Itching Due to Overweight

Most horses in the Netherlands carry a very generous amount of weight. Just like with humans, we all know that being overweight is not healthy for horses. But did you know that overweight can cause itching in horses? Fat deposits cause small inflammatory reactions under the skin, especially around the mane. These inflammations cause irritation, leading the horse to scratch. Scratching creates wounds that cause further inflammatory reactions at those spots, and this cycle continues unless something is done about it.

Therefore, it is essential that overweight horses lose weight, as some of these horses stop itching once they reach a healthy weight. However, take your time to help a horse lose weight; losing weight too quickly can release an excess of toxins suddenly into the body, which can cause other problems. Limit the intake of rich grass and rich roughage. Prefer feeding lean hay or grass that has already gone to seed and thus contains a lot of fiber. Strip grazing is also highly recommended. If possible, increase the duration and frequency of training sessions. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian for the best approach.

Always ensure that your horse gets enough roughage throughout the day and that you continue to provide the recommended daily amount of vitamins and minerals in the form of a balancer. This is a basic need that every horse requires to stay healthy.

Ensure that your horse experiences less itching during the summer when it is overweight by using an eczema blanket and a supplement to make the horse less attractive to insect bites. Also, applying a soothing and healing cream to irritated spots is recommended in case of irritation. This way, you can break the cycle and prevent new inflammatory reactions and thus itching.

Itching Due to Diet and/or Insulin Resistance

Sugar is one of the biggest culprits of itching. This usually becomes apparent when horses go back on the grass in the summer. Grazing allows horses to ingest large amounts of sugars, which can cause itching and irritation in horses sensitive to it. Sugar can also trigger conditions like Insulin Resistance, making horses prone to laminitis. Did you know that Insulin Resistance exhibits the same symptoms as summer eczema? These horses also scratch their manes, especially in the summer months. Large amounts of sugar in the diet can disrupt the gut flora, throwing the body out of balance and reducing immunity. Reduced immunity leads to small inflammatory reactions, which cause irritation.

A horse can also have an allergic reaction to a particular food. It is important to identify the allergen so it can be removed from the diet.

If your horse is sensitive to sugars/grass, limit grazing and monitor the fructan index to determine the safest time for your horse to graze. Feed roughage and concentrate that are low in sugars (starch and carbohydrates). Be cautious with all sugary treats!

Itching Due to Insect Bites/Parasites

Everyone is unfortunately familiar with culicoides midges. These terrible midges are present in large numbers to irritate horses and cause itching. Culicoides midges cause sweet itch, making horses rub their manes and tail base raw if nothing is done.

The saliva of these midges triggers the allergic reaction. Each bite leaves a bit of midge saliva, triggering the allergic reaction. An allergic reaction is an inflammatory response that causes itching and irritation, leading the horse to scratch. For these horses, it is necessary to put on an eczema blanket in time, detoxify before the season, give a supplement to make the horse unattractive to midges, add cannabinoids to the diet, bring the horse inside when there are many midges, and treat any wounds to prevent them from being scratched open again.

In addition to culicoides midges, itching in the summer can also be caused by lice, mites, fungi, and worms. Take the appropriate measures to stop the itching.

Other Causes

Itching can be triggered by various reasons. The main culprits are diet, insulin resistance, insects, and overweight. However, a buildup of toxins can also cause irritation, leading the horse to scratch. Therefore, detox your horse twice a year (spring and autumn) to clean the body. This improves nutrient absorption and boosts the horse's immunity. Some horses also have allergic reactions to fertilizers. Not all horses can tolerate pasture fertilized with artificial fertilizers and start to itch as a result.

Conclusion

Many horses are labeled as "eczema horses" in the summer months, while they are not. Itching and irritation in the summer months are not always caused by sweet itch (culicoides midges). Reactions to diet and overweight are also significant causes of severe itching. It is therefore important to find out the cause of your horse's itching. Once you know the cause, you can take action to help your horse get through the summer as comfortably as possible!