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For decades, horse owners in the Northeast have accepted ticks as an unavoidable nuisance. But what was once a regional problem is quickly becoming a national concern.
“I had never seen a tick before moving to New England,” said Eric Siegel, a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “I’m from Los Angeles, where we don’t have them.” That changed when Siegel joined Dr. Stephen Rich, professor of microbiology and executive director of the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, to study the spread and behavior of ticks.
As tick populations expand into new areas, horses and the humans who care for them are facing an emerging threat that goes far beyond an itchy bite.
The New Geography of Tick-Borne Disease
“I’m talking to horse people who never saw ticks at their farm, who are starting to see ticks now,” said Plaid Horse publisher Piper Klemm during her interview with the researchers on The Plaidchat.
Siegel confirmed the trend. “It is starting to become more of a threat,” he said. “The geographic presence of these ticks and the incidence of these diseases is growing.”
Ticks thrive in grassy, wooded, and brushy environments—habitats found not only in the Northeast but increasingly across the Midwest, South, and Pacific Coast. Experts attribute this expansion partly to milder winters and changing weather patterns that allow ticks to survive and reproduce in regions that once froze them out. “Particularly people who have horses are at a threat of getting these diseases,” Siegel said, “because riders and owners spend so much time outdoors at the edge of woodlines.”
Why Ticks Are a Bigger Risk Than Flies or Mosquitoes
Unlike mosquitoes or biting flies, ticks attach and feed for long periods. “They feed for a greater amount of time than do biting flies or mosquitoes,” Siegel explained. “That’s part of why they’re such good disease transmitters.”
Ticks can carry multiple pathogens. “Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, and anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma,” he said. Each can lead to serious symptoms in both horses and humans, from fever and stiffness to long-term neurological or joint issues if left untreated.
Dr. Rich added that one goal of his lab’s work is to make sure that research results reach the people who can use them. “Very often we find ourselves publishing papers that are written at a level that wouldn’t necessarily be appreciated or understood by the common public,” he said. “So one of the things we’re doing is making sure that we translate that research to the folks that would be most using it in practice.”
Current Best Practices for Protecting Horses
So what can horse owners do right now? According to Siegel, vigilance and prevention are key. “There are topical sprays and pour-ons, spot-on treatments, and systemic products,” he said. “There’s research ongoing into oral and injectable options, but not all animal products that are safe for ticks are safe for a horse.”
That’s why working with a veterinarian or a knowledgeable tack or farm supplier is essential. “A lot of the tractor stores are very knowledgeable about it,” he noted.
For physical protection, Siegel recommends mechanical barriers like fly sheets and masks that incorporate tick guards. “You can also use light-colored clothing so you can actually see the ticks,” he said. “If you’re out in the field, the best option right now is to use clothing treated with permethrin, which actually kills the ticks once it’s been in contact with it, or to use DEET or another approved repellent product.”
Check Early, Check Often
Even with preventive measures, regular inspections are vital. “Perform tick checks,” Siegel emphasized. “And if you have the capabilities, wear some kind of protective clothing or repellent as you go into those areas.”
For horses, routine grooming sessions are a good time to look for ticks around the jawline, ears, mane, tail, and lower limbs—especially after turnout in wooded or overgrown areas. Veterinary experts note that prompt removal greatly reduces the risk of disease transmission.
From Research to Real-World Protection
Dr. Rich’s lab is also testing new ways to repel ticks naturally, including a groundbreaking study on “non-host semiochemicals”—chemical compounds produced by certain animals, like donkeys, that ticks instinctively avoid. The goal is to eventually develop a natural, horse-safe repellent.
“We’re working to define repellency, what it actually looks like in ticks, and figure out how to best assess personal protection products,” Siegel said. Their system, originally used to track mice and parasitic wasps, now maps tick movement to quantify avoidance behaviors and measure repellency more precisely.
Rich added that many existing fly sprays already provide some tick protection. “Most of the products that one uses to keep flies off or to kill flies contain permethrin, which is the active ingredient that also kills ticks,” he said.
A Call to Stay Ahead of the Curve
Tick-borne diseases are no longer limited to one part of the country. They’re appearing in new regions every year. For Siegel and Rich, the message is clear: prevention is far easier than treatment.
“People who have horses are spending a lot of time in the very environments where ticks live,” Siegel said. “If you’re out there, protect yourself and your horse.”
With research like this at the forefront, science may soon give horse owners even more tools to stay one step ahead of the insects that are moving into new frontiers.
Want more insight from Dr. Stephen Rich and Eric Siegel? Listen to their full conversation on The Plaidchat and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for more equine science and wellness discussions.
