African Horse Sickness & Midge Control | Protecting Horses from Biting Insects
African Horse Sickness and Insect Control for Horses
African Horse Sickness (AHS) is a serious viral disease affecting horses in Southern Africa. The virus is transmitted by biting insects, primarily Culicoides midges, which are common in warmer climates.
Vaccination remains the primary and most important protection against African Horse Sickness. Alongside veterinary guidance, horse owners often focus on reducing insect exposure around their horses and stables as part of responsible horse management.
Managing insects helps keep horses comfortable and reduces irritation caused by biting flies, mosquitoes and other insects commonly found around equestrian environments.
Why Insect Control Matters for Horses
Even outside of disease risk, insects can cause significant discomfort for horses. Flies, ticks and mosquitoes can irritate horses, disrupt their behaviour and lead to stress during turnout or work.
Common signs of insect irritation include:
- Tail swishing
- Stamping and restlessness
- Skin irritation
- Difficulty settling during work
- General discomfort in the stable or paddock
Maintaining good insect control can help support horse comfort, particularly during summer months when insect activity increases.
Practical Ways to Reduce Insect Exposure
Horse owners commonly use a combination of stable management, environmental control and topical products to manage insects around horses.
Stable Management
- Keeping stable areas clean and well ventilated
- Using fans to discourage flying insects
- Bringing horses into the stable during peak insect activity
Environmental Management
- Removing standing water where mosquitoes may breed
- Regular manure removal
- Maintaining clean yard areas
Protective Equipment
- Fly sheets
- Fly masks
- Stable protection where necessary
Topical Insect Repellents
- Fly sprays
- Insect repellent lotions
- Tick and mosquito repellents
Using multiple approaches together helps support overall insect management around horses.
How Tabard Equine Supports Insect Protection
The Tabard Equine range has been developed for use in equestrian environments to help repel common insects such as flies, ticks and mosquitoes.
These products can be used as part of a daily grooming routine to support insect protection during turnout, training and travel.
The Tabard Equine range can assist with:
- Repelling flies
- Repelling ticks
- Repelling mosquitoes
- Supporting horse comfort in insect-prone environments
Explore the Tabard Equine Range
Explore the full range of Tabard Equine insect repellent products designed specifically for horses.
Our products help repel flies, ticks and mosquitoes and are suitable for use in equestrian environments.
Responsible Horse Health Management
Insect control forms just one part of responsible horse care.
Horse owners should always work closely with their veterinarian regarding vaccination programmes and disease prevention strategies appropriate for their region.
Combining veterinary guidance, good stable management and effective insect control helps support the wellbeing of horses during peak insect seasons.
This page is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace professional veterinary advice.