Last Updated on February 27, 2023
Horses can have lice just like people can, and these itchy, pesky bugs can be a real nuisance! But can humans get horse lice, and how do you get rid of them?
If you find creepy, crawly insects such as lice on your horse, it will instantly make your skin start to itch! It seems we only need to spot a lice to start imagining them crawling all over us, but will horse lice be interested in humans, or do they prefer to stick to horses?
Today we’re going to investigate everything you need to know about horse lice. We’ll find out how horses catch lice, can humans get horse lice, and how to get rid of lice on your horses.
Can Humans Get Horse Lice?
The good news is that humans cannot contract lice from horses. Thankfully, horses carry completely different types of lice than humans. Lice that live on horses cannot survive on a human body, so thankfully, you cannot get lice from your horse.
However, if your horse has a lice infestation, some may move onto your clothing, skin, and hair if you are in close contact with your equine best friend. And while they cannot survive on your body for long, no one wants that itchy feeling that comes with finding lice on your skin!
Horse lice are highly unlikely to bite humans – most lice are species-specific, meaning they are only found on certain species of the host animal. So, horse lice will not be attracted to humans, and will prefer to remain on their equine host.
How Do Horses Get Lice?
While humans cannot become infested with horse lice, we can be unwitting transmitters of lice from horse to horse! Most lice infestations occur when a horse comes into direct contact with a horse that has lice, but these tiny creatures can also be passed on via grooming brushes, blankets, bedding, and even human clothing. So, if a horse in your yard has lice, keep it away from other horses and use separate equipment and clothing until the infestation has been successfully treated.
If you find that there is a constant re-infestation of lice on the horses in your barn, this can often be due to overcrowding and poor hygiene standards. Horses are also more susceptible to lice infestation if they are run down or suffering from illness. It is not uncommon to find a malnourished and debilitated young stock that is also suffering from lice.
Types Of Horse Lice
Two different kinds of lice are commonly found on horses. These are Haematopinus Asini (H Asini), also known as the horse-bloodsucking louse, and Damalinia Equi (D Equi), the horse-biting louse.
1: Haematopinus Asini
H Asini is a blood-sucking louse; it attaches to a hair and drinks blood by piercing the skin with its mouthpiece. They are most typically found in the base of a horse’s tail, the base of a horse’s mane, or the feathers around a horse’s fetlocks. These areas are where the horse’s fur is more coarse and easier for them to hold onto.
H Asini doesn’t move around very much and can be found by spreading a horse’s hair so that the skin is visible, similar to looking for lice on a human head. They are light brown or brownish-gray in color and are typically 1-2mm long.
2: Damalinia Equi
D Equi is biting lice; they eat secretions from the skin and debris such as dander. They move around the body and prefer to live where the horse’s fur is thinner and softer. These areas are more likely to produce dry skin, and therefore more dander. Although D Equi does not bite and suck blood, they do cause intense itching and irritation as they move around on the skin.
D Equi is most frequently found near a horse’s head or neck and flanks or croup. They are smaller than H Asini, running less than 2mm in length. They are more off-white or yellow than the tan and light brown of the H Asini.
Horse Lice Lifecycle
H Asini and D Equi have very similar lifecycles. The mature lice lay their eggs near the base of a horse’s fur – the eggs are ‘glued’ firmly in place to prevent them from being dislodged. The eggs hatch about five to twenty days later and go through three different nymph stages before they become adult lice.
The entire lifespan of a louse is only about thirty or forty days. However, each adult female will lay eggs every day, leading to a rapid increase in the number of lice.
Why Do Horses Get Lice?
It is commonly believed that horses contract lice through poor or unclean living conditions. However, this is not necessarily true. While unclean living conditions (poorly maintained stalls, dirty or dusty barn, muddy pasture space, etc.) don’t help stop the spread of lice, it isn’t the reason horses get lice in the first place.
Horses normally get lice from direct or indirect contact with other horses. Directly connection involves two horses making some kind of physical contacts, such as mutual grooming while out at pasture. If one of these horses carried even small amounts of lice, the other horse would most likely also have lice after the physical contact.
Indirectly, horses can contract lice from items that have been touched by or used on an infected horse. These items could be tack, brushes, buckets, halters, and any other object shared between more than one horse. Sharing blankets and rugs between horses is also a common method of transmission.
Symptoms of Lice in Horses
As with any other sickness or condition, there are ways to know if your horse has lice. You may want to check your horse for lice if they are continuously itching the same spot(s), rubbing specific parts of their bodies on hard surfaces, or showing personality changes (acting lethargic, not getting excited about the food, etc.).
Other common horse lice symptoms include patches of skin that have been rubbed raw due to itching, particularly the mane and tail. Lice on the feathers of the legs may cause the horse to stamp their feet to relieve the itching.
