Sweet itch is an intensely pruritic allergic skin condition in horses caused by Culicoides midge hypersensitivity, requiring lifelong management to prevent severe welfare compromise.
Sweet itch causes months of severe suffering each year. The hypersensitivity to midge bites creates intense, persistent itching that horses cannot relieve by normal grooming. Affected horses rub themselves raw - creating open, infected wounds on their manes, tails, and bodies that themselves cause pain. The scratching is frantic and distressing to witness. Horses with uncontrolled sweet itch live through much of the warmer months in a state of constant pruritic misery. With appropriate management - stabling at midge activity peaks, appropriate protective rugs, and physical midge barriers - suffering can be dramatically reduced, though complete prevention is rarely achieved.