Summer eczema in horses

Knuffelen met paard. Hoe voorkom je zomereczeem

Summer eczema in horses

More Than an Allergy: Summer Eczema as a Symptom of a Systemic Problem

Summer eczema is often seen as an allergic reaction to the saliva of midges (Culicoides). But why does one horse react extremely to a midge bite, while another seems to have no problems at all? The cause runs much deeper. Current horse management and feeding practices are increasingly deviating from what a horse naturally needs. Short, sugar-rich grass, processed concentrates, and intensive land use cause disruption—in the soil, in the crops, and in the horse.

From Iceland to the Netherlands: A Practical Example

Summer eczema was first widely reported in Icelandic horses. The transition from the clean, mineral-rich Icelandic soil to the heavily cultivated Dutch soil was a shock to their system. Instead of looking at management and nutrition, the focus was on heredity. Valuable bloodlines were excluded from breeding. But the cause was not in the DNA—it was in the diet and the environment.

A different path: from symptom relief to addressing the cause

What does work? Back to basics. Give your horse:

Good hay as basic feed, all year round, even in summer.
A handful of organic grains or high-quality hard feed (without additives).
Free access to natural minerals such as Celtic sea salt, seaweed, or Himalayan salt.
Purifying herbs and possibly probiotics such as Bio-Bokashi to restore gut flora.

And most importantly: pasture management. Let horses graze on mature, generative grass and avoid overly short, over-fertilized plots. Consider a paddock paradise and allow rest for both the pasture and the animal.

It takes time, but it works

Sweet itch doesn't disappear in a few weeks. But with patience and a different awareness, balance returns. This is evident from countless experiences, such as that of Henny, who saw her horses suffer from sweet itch for years, but has now been problem-free for years thanks to conscious pasture management and adapted nutrition.

Conclusion: prevention starts with awareness

Sweet itch is not a matter of bad luck, heredity, or a midge. It is a consequence of an imbalance that we ourselves can restore. Not with a miracle cure, but with a holistic approach to soil, nutrition, and management. Give your horse what it truly needs, not only to prevent eczema, but to live in full health.

As Einstein said:
"You cannot solve a problem with the same mindset that created it."

Let's change our way of thinking about keeping horses for their health and well-being.

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