17/08/2026
Hogging for sweet itch management 🐴✂️
Sweet Itch is an allergy to the saliva of biting midges (of which there is an abundance in areas of Scotland!)
Horses can have differing degrees of sensitivity with this allergy - some are slightly itchy and cope fairly well with just fly rugs. Others can be extremely uncomfortable, with relentless scratching and rubbing, and this often causes open sores.
Unfortunately these is no cure, but there are a number of things you can do to help manage it.
This young horse is sensitive to bites, and has been constantly rubbing himself on any available surface. He has sores on his head, mane line, ears, and has been rubbing his hind end as well.
Hair can contribute to skin damage - when rubbed, it can become damaged and matted very quickly and easily, and can then give a similar effect to a brillo pad being repeatedly rubbed on damaged, sensitive skin.
By removing the hair, we make applying topical treatments more effective as it’s much easier to get them right into the skin.
The hair won’t be able to become matted, and won’t contribute to the damage caused by rubbing.
Prior to being clipped, the horse was wearing fly rugs anyway, and will continue to do so.
He’s had the sweet itch vaccine, and is in during the day and out at night.