However, some horses can also show these symptoms and may not have lice. For example, some horses often suffer from itchy skin during the summer, but this is not normally due to lice. Never treat a horse for lice unless you are sure they are present – if in doubt, ask your veterinarian for advice.
Horses are more likely to contract lice during the winter when they have long fur, but it is still possible for them to have lice in the warmer months. Extreme cases of lice can cause anemia in horses due to too much blood loss, but this is rare. Old, sick, malnourished, or debilitated horses are more likely to become infested with lice due to inadequate functioning of the immune system.
How To Treat Horses With Lice
There are a few different ways to treat lice in horses. Generic, over-the-counter horse lice treatment methods include powder, spray, and wipe-on products. With all three of these, the product must come into contact with the horse’s skin to be effective.
Whilst products like these are not thought to be harmful to humans, be sure to use gloves while administering these products, and to clean up well after use. You should be able to purchase products like these at a local farm or tack store.
In recurring or severe cases of lice infestation, you may need to seek veterinary advice. They may prescribe a prescription-only insecticide treatment which often needs to be applied at least twice to break the life cycle of the lice. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully when applying these types of products, as they can be very harmful to the environment.
How To Stop Your Horse From Getting Lice
Unfortunately, horses can catch lice no matter how many steps we take to prevent them! However, there are a few things we can do to lower the likelihood of it happening.
First, make sure your horse is on a regular deworming schedule. Ivermectin is the round of deworming that will most likely deal with lice; so long as your horse is on a correct deworming rotation, he should be getting Ivermectin enough to prevent lice.
Second, brush your horse regularly and thoroughly, making sure to keep your grooming brushes clean. Use a curry comb and then a stiff brush every day, and never share brushes between horses. Know your horse’s coat and take note if there are any visible changes. Clipping the long winter coat and keeping the leg feathers short can help reduce lice infestations.
Finally, wash your gear regularly and maintain good hygiene standards. In the warmer months when horses sweat more, tack should be cleaned at least once a month, if not more. Cloth gear (saddle pads, blankets, etc.) should be cleaned more frequently than that – machine-washable fabrics can make it easier to wash and dry your gear regularly.
Conclusion – Can Humans Get Horse Lice
The good news is that you can’t get lice from your horse! However, it is easy for your horse to get lice from other horses, so understanding the necessary steps to take to prevent and treat lice in horses is very important. We hope that this article helped you understand horse lice and their implications. If so, please share this article, and share with us your experiences dealing with horse lice!
We would also love to hear your thoughts on whether can humans get horse lice! Have you got a new or innovative way to treat lice on horses that you’d like to share with us? Or perhaps you’re worried about how to make sure your horse doesn’t catch lice? Leave a comment below and we will get back to you!
FAQs
Can horse lice live in human hair?
Horse lice can live in human hair, but not for long, and they are not harmful to humans.
These tiny, flat-bodied parasites that species-specific, meaning that they can only survive and reproduce on their host animal - in this case, horses. So, if you come into close contact with a horse with lice, some may accidentally move onto your hair, but they cannot survive there.
Can humans get lice from animals?
Humans cannot get lice from animals, as the lice on horses, dogs, and cats are not the same species as the ones found on people. There are several types of lice that can be found on humans: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.
Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are small insects about the size of a grain of sand. They are most commonly seen in school settings and among families with children. Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) are usually only found on people who live in close quarters such as dormitories, hostels, homeless shelters, or prisons. Body lice are much smaller than head lice, measuring about the same size as a sesame seed. Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis) live in the folds of the skin and can be found on the genitals, buttocks, anus, and thighs.
How do you get rid of lice on horses?
Horse lice are annoying parasites that cause your horses to itch and scratch themselves. If left untreated, they can cause more serious health problems such as skin infections. Fortunately, horse lice have a short life cycle which makes it easy to control their population.
The treatment of lice on horses is very similar to that of other ectoparasites, such as ticks, mites, and fleas. The best way to eliminate the problem is to use a combination of products that target different stages of the life cycle of lice and to make sure that you do not overuse any of these insecticides. These products should be applied as directed by your veterinarian, with appropriate intervals between applications to break the life cycle of the lice.
How do you get rid of horse lice naturally?
A severe lice infestation may require veterinary treatment, but just a few lice can often be eliminated by using natural treatments.
Studies have shown that lice populations can be reduced by applying essential oils such as lavender oil, oregano oil, and tea tree oil to the coat of the horse. However, extreme caution must be used when applying essential oils to horses, as they can be toxic. It is normally advised that you dilute the oil at least 1:20 with carrier oil before applying it to the horse's coat.
Michael Dehaan is a passionate horse owner, horse rider, and lover of all things equine. He has been around horses since he was a child, and has grown to become an expert in the field. He has owned and ridden a variety of horses of different breeds, and has trained many to compete in shows and competitions. He is an experienced horseman, having worked with and competed many horses, including his own. He is an active member of the equestrian community, participating in events and teaching riding lessons.