What should I check if my horse is itchy after turnout? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse is itchy after turnout, start by checking the skin, the time the itching starts and anything in the paddock that could be irritating them. The most common causes are fly bites, sweet itch, contact irritation from grass or plants, or simple rubbing from rugs, headcollars or tack after turnout.

You may not be able to tell the exact cause straight away, but a few careful checks can help you spot a pattern and decide what to change first.

Things To Check

1. Check where the itching is happening. Sweet itch often affects the mane, tail, withers, belly and face, while other irritation may be more localised.

2. Look for redness, small scabs, broken skin, hair loss, swelling, damp patches or areas that seem warm to the touch.

3. Note when it starts. If the itching begins soon after turnout, flies, plants, mud or pollen in the field may be involved.

4. Check whether rugs, fly masks, headcollars or tack are rubbing in the same places each time.

5. Look at the field itself for long grass, weeds, nettles, mud, standing water or heavy fly activity near hedges and shelter.

6. Consider whether the itching is worse on warm, still evenings, in damp weather or when insects are most active.

7. Check for tail rubbing, stamping, head shaking or restless behaviour, as these can go along with fly irritation.

Common Causes

The most common cause is fly irritation, especially if your horse is itchy soon after turnout or in the warmer parts of the day. Sweet itch is another common possibility in horses that react strongly to midge bites, particularly if the mane and tail are involved.

Some horses react to grass, weeds or other plants in the paddock, while others are simply rubbing against kit that fits poorly or has become dirty or stiff. Less commonly, there may be a skin issue such as dermatitis, lice or another irritation that needs a closer look.

What To Do

Keep a simple note of when the itching happens, where it shows up and what the weather, turnout and fly levels were like that day. That pattern is often the most useful clue.

Check turnout kit for rubbing, keep the skin clean and dry where possible, and remove mud, sweat and debris after turnout if they’re building up. If flies seem to be part of the problem, try to reduce exposure by changing turnout times, using shelter where available and keeping the field area as low-irritation as you can.

If the skin is already sore, avoid repeated scratching or harsh grooming over the area, as that can make things worse.

Products That May Help

If your horse’s itching seems linked to fly season or sweet itch, this collection may be useful as part of your daily management routine.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

Item added to your cart