation to the affected horse, who will rub his rear against any available object.

You can tell if your horse has pin worms by examining the region for tell tale, creamy colored eggs. All horse owners are familiar with the pesky bot fly and when bot fly larvae are ready to hatch from their yellow eggs, they cause irritation and itching, which makes the horse lick his legs, swallowing the larvae and so helping them on their way to the next, more destructive stage of their life cycle.

Regular removal of the eggs will help reduce bot numbers although it’s inevitable some will be ingested by the horse. These and other worms can be controlled by a strict, regular worm program and good pasture management.

Another type of seasonal itching occurs during the cold weather. Causes are lice and mange which thrive in the thicker, waxier winter coat of the horse. Both these parasites can be a source of intense itching and are highly contagious. The horse should be regularly treated with suitable chemicals available from vets, produce stores and saddle shops. All grooming gear, saddlery and rugs will also need to be thoroughly disinfected or fumigated to avoid re-infestation.

Allergies can also be responsible for the sudden onset of itching. If the itch appears to be localized, it may be a reaction to an insect bite or even something the horse has brushed against or rolled in.

If the irritation appears more wide spread, it could be something unusual in the diet or hypersensitive reaction to a drug.

Most long standing allergies suffered by horses are caused by insects although if some other substance is suspected, it’s possible a vet maybe able to identify and treat it by injecting your horse with various antigens (the same as for human testing).

Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection that can be spread from man to horse and vice-versa, or through infected saddlery. Tell tale signs include raised, hairless lesions that are extremely itchy. Ringworm can be treated by isolating the horse and regularly applying iodine, betadine or an anti-fungal cream available from chemists.

Queensland itch is an allergic reaction caused by hypersensitivity to the bite of the sandfly, which can result in intense itching, hair loss and thickening of the hair. Not all horses exposed to the sandfly become hypersensitive but susceptible horses are usually affected each year. The sandfly feeds mostly in the early morning and late afternoon and during these times the horse shows uneasiness by rubbing or even galloping in an effort to escape the biting.

Most attacks take place between December and May, with horses recovering during the winter. treatment consists of rugging and hooding the horse during likely attack times, stabled in screened, insect proof stables and spraying with insect repellent.

Relentless pathological itching can be utter torment for horses, yet it needs to be interrupted for effective healing to take place.

Your vet will be able to administer a number of itch relieving drugs including anti-inflammatories, antihistamines and antibiotics to combat bacterial infection. Many lotions designed for humans may soothe and relieve horse itches, calamine lotion, betadine (for fungal infection) and even preparation H (designed to treat human hemorrhoids!).

Take the time to diagnose and treat your horse’s various itches, after all, he doesn’t come equipped with fingernails! Instead he relies on teeth, nose rubbing and even hind hooves (for that tricky spot behind the ears). You will even see horses indulging in mutual scratching for those really hard to reach areas. Shedding winter coats often makes horses feel prickly and itchy and they’ll appreciate a good all over itch relieving roll, so remove their rugs as often as possible and let them at it!

During grooming, you might notice your horse pulling strange faces when you’re currycombing a particular spot, this means they’re really enjoying you scratching their itch! Some horse have even learned to swing their noses around and indicate just where their itch is, so oblige them with your fingernails, rubber currycomb or dandy brush and watch their bliss!