ABSTRACT
Horses are parasitized by many of the same insect pests that attack cattle; in addition, they have several ectoparasites not found on other livestock. These pests include flies, bots, lice, ticks, and mites that bite, irritate, annoy, injure, transmit disease to, suck blood from, and detract from the appearance of horses. Most insect pests of horses can be controlled by the proper use of safe and effective insecticides that will not be hazardous or dangerous to horses, the applicators, or the environment, or create illegal residues of insecticides in horsemeat. The chapter provides information about the biology of a number of pests of horses, describes accepted techniques for their control, and suggests precautions for the safe use of insecticides on horses. The first line of defense against most insect pests of horses is the application of insecticides to the horses.
