This fall has been an unusually bad tick season. We have heard from many horse people that they are finding more ticks on their horses than they ever have. We have found two of them on Louie, which is the first time that we have found ticks on any of our horses.

In addition to causing hair loss due to rubbing, ticks also carry harmful diseases like Equine Piroplasmosis, Lyme Disease, Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (Ehrlichiosis), and Tick Paralysis. Because ticks are attracted to many species, diseases can be transmitted to dogs, cats, and even you.

Ticks that are carrying serious diseases transmit those diseases over a period of time. That is why it is important to check daily for them and remove them immediately. To remove a tick, use tweezers to gently remove the tick. Grasp the tick firmly by the head where it enters the horse’s skin. Don’t squeeze or yank! Instead, pull firmly, slowly, and steadily straight away from the skin until the tick’s head comes free.