Equine Researchers Seeking Participants for Tick Study

For humans, one type of product that can reduce the risk of tick bites is clothing treated with fabric-binding permethrin, which was originally developed and still used by the U.S. Military. In this study, we want to evaluate if treated clothing for horses can prevent tick bites.

Study Design

We are recruiting horse owners that are interested in participating in a research study to try to reduce tick bites on horses. Treatment groups will include horses with treated fly boots and fly masks, horses with untreated fly boots and fly masks, and horses with no treated materials. Multiple horses owned or cared for by the same participant can be enrolled. Participants with horses with fly boots and fly masks will not know whether their products are treated or not. At the termination of the study, the fly boots and mask will be given to each participant and those with horses that did not have treatment will be given a set as a thank you.

Study enrollment requirements

• Participants must be 18+
• Participants must have at least 1 horse that has received at least 1 tick bite or had ticks removed from the coat in the previous year.
• Participants must be willing to keep fly boots and a fly mask (provided by the research team) on their horse while the horse is outside for 4 weeks (approximately March 2023).
• Participants will be asked to conduct tick checks twice a week for 4 weeks (training will be provided) and remove any ticks attached to their horse for the research team.
• Animals should be at least 15.0 HH to standardize sizing
• Participants must be willing to not apply any additional tick or fly control methods during this time (approximately March 2023).

How to Apply

If you are interested in participating, please fill out an application. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2023.