Sweet itch is a major problem for horse owners in parts of the UK where biting midges (Culicoides spp.) feeding on horses may cause considerable skin irritation, known as sweet itch, and behaviour modification. Some horses are more susceptible than others, and various compounds have been used as midge repellents. However often these products require frequent application and can have limited effectiveness. The objective of this experiment was to determine the influence of a novel midge repellent on the behaviour of horses and, as an indicator of repellent abilities, the number of midges landing on the skin of a human volunteer.