Autumn is a transitional time of year for most of the United States. Pastures die out, shorter days and cooling temperatures are a prelude of the winter chills yet to come, and numerous animal and insect species migrate to gentler climes or head into dormancy. However, some horse-troubling insects and parasites become more active during late summer and fall. Unchecked, they can be an annoyance, stress a horse’s energy reserves during the winter months, or cause illness or death. It is up to you to protect your horse.

Common Pests

The most common autumn-troubling insects and parasites are bots, small strongyles, mosquitoes, flies, winter ticks, and horse lice.

Bots are among the most familiar and widely distributed equine parasites in the United States. Explains Lee Townsend, PhD, Extension Entomologist at the University of Kentucky, "Horse bots are honey bee-sized flies that dart around and glue their tiny eggs or nits to body hairs of horses, donkeys, and mules. Most of the egg laying is done during August and September, but may continue until the first hard frost