Not so sweet

FIRST described in 1840 and affecting 2-3% of horses in the UK, sweet itch is a huge welfare issue. A cruel and unrelenting disease, it is a lifelong affliction that can start as early as one year of age. Unless rigorously controlled, it will get worse every year.

The inflammatory response in the skin is caused by midge bites. Skin trauma from rubbing in reaction to the bites eventually causes scarring and permanent hair loss. There may be few mane or tail hairs remaining and, eventually if the sweet itch is not controlled, marked corrugation of the skin.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

MIDGES belong to the genus . Both males and females feed on plant nectar but for the maturation of fertilised eggs, female midges require a blood meal every three to four days. Although midges are on the wing for the entire 24-hour period, peak blood-sucking activity in summer is from around 6pm to 10pm and 4am to 7am.