SO1
Well-Known Member
7 weeks ago my pony escaped from his summer field into the winter field next door. I brought him up to the yard and groomed him, tacked him up and then suddenly his breathing was bad like an asmatha attack. Called vet who said allergy and to turn him back out - within half an hour he was fine.
Since then he 2 mild occurances of breathing problems that resolve themselves - I hack him in walk and then after about half an hour he ok - he is lively and energic and normal.
He went on to winter grazing (next to summer grazing) on Sat - lots of grass. Brought him up to yard to ride he seemed fine - tacked up and walked to school and noticed his breathing was weird again.
Do hope he is not allergic to something in the winter field. Though winter field next to summer field and he has to walk through winter fields to get to yard so if it was pollen would be blown about and in both fields.
Had a worried chat with dad (who is horsey) and he has suggested some possible alernatives - he does not think pollen or grass allergy based on fields being next to each other and Homey has to walk through winter fields to get to yard so would be exposed to pollen anyway.
Dad thinks maybe Homey has gorged himself on grass and possibly when he is girthed up the extra gass or grass might be putting pressure on his lungs. Or Homey might have got his tongue over the bit. Homey is not used to having lots of nice grass so perhaps that has caused him to be uncomfortable when tacked up.
Last time it happened I called the vet and vet said probably allergy and would calm down after half an hour or so - so I though gentle walk on bridleway would be ok - he not feeling lazy and in fact wanted to go for a trot despite not breathing properly, he was bright ears forward. Got back still breathing not 100% put him in stable within 5 minutes he seemed fine again.
Someone came to see him and I told her what had happened and in the meantime Homey was trying to mug her for treats and his nostrils were not flaring or anything. Told another livery and at that point Homey he put his head over his stable door all bright and cheery looking and she said he looks fine to me!
Took him back to field and stopped part way to check breathing and he seemed fine but by the time we got to the gate he was a bit puffy again. Stayed and watched him in the field eating and he did not seem to have trouble breathing but hard to tell when he was eating.
YO going to check his breathing in daylight today as it is dark when I get to the yard and he lives out.
I don't think he is colicy as he had about 5 poos on our ride. I am wondering if he has just overeaten. He has had funny breathing about 3/4 times in last 2 months and only escaped once into the field- so it is a mystery.
I also took off his noseband as it could be that as he has a drop - but I have ridden him in that since I have had him. Maybe I tightened his girth too much?
I will be monitoring him over the next few days but it is difficult as by the time I get to him after work it is dark so I am checking him using a torch. I am worried about him.
I called vet again this morning and he said allergy to something very difficult to say what but as long as it resides within 3 hours no need for treatment.
It is certainly not every time I ride him and I have only noticed it once he is tacked up. He had it one weekend and yet the next was fine and I took him out competing with no problem.
Any ideas?
Since then he 2 mild occurances of breathing problems that resolve themselves - I hack him in walk and then after about half an hour he ok - he is lively and energic and normal.
He went on to winter grazing (next to summer grazing) on Sat - lots of grass. Brought him up to yard to ride he seemed fine - tacked up and walked to school and noticed his breathing was weird again.
Do hope he is not allergic to something in the winter field. Though winter field next to summer field and he has to walk through winter fields to get to yard so if it was pollen would be blown about and in both fields.
Had a worried chat with dad (who is horsey) and he has suggested some possible alernatives - he does not think pollen or grass allergy based on fields being next to each other and Homey has to walk through winter fields to get to yard so would be exposed to pollen anyway.
Dad thinks maybe Homey has gorged himself on grass and possibly when he is girthed up the extra gass or grass might be putting pressure on his lungs. Or Homey might have got his tongue over the bit. Homey is not used to having lots of nice grass so perhaps that has caused him to be uncomfortable when tacked up.
Last time it happened I called the vet and vet said probably allergy and would calm down after half an hour or so - so I though gentle walk on bridleway would be ok - he not feeling lazy and in fact wanted to go for a trot despite not breathing properly, he was bright ears forward. Got back still breathing not 100% put him in stable within 5 minutes he seemed fine again.
Someone came to see him and I told her what had happened and in the meantime Homey was trying to mug her for treats and his nostrils were not flaring or anything. Told another livery and at that point Homey he put his head over his stable door all bright and cheery looking and she said he looks fine to me!
Took him back to field and stopped part way to check breathing and he seemed fine but by the time we got to the gate he was a bit puffy again. Stayed and watched him in the field eating and he did not seem to have trouble breathing but hard to tell when he was eating.
YO going to check his breathing in daylight today as it is dark when I get to the yard and he lives out.
I don't think he is colicy as he had about 5 poos on our ride. I am wondering if he has just overeaten. He has had funny breathing about 3/4 times in last 2 months and only escaped once into the field- so it is a mystery.
I also took off his noseband as it could be that as he has a drop - but I have ridden him in that since I have had him. Maybe I tightened his girth too much?
I will be monitoring him over the next few days but it is difficult as by the time I get to him after work it is dark so I am checking him using a torch. I am worried about him.
I called vet again this morning and he said allergy to something very difficult to say what but as long as it resides within 3 hours no need for treatment.
It is certainly not every time I ride him and I have only noticed it once he is tacked up. He had it one weekend and yet the next was fine and I took him out competing with no problem.
Any ideas?
