What should I do if my horse is very itchy during midge season?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse is very itchy during midge season, the first thing to do is look at when the itching starts, where it’s worst and whether there’s any visible skin damage. Midge irritation is a common reason, but recurrent itching can also be linked to sweet itch, skin sensitivity, mud or sweat on the coat, or other skin irritation. You don’t need to diagnose it yourself, but a few careful checks can help you decide what to do next.

Things To Check

1. Check whether the itching is worse at dawn, dusk, after turnout or after exercise, as midges often bite at certain times.

2. Look closely at the mane, tail head, face, belly, ears and dock for rubbed hair, broken skin, scabs, redness or swelling.

3. See whether your horse is stamping, tail swishing, head shaking or rubbing on fences, doors or hard surfaces.

4. Check the skin and coat for sweat, mud, dandruff, loose hair or anything that may be making the area feel more irritating.

5. Notice whether the itching is seasonal or happens every year around the same time, which can be useful information to keep a note of.

6. Check rugs, headcollars and tack areas for rubbing, tightness or trapped debris that could be adding to the problem.

7. Watch for changes in behaviour, such as restlessness, reduced grazing or not settling in the field, as persistent irritation can make some horses quite unsettled.

Common Causes

The most common cause is simple midge irritation, where bites trigger a strong itch response even if the skin looks fairly normal at first.

Sweet itch is another common possibility, especially if the itch is seasonal and focused around the mane, tail and lower abdomen.

Skin irritation from sweat, mud, pollen, grooming friction or a poor fit from rugs or tack can also make the problem seem worse.

Less commonly, ongoing itching can be linked to other skin conditions, parasites or allergy-type sensitivity, which may need a vet’s input if it doesn’t settle.

What To Do

Start by reducing midge exposure where you can. Bringing your horse in at peak midge times, using a well-managed rug or mask routine if appropriate, and keeping turnout areas as calm and dry as possible may help.

Keep the skin clean and comfortable. Gentle grooming, removing sweat and mud promptly, and checking for rubbed or broken skin can make day-to-day management easier.

Keep a short record of when the itching happens, which areas are affected and what seems to make it better or worse. That can be really useful if the issue keeps coming back.

If the skin is sore, avoid repeated rubbing or harsh cleaning, and don’t keep changing several things at once. Small, steady changes are easier to judge.

If you suspect a seasonal pattern, planning ahead for the next midge season can make a real difference, because these problems often need routine management rather than a one-off fix.

Products That May Help

If you’re managing midge season day to day, a practical fly and summer care routine may help support your horse’s comfort and make it easier to keep on top of itching, grooming and skin checks.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

Item added to your cart