The itchy season

Insect Bites

Allergens

Hives & Headshaking

The itchy season

  • Spring and Summer can place an additional burden on our horses skin health.
  • Factors in the environment change with increased insect activity, pollens and fungal spores.
  • Extra support for your horses immune system from Herdleader supplements can give both you and your horse a more comfortable summer. 

The itchy season

  • Spring and Summer can place an additional burden on our horses skin health.
  • Factors in the environment change with increased insect activity, pollens and fungal spores.
  • Extra support for your horses immune system from Herdleader supplements can give both you and your horse a more comfortable summer. 

Insect Bites

  • Typically insect bite irritation is a condition in both ponies and horses caused by the bites of Culicoides midges.
  • The irritation develops at the sites where the insects feed, mainly the mane, tail and dorsal midline. Ventral midline Irritation may also occur around the ears and head. 
  • These irritations result in itching, which results in rubbing. The itch response is triggered by the immune reaction in the mast cells of the skin, releasing Histimine.

Insect Bites

Midge bites cause Sweetitch in horses
  • Typically insect bite irritation is a condition in both ponies and horses caused by the bites of Culicoides midges.
  • The irritation develops at the sites where the insects feed, mainly the mane, tail and dorsal midline. Ventral midline Irritation may also occur around the ears and head. 
  • These irritations result in itching, which results in rubbing. The itch response is triggered by the immune reaction in the mast cells of the skin, releasing Histimine.

Allergens

  • Under normal living conditions horses are engulfed in dust, mould spores and other foreign substances all day long.
  • In pastures where horses graze there are many different airborne proteins that could mean your horse needs extra support to maintain a healthy skin.  
  • Such triggers leading to the need for support are commonly pollens (often tree), grass, foods (grains and hay)

Allergens

  • Under normal living conditions horses are engulfed in dust, mould spores and other foreign substances all day long.
  • In pastures where horses graze there are many different airborne proteins that could mean your horse needs extra support to maintain a healthy skin.  
  • Such triggers leading to the need for support are commonly pollens (often tree), grass, foods (grains and hay)

Hives & Headshaking

  • Hives are swellings on a horse's skin and are an immune response to insect bites and stings or inhaled pollen.
  • They may or may not be itchy, appear minutes to hours to days after exposure.
  • Herdleader works in the same way as for bites, dampening down the immune reaction in the skin.
  • Headshaking can be caused by pollen affecting the nasal cavity.

Hives & Headshaking

  • Hives are swellings on a horse's skin and are an immune response to insect bites and stings or inhaled pollen.
  • They may or may not be itchy, appear minutes to hours to days after exposure.
  • Herdleader works in the same way as for bites, dampening down the immune reaction in the skin.
  • Headshaking can be caused by pollen affecting the nasal cavity.

Why Choose Herdleader

Strength

5 star reviews

proven to work

Ready for use

economical

Easy to feed

Strength

5 star reviews

proven to work

Ready for use

economical

Easy to feed

Information on Feeding & Ingredients

Feed once daily by drawing up the correct amount of the product into the measuring chamber and sprinkling it over a small handful of concentrate which you then give to your horse.

Daily use/Feeding recommendations:
Feed at the rate of 5ml per 125kg bodyweight.
Typically horses (500-600kg) 20-25ml daily, and ponies (350-500kg)15-20ml daily

If you choose to add it to your horse’s whole feed ration then ensure that the liquid is taken and not wasted in the bottom of the feed bucket/bowl.

A 1000ml bottle of HerdLeader is typically 50 days supply for a horse, more for a pony, up to 66 days supply.

Herdleader Oral is a composition of pharmaceutical grade 99% pure Nicotinamide (one of the B3 vitamins) and purified water. No other ingredients. Nicotinamide is the only one of the various forms of Vitamin B3 that suppresses the immune response that releases the irritant histamine.

Nicotinamide is a water soluble natural vitamin. It is very safe. Excess vitamin is expelled through urine. It does not accumulate in the body.

The level of Nicotinamide is 270mg/ml. This means that a 500kg horse receiving 20ml per day of Herdleader Oral is fed at the intended rate of 11mg Nicotinamide per kilo of bodyweight.

