Stopping ticks, how?!?!

[MuffettMischief]

I’ve a horse out in a big field at the back of the yard, putting some weight on. He is getting absolutely covered in ticks every day all over his face, neck, chest and sheath. And I mean 100’s every day. What can I put on him to repel the damn things? He’s coloured and has a bay out with him who doesn’t have a single one on her! Must be the pink skin!

 

[HashRouge]

The bay might still have them - they'll just be harder to see against dark skin if the ticks are small.

I had a lot of trouble with ticks last year as we have a lot of deer around. You can buy Frontline spray which the vet recommended to me if you've got an active tick infestation, which I've been using. You also probably want something like Deosect or Absorbine UltraShield, which are full of chemical nasties but do actually have ingredients that are proven to repel ticks. The main thing for me though has been keeping my grass fairly short, as ticks like long grass. I use electric tape to fence them away from any lush borders, or my little Arab will end up with her nose covered in tiny little ticks.

 

[ycbm]

Cow and sheep pour on. It's not licensed in horses but lots of us use it and, neither is one of the most recommended spray on fly repellents.

I use Spotinor, let's 4 weeks £1 a short. Patch test first, I have had one horse react (on the second application, the first dose was fine).
.

 

[Gloi]

I agree about the pour on treatment. Another thing worth trying is Neem oil on the worst affected areas.

 

[Patterdale]

Cattle spot on. Yellow and red packet.
It’s the only thing that works, don’t waste your money on equine or dog stuff

 

[The Xmas Furry]

TriTec also works, tho is another not licenced for direct use, patch test 1st.

 

[Nasicus]

Cow and sheep pour on. It's not licensed in horses but lots of us use it and, neither is one of the most recommended spray on fly repellents.

I use Spotinor, let's 4 weeks £1 a short. Patch test first, I have had one horse react (on the second application, the first dose was fine).
.

I've been considering trying Spotinor, what's the dose rate you're using for the horses?

 

[MuffettMischief]

Thankyou! Covered him in deosect so hopefully that helps!

 

[olop]

I’ve also used spotinor on mine as he was out in a field next to deer. I used the dose they suggested for a cow as he’s roughly the same weight as a cow bless him! I only used one application and I didn’t see a tick on him for a year.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Are you in the UK OP? Are you sure they are ticks? The reason I ask is that I live in a country where ticks numbers are really huge and worst case, we find one of two on ours at the most daily. With you mentioning hundreds, I’m wondering if they are actually ticks?

I have coloured and a bay and they all get ticks to the same degree.

 

[HashRouge]

Are you in the UK OP? Are you sure they are ticks? The reason I ask is that I live in a country where ticks numbers are really huge and worst case, we find one of two on ours at the most daily. With you mentioning hundreds, I’m wondering if they are actually ticks?

I have coloured and a bay and they all get ticks to the same degree.

Where I am we get lots of tiny ticks (I think they're nymphal ticks, so juveniles). I have found dozens on my mare before, it's horrendous!!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Do you have to go through a vet for the pour on stuff?

I use icaridin spray, which works, but needs spraying every day and ends up being expensive to get a good daily coating on them.

 

[MuffettMischief]

Are you in the UK OP? Are you sure they are ticks? The reason I ask is that I live in a country where ticks numbers are really huge and worst case, we find one of two on ours at the most daily. With you mentioning hundreds, I’m wondering if they are actually ticks?

I have coloured and a bay and they all get ticks to the same degree.

yes in the uk and definitely ticks unfortunately. Bloody things! He’s in a field that always has lots of deer in so think it’s coming from them. Had another coloured in there a few weeks back and she was getting covered too with my bay only getting one or two so maybe it’s the colour! Deosect seems to have done the trick so thanks for suggestions!