{"id":26443,"date":"2026-03-19T14:47:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsfreund-studios.com\/?p=26443"},"modified":"2026-05-11T17:46:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:46:32","slug":"ekzemdecke-im-fruehling-wann-wie-richtig-eindecken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsfreund-studios.com\/en\/post\/ekzemdecke-im-fruehling-wann-wie-richtig-eindecken","title":{"rendered":"Sweet Itch Rugs in Spring: When and How Should You Use Them?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year in spring, it\u2019s that time again. All owners of horses with sweet itch ask themselves: \u201cWhen is the right time to put the anti mosquito blanket on?\u201d<\/em> You need to weigh up how much longer you can leave the horse uncovered, or whether waiting too long might already be setting it up for a bad start to the itch season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author: Marie-Theres Conen, Sportsfreund Studios<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Check our Sweet Itch Rug<\/a> out<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Icelandic Horses Get Sweet Itch? Causes & Triggers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sweet Itch, also known as Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH), is the most common allergic skin disease in horses. It manifests as a chronic, recurring, seasonal dermatitis. This is a Type I immediate contact allergy, triggered by a hypersensitivity reaction to salivary proteins from midges, <\/strong>particularly those of the genus Culicoides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially often are exported Icelandic horses <\/strong>affected. One possible reason is that Culicoides midges do not exist in Iceland, so horses born there do not develop immunological tolerance to the salivary proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the trigger is known, it remains unclear why only some horses react allergically. Therefore, it is especially important to recognize the first signs early in order to help the horse quickly and keep the course of Sweet Itch as mild as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Original post on Instagram: Sportsfreund Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sweet Itch-Triggering Midges: Which Species Endanger Your Horse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sweet Itch, also known as Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH), is the most common allergic skin disease in horses. It manifests as a chronic, recurring, seasonal dermatitis. This is a Type I immediate contact allergy, triggered by a hypersensitivity reaction to salivary proteins from midges, particularly those of the genus Culicoides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These biting midges prefer habitats with dense woodland vegetation or peat bogs, as well as warm, humid climates with low wind speeds. Their main flight season lasts from April to October, during which they are most active at dawn, dusk, and sometimes even at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emergence Times of Culicoides<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n