The current FEI banned and controlled substances list does not include nicotinamide. Rest assured, Herdleader Oral and Lotion contain no prohibited substances.

If it’s been a mild winter, for example, midges will be active earlier than after a prolonged cold season.  Then there are environmental factors, i.e. where the horse is kept, low lying ground, proximity to water, etc.  Add in all those other measures that are available, factor in how early in the year you started the supplement & then, of course, each animal will react to the same irritant individually. 

Now, more technical information for you. Nicotinamide works in two different ways.  Firstly & most well known is the dampening down of the immune system & therefore the urge to scratch/rub itchy parts. Secondly,  it works to thicken the skin.  The first effect - relating to the immune system - builds up quite quickly, in a matter of days, while the second takes effect much slower.  The skin’s thickening is caused by increasing numbers of fat cells it contains & this process is ongoing, it can take a month or more. 


Herdleader Summer Itch Relief is completely safe to feed to pregnant mares at any stage. Indeed the B3 vitamins generally are important and useful to the developing foal.


Herdleader Summer Itch Relief delivers a higher dosage (11mg/kg bodyweight) of Nicotinamide than other brands and yet its cost in-use is less. Typically its cost for a horse is 68p/day compared to 75p/day for the Cavalesse brand for example.

Customer Reviews

Based on 46 reviews
80%
(37)
9%
(4)
2%
(1)
2%
(1)
7%
(3)
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Emma Pridmore
Amazing

Guys thank you so very much for this product it’s changed my life so much cos I’ve got my boy back ,I’ve usede everything possible to help him in summer months spent thousands over the years and you pop up with this miracle work and guys thank you cos it works amazingly ,il send over before and after video

D
Debbie Pickering
Excellent product

I have been using this for my sweetish pony. It’s working brilliantly with no symptoms this year so far. Also a great price for such a large bottle.

S
Sue Gudge
It really works!

I bought this product last year to help with a loan horse who suffered with rubbed tail and mane. It made a great difference and as well as using fly sheets we are hoping it will continue into this year. Everyone remarks on how good his summer coat looks as well.
Have recommended to friends so hope they have the same success.

R
Rachel Eather
Success

My shetland had been on herdleader since the 1/2/25 and is currently showing no signs of sweet itch and has a lovely shiny coat
My other pony gets hives and has recently started on herdleader and is looking better

R
RUTH
Super product

Really helps my horse with her itching and it's very easy to use. She's a fussy eater but this has no smell and it's given in such a small amount I have no problem getting it into her, just sprinkle it on to her feed.

S
Sarah
So far so good

I’ve started this during the spring to get it into my horses system. He suffers from severe allergy reactions and today, he went out naked for the first time in 2 years. I expected him to start chucking himself at the walls as usual when he’s been out where there are flies but I was surprised when he came in and just tucked in to his haynet! It is too early in the season to determine if this is making a huge difference but today it seemed to do the trick. Order arrived quickly & efficiently.

L
Lisa
Herdleader

First time using Herdleader recommended by our vet as horse suffers from insect bites. I put a order in thinking it's worth a try and that evening said horse came in from the field with hives oñ both shoulder's and hind quarters. Herdleader arrived very quickly and I gave the recommended dose to her, by the following morning the hives had disappeared, I couldn't believe it as last year she had them for about 4 weeks covering her entire body. She's had a few spots since appearing but then going just as quickly so fingers crossed Herdleader will keep her immune system under control. She's only been on Herdleader for 3 weeks but so far very happy with the results. Hoping for a much easier summer for my mare who will continue to be on Herdleader ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Welcome to Herdleader Lisa. Delighted to hear that your mare is happier on her new supplement & thanks for the 5* review.

K
Kathleen Tear
Early days

Official last day of winter has just passes so started with this product before warmer days bring the biters out. So far I would say yes there is an improvement and less inclination to itch.

We appreciate you taking the time to post your review & very happy that your horse is more comfortable.

T
Ts

Can’t review yet it’s to soon .

J
JS
This Works

I feed this all year round now to my elderly mare and she has stopped rubbing her tail. I did stop post summer which resulted in a few broken fence rails but within a few days of restarting, the problem stopped - thankfully.

Many thanks for your five stars. We're finding that more & more people are coming around to your way of thinking!