Feather Mites on Horses: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Many horse breeds including cobs have characteristic feathering on their lower legs. While this feature adds to their charm and breed standard, it can unfortunately create an environment prone to infestation by feather mites, particularly Chorioptes species.

Breeds such as Shires, Clydesdales, Friesians, and some native ponies typically have heavy feathering that covers their pasterns and hooves, making them especially susceptible to these persistent parasites. Even horses with moderate feathering can become infested if conditions allow.

What Are Feather Mites?

Feather mites, scientifically known as Chorioptes equi or Chorioptes bovis, are microscopic parasitic arthropods related to ticks. They live primarily on the surface of the skin and within the hair, feeding on skin debris, secretions, and occasionally damaged skin. Their tiny size (0.3-0.5 mm) makes them difficult to detect without laboratory examination.

These mites thrive in the warm, moist environment created by dense leg feathering, facilitating their reproduction and persistence. They have a life cycle of about three weeks and can survive for up to 70 days off the horse in the environment, which contributes to reinfestation if prevention is not thorough.

How Do Horses Become Infested With Feather Mites?

Feather mites are commonly passed through direct contact between horses or exposure to contaminated bedding, rugs, hay, or straw. Birds visiting barns may also carry these mites, introducing them to stable environments unexpectedly.

Second-hand rugs and equipment pose a risk, so it's imperative to wash and thoroughly disinfect anything before use on your horse. When moving horses to new environments, stables should be completely cleaned and disinfected with all old bedding removed to minimise risk of infestation.

Recognising Feather Mite Infestations

The first signs are usually localised irritation on the lower legs. Your horse may:

• Stamp or shake the affected legs frequently
• Rub legs together or against objects such as fences
• Bite or chew at the legs
• Show reluctance to have their legs handled due to discomfort

If left untreated, the skin may thicken, scab, and develop open sores, prone to painful secondary bacterial infections. Severe infestations can cause swelling that leads to lameness, affecting your horse’s comfort and usability.

Diagnosing Feather Mites

Veterinary diagnosis involves microscopic examination of skin scrapings or hair samples taken from the affected areas. Although mites are sometimes missed due to their small size and hiding in feathered areas, diagnosis paired with clinical signs usually guides effective treatment.

Step-by-Step Treatment of Feather Mites

Step 1: Preparation and Clipping

Begin by clipping the feathers on the legs monthly. This removes many mites directly and makes topical treatment applications more effective by improving contact with the skin.

Step 2: Washing and Cleaning

Use an antiseptic wash such as Hibiscrub or Seleen to thoroughly cleanse the legs, removing grease and dirt. This reduces the chance of secondary bacterial infections from any skin lesions.

Step 3: Stable Management

Switch to using wood shavings for bedding instead of straw. Completely muck out and disinfect the stable at least once a month, after washing and clipping, to lower environmental mite populations and reduce reinfestation risk.

Step 4: Treating Skin Lesions

Any scabs or lesions should be treated with an antiseptic cream like Dermisol to prevent infection and encourage healing.

Step 5: Nutritional Support

Supplements such as Itch Free by Dodson Horrel can help reduce skin irritation and improve comfort, limiting self-inflicted damage due to itching.

Step 6: Veterinary Intervention for Severe Cases

Discuss with your vet if infestations are severe or persistent. They may prescribe injectable medications, medicated sprays, washes, or topical antibiotics for secondary infections after a thorough examination and confirmation of diagnosis.

Long-Term Management and Prevention

Complete eradication of feather mites is often challenging. Ongoing management is essential to keep flare-ups under control:

• Turn out your horse often to different environments when possible
• Watch for mud rash and other skin irritations especially in damp or muddy conditions, particularly after clipping
• Apply barrier antiseptic creams like Protocon to protect damaged skin areas
• Maintain stable cleanliness with regular mucking out and fresh bedding use
• Regularly wash and disinfect rugs, boots, and equipment
• Promptly address the first signs of irritation to prevent worsening infestation and infection

Responsible Ownership and Welfare Considerations

Feather mites, while persistent, can be managed effectively with knowledge, patience and consistent care. Always seek veterinary guidance for diagnosis and treatment plans to ensure your horse receives appropriate care tailored to their individual needs.

Maintaining good hygiene, a clean environment, and attentive monitoring protects not just the infested horse but also others sharing the environment. Investing time and effort into prevention and early treatment supports equine welfare and keeps your horse comfortable and healthy.

By understanding the nature of feather mites and following best practices for treatment and management, you can help your horse lead a comfortable life with their distinctive and beautiful feathering intact.