Look for rubbing, hair loss, a dull coat and tiny insects or eggs at the skin, especially in the mane, tail and along the back. Treat with a suitable louse powder or wash, and treat all in-contact horses and their rugs.
Why lice appear
Lice are most common in winter when coats are long and horses are stabled together. Youngsters, older horses and those in poor condition are most affected. They spread by direct contact and through shared rugs and grooming kit.
Spot the signs
The main sign is itching: rubbing against fences and stable walls, patchy hair loss, a scurfy, dull coat and restlessness. Part the hair at the mane, tail base and along the back and you may see tiny moving lice or pale eggs stuck to the hairs.
Treat effectively
Use a louse powder or wash made for horses, following the label, and repeat after the stated interval to catch newly hatched lice, since treatments do not kill eggs. Groom out scurf and dead lice with a clean grooming kit, and clip very thick coats if advised to help treatment reach the skin.
Treat the whole group
Lice pass easily between horses, so treat all in-contact horses at the same time, not just the itchy one. Wash or treat rugs, numnahs and brushes, and keep affected horses’ equipment separate until the problem is cleared.
Support condition
Because lice hit run-down horses hardest, good feeding and a healthy coat help a horse resist them. If itching continues after correct treatment, ask your vet, as sweet itch, mites or skin infections can look similar.
