Broken Wind, Specifically In Ex Racehorses..?

[legyield]

Done a bit of research on this, on behalf of my friend, and getting quite a bit of conflicting information. Some things suggest that broken wind is COPD.. others say it's RAO, or roaring, whistling, heaving.

I was riding her 15yo, 15.2hh TB mare for the first time last week. I noticed that she makes quite a lot of noise, breathes really heavily and will often need to stop and cough. My friend asked me what it was, and I said it could be broken wind. I've heard of it and know a little bit but not a huge amount. I've been told it can be degenerative and horses who have it find it harder to work in an outline. My friend's horse resists working in an outline but I've also read that once a horse is fully fit and working well the breathing problems aren't as severe?

Now my friend is wondering what to do -- should she carry on trying to work her horse on the bit in an attempt to get her developing the right muscles in the hope that her heavy breathing settles? Even though it will possibly be quite uncomfortable for her mare to be working on the bit?

Never really experienced this before (hence all the questions!) so any information or advice would be great.

 

[cptrayes]

I think COPD is RAO, the second is the newer term for it. Heaves is a very old term for it.

Roaring and whistling, though, are usually caused by laryngeal hemiplegia, which can be fixed with a tie-back (for about £2,500!).

Your friend should ask a Vet, her horse sounds as if it might be in difficulty and should not be worked when uncomfortable unless a vet recommends it.

 

[be positive]

I would suggest getting a vet to examine your friends horse,as treatment will depend on the cause of the problem.
It could be allergy ,to dust/pollen which will need careful management to control/improve.
Working a horse when it is struggling to breathe easily could make the condition far worse.

 

[alsiola]

At what point in breathing does your horse make the noise? Noise when breathing in is usually upper respiratory in origin (e.g. laryngeal hemiplegia), noise when breathing out is usually lower respiratory (e.g. heaves/COPD/RAO). Definitely wants a vet to see it whichever.