Sweet Itch in Horses and Ponies

So what is sweet itch? Well it is basically a seasonal allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges, sand flies and a particular type of black fly. In the United Kingdom, it is mainly the Culicoides midge and to a lesser extent, Simulium Equinum a type of black fly who are responsible for this highly irritating problem. The effects of this allergy are most often seen between April and early November, particularly on humid days.

If you have a pony or horse who suffers from this affliction you will be all to well aware of the devastating effects it can have on their skin and behaviour. The itching is so intense the horse or pony goes all out to try and relieve it with scratching behaviour. However, they almost go to self mutilating proportions, whereby, they literally rub off their mane and tail, the skin becomes thickened with characteristic welts and sores. There is an increase in scurf or dandruff on the coat and all in all a very miserable looking pony!

In addition to the suffering this affliction causes, there too is the loss of winnings if the horse or pony is for the showing. My pony is a connemara and as such needs her beautiful natural mane and tail, not the remnants of! Not that this was my priority, easing her suffering was much higher on my list!

So how have I helped my pony?

Well the advice we are given is to avoid grazing sweet itch prone animals in marshy or boggy land and that stabling during dawn and dusk will help. There are a myriad of expensive lotions and potions out there but with their effectiveness is limited by rain and sweating during exercise. My pony actually detests the applications of these lotions and potions! To be honest I have one recommendation for anyone with a sweet itch sufferer, the longterm benefits of this product outweigh the initial cost and it will be effective for many years... that would be the sweet itch rug! I recently purchased a new lighter one for my stabled pony (RRP approx £100 but in the sale it was just over £50) but her heavier one is still very usable and is at least 5 years old... now you do the maths... for all those lotions and potions you buy you could make one investment that will last for years to come and will not wash off!

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