Sweet itch is a lifelong condition caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting insects, which causes intense discomfort and aggressive itching. Signs include thickened skin, sores, and hair loss in affected areas, usually the mane and tail. It can be distressing to see and is stressful for the horse, and as a condition requires comprehensive management to minimise risks and mitigate symptoms when they do occur.
First and foremost is putting up physical barriers against flies: comprehensive rugging and masking protects the most commonly attacked areas of your horse or pony against the perpetrators. Full face or fringed fly masks; full coverage fly rugs or dedicate sweet itch rugs; and airy mesh fly boots all help to minimise the amount of skin available for biting insects to land on and take a meal.
Repellents also serve to make your horse or pony less of a target. Sprays, gels, washes, and creams all serve different purposes and can attack at different angles: for maximum coverage, a spray makes it easier to give a broad spread over the whole body. Gels and creams are ideal for spot-targeting the most sensitive and delicate areas where flies most like to congregate, like around the eyes and between their hind legs. Some are designed to act as an additional physical barrier, and many also include soothing ingredients which can help to repair damaged and irritated skin. Rinses and washes, like sprays, serve to cover the whole body, but additionally wash away any build-up of sweat and dirt on the body which could attract flies. As well as shampoos and sprays, diluted apple cider vinegar as a wash can balance skin pH and help to soothe weal and bites. Liquid paraffin has been used traditionally, mixed in with other repellants, to create an additional barrier for unbroken skin. Flowers of sulphur help to soothe itchy skin and create another physical barrier to give the skin time to breathe and heal.
Grazing and stable management can reduce the risks and severity of sweet itch: where possible, opting for paddocks with strong wind exposure limits the ability of flies to land on a victim. Regular manure removal and avoiding being near to standing water both reduces the field’s attractiveness to flies and also limits their ability to breed nearby. You can also make use of electric fencing to reduce opportunity to scratch by blocking off solid fences, as well as your horse or pony’s own personal favourite scratching spots.
While prevention definitely helps, some will always get through. Barrier-soothing and repairing creams can help to ease sores and heal damaged skin. Cooling and soothing washes and shampoos can head off damage from bites before they can worsen. Dedicated supplements can minimise reactions and promote skin health and repair from the inside out.
If in doubt, always ask your vet for advice when dealing with severe symptoms, including topical steroids and prescription antihistamines.