Breathing

[Christmas Crumpet]

My horse is nearly 20 and has had a fairly hard life having hunted since a youngster. Having had a year off with a tendon injury he has been in work for 4 months. We are now starting to do fast work and his breathing is quite hard and laboured when we do a fast canter.

He is fine when out with other horses - just working on his own he seems to find it a lot harder. He has never been like this before. Any suggestions?

 

[chestnut cob]

Is it just that he's unfit? Having had a horse with breathing problems until recently I would say carry on trying to get him fit as normal first and if the problem carries on then call your vet to have a look. When I noticed my horse's problems I tried to get him fitter first and when that didn't work I called the vet who scoped him. My vet said that trying to fitten him up before calling him out was the best thing, as he'd have suggested 6 weeks fittening work before scoping him anyway to make sure it wasn't a fitness problem.

 

[Jo C]

There seem to be a lot of breathing problems this year, my pony has just been diagnosed with some sort of allergy which causes laboured breathing and coughing, it may be an idea to get your vet out. Initially Patrick's problem was diagnosed as a possible infection and I had to have him scoped and tested. Hope your boy is better soon.

 

[loopylucifer]

thats intresting as mine has had a cough and slighty laboured breathing just finished seconed course of ventapulimpn now waiting to see if improved!

 

[vicm2509]

I would think it is probably due to bim being unfit due to his age and the time he has been off, but as you mention it is in canter, have a look as to exactly when in canter he does it. If he makes the noise when his front feet touch the ground then it is likely to be something to do with his larynx (sorry not sure if thats the right spelling). That is one of the most common problems and is nothing to worry about unless you are doing very fast work. It is usually only aparent in canter which is why I mention it.

I would get the vet out to check him over though.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Apart from a quick cough during our first trot up a hill this morning he seemed much better. I then took him up the gallops once which is quite a long way - over 1/4 a mile I should think - up a hill and he managed the whole way without feeling as though he was going to die and also his breathing returned to normal a lot quicker. He was very bouncy on the way home.

vicm I think you are right - despite the fact that he has had four months of fittening work it hasn't been overly strenous and its now that we are really getting to do some hard work!!