Tick Protection for Horses

Horses are susceptible to many diseases that are carried by ticks, including Lyme Disease and Anaplasma phagocytophilia. Horses acquire ticks primarily on their legs, faces and tail areas. By taking simple steps to prevent tick infestations on your horses, you can help keep them not only comfortable, but healthy.

  1. Barns and Paddocks

    • Keep grassy areas around stalls, paddocks and barns mowed as short as possible. Ticks thrive in wooded areas and high grasses. There are various pesticides in spray and powder form that help reduce ticks in the grass.

    Pasture Management

    • Rotate pastures used for equines so that they remain fairly short. Pastures that become overgrown can be mowed. Fence pastures so that horses do not have access to wooded areas.

    Spray Applications

    • Look specifically for a spray specifically designed for horses that contains permethrin, available in many commercial fly sprays. Do not spray it on a horse's face, use a wipe or sponge to apply it carefully instead.

    Proper Grooming

    • Brush the horse thoroughly and pay special attention to the jaw, ears, chest, underside, legs and tail of the horse every time a horse is ridden through high grass or wooded areas. Look inside the ears. Brush in the areas where the legs meet the underside of the horse. Be sure to comb out the mane and tail, and inspect the dock area for any ticks. This can help to remove any ticks that have yet to attach. It will also increase your chances of finding attached ticks.

    Safe Removal

    • Remove ticks carefully. Any method that results in killing the tick prior to removal will cause blood to transmit from the tick to the horse, causing a further risk of disease transmittion. Use a pair of tweezers to grab the tick exactly where it enters the skin. Pull firmly and straight away from the horse. Drop the tick into a small jar of rubbing alcohol to kill it. Apply a mild antiseptic to the bite. Don't forget to wash your hands.