Mites become active when the temperature drops and horses start to grow their winter hair. They then crawl into the socks and thicker hair to keep warm. Mites usually start their activities in early October, when the temperature drops below 15 degrees. To ensure that your horse suffers as little as possible from itching, irritation, wounds, and crusts, give your horse a detox. Do this in time, before autumn begins. If the mites are already active, then you are too late. Prevention is the key word.

Combating mites in the fall

Has your horse had a mite infection last winter? Eggs can overwinter, so there may still be eggs present in your horse's coat or stable. Even if you have washed him well! As the temperature drops, the eggs from last year hatch and the young mites start looking for food. Mites need blood to reproduce. They therefore bite your horse and drink his blood. Many horses are allergic to mites bites and start stamping and rubbing. Mites are really annoying for your horse. Therefore, try to prevent the young mites that emerge in the fall from becoming adults. Do not wait until there are a lot of mites, then you are really too late. The adult mites will then lay new eggs again, and the misery starts all over again. Fighting mites is much more difficult when there are already a lot of them. So start really early.

What does a detox do against mites?

To reduce the chances of mites and give your horse's immune system a boost, it is wise to give a detox at the beginning of autumn. Thanks to such an herbal cure, accumulated waste products are released. Waste products that the horse has ingested through food, water, soil, and air are then excreted. The body is cleansed. This is good for the skin and the digestive system, but also ensures that nutrients, vitamins, and supplements are absorbed better and can do their job more effectively. The immune system gets a boost. In general, it is recommended to give a detox in both autumn and spring. Wild horses eat various herbs that help purify the blood and cleanse the immune system. Our horses usually do not have that option, so we have to arrange it for them. In the fall, horses' immune systems are working at full speed. It gets colder, it gets wet, and horses grow their winter coat. This can make them more susceptible to ailments and parasites like mites in the fall. A healthy horse, with a strong immune system, has more resistance to mites and suffers less from itching. Hence the detox.

What kind of detox?

A detox for horses is always an herbal mixture. It could be dried herbs, but an herbal extract usually works better. An extract is a concentrated liquid. This is much more powerful than dried herbs and you need to give less of it. Also, the herbs in liquid form are better absorbed.

For which horses?

A good immune system and clearing waste products is especially important for horses dealing with:

• Sweet itch

• Other skin conditions

• Hoof problems

• Allergies

These horses and draft horses, who are often more vulnerable to mites, could use a detox in the fall. Be careful with horses that are very acidic, have PSSM are prone to laminitis or are pregnant. They often already have a lot of waste products in their blood and cannot clean up more at once. Sometimes nettl can help these horses. Also, horses that are sick or need to run a heavy competition soon should not be given a detox. Detoxing also costs energy from your horse.

More tips against mites in horses?

Unfortunately, the battle against the mite is not yet won with just a detox. However, it is an important first step in protecting your horse against mites. Mites remain tricky creatures. That is why we always recommend a comprehensive approach. Think of:

• Non-acidifying feed: so unpackaged hay and a grain-free vitamin balancer

• No concentrate feed that contains a lot of grain products and is high in starch

• Shaving socks

• Internal support with cannabinoids

• Internal support with an herbal supplement based on: echinacea, astragalus, gentian, thyme, fenugreek, sepiolite, citronellol, and citronellal

• Lymphatic drainage

• Detox the body four times a year with liquid nettle