Fight grass mites in horses

Character of grass mite

if Horses are plagued by grass mites, then the horses are plagued in the truest sense of the word. But what are they actually and how do they behave?

• Grass mites only occur in summer (hot period) and migrate from the grass onto the horses.
• Note that these pests primarily attach themselves to the pasterns, the back and the saddle area. Of course, other areas can also be affected.
• Keep in mind that this species of mite is extremely small and therefore difficult to see with the naked eye.
• They stay on the surface of the skin and feed on skin debris and secreted fluid. Sometimes they can also lay their eggs in the horse's skin.


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• You can recognize an infestation by the fact that the horse rubs itself on the affected areas. This scrubbing can be so intense that the skin bleeds and even purulent wounds form.

How to treat the horse

Treatment, of course, depends on the severity of the infestation:

• If the horse has rubbed itself so hard that the wound is already festering, then you should first wash the area with iodine.
• If the pus is already encrusted, then you can let water and a disinfectant (iodine, betaisodona, etc.) soak in for a long time.
• Then try to remove the crust with a soft sponge. Do not go there with a hard sponge or your fingernails, it could be very painful.
• Then dry the area with a lint-free material and treat the area with an ointment (also disinfectant).
• If you discover grass mites on your horse, but the horse has not yet rubbed the affected area, you can use a tincture. You apply this tincture against the coat line (so that it can penetrate as far as the pests).
• Repeat this process until the mites are gone.