Broken wind

[Olliecp77]

Any experience of horses with "broken wind"? I've no experience with this, its mild and not hugely noticable. Just wondering if there is any supplements, working practices etc that you would recommend?? Vet has not suggested anything and is happy with horses health, just wanting horse to be comfortable

 

[Echo Bravo]

Well it won't get better, best kept out as long as poss,no dusty hay or bedding, dampen feed. The horse has to work twice as hard to fill lungs, so no fast work, in other words a happy hacker and count yourself lucky if you can canter, with out it coughing it's lungs up.

 

[sam1am]

EB that is completely untrue,
There is varying degrees of wind problems in horses, if your vet is happy then it is probably a very mild 'whistle' or 'roar' your horse has. There is no reason not to do fast work if your horse is happy. Alot of horses out competing ( Inc one at badminton this year!) make a noise.
Don't worry too much about it.
I agree with keeping hay and surroundings as dust free as possible but I would do this for any horse really not just one with a wind problem.

 

[Echo Bravo]

But she said BROKEN WIND, go read through the vet books. and you cann't fix wind problems, with gentle exercise and the right feeding they will last many years. But eventing no, even racehorses who have wind operations don't last that long in racing maybe a year at most, look at Denman, sometimes it helps, with a young horse.

 

[Olliecp77]

Thanks for the replies. I know this can't be fixed, mild as I mentioned, I'm just looking to manage the condition well and make horse as comfortable as possible. I have heard much much nosier horses in SJ than this one.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Yes but sj do make a lot of noise but stand and look at their ribcage when they have finished jumping, if they have the double heaves after 10 mins then they are brokenwinded.

 

[Cuppatea]

an old fashioned 'quick fix' for a soft palette is to squirt a syringe of glucose into their throut just before competition, it worked by 'sticking' the palette together to stop it flopping. Obviously doesnt work for very long or for very bad wind!
Did your vet say what was actually wrong with the wind - soft palette, larynx etc?

 

[sam1am]

My bad EB we use broken wind as a term here to describe(wrongly) any type of wind problem untill further diagnosed that can sometimes be helped by a tie back or hobday op.
Apologies.

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

One of our mares has bad broken wind, and she can only canter across the field before heaving and having severe problems breathing bless her.

She's fine in walk and not too bad in trot though

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

if your horse makes a noise it is not necesserialy (spelling) broken winded. the horse may benefit from a hobday or tie back. if it is broken winded doubt it would jump a decent course. wind ops are very successful (and very common) i wiould explore the avenues with the vet!

 

[Clippy]

Are you saying your horse makes a noise when being ridden, or are you saying it has COPD and/or a cough when worked?

Both conditions can be described as broken winded but both are entirely different...

 

[Olliecp77]

Vet has said it's not serious enough for a tie back. I really struggle to hear it, wondering if its so subtle or I am deaf.
He's out in the field as much as possible, weather permitting. Unfortunately he's on shavings, has very good quality non dusty hay and damp hard feeds. I have started giving him a herbal supplement just last week so I will see how that goes. He's only broken and only working very lightly at the moment.

 

[Clippy]

Ah, I see

Noises like whisling and roaring often improve with fitness and if you can barely hear it, then personally I wouldn't be listening for it and just get on with your training

 

[Echo Bravo]

Now to me that is serious, how old is he, as youngster he should not be having breathing problems.

 

[navaho]

Now to me that is serious, how old is he, as youngster he should not be having breathing problems.

But its something they are born with is it not? We had one, we bought him at 12 & it was only when he was sent away to be broken at 3 that they noticed it (i guess because of him actually working rather then just bumming around the field).

 

[Olliecp77]

He's 4 now, ISH but big built 17.2

 

[Echo Bravo]

No it isn't something they are born with!. But if he's a big heavy youngster, you may start thinking about a wind op later on.Read up on it

 

[RhennyRocky]

Not read throught whats been said so if It's repeated, sorry. My horse has broken wind, He roars, You break it by working them to hard in very hot weather, many race horses have it, if you know the noise your horse makes and it changes while riding STOP! walk them round and get off, it can cause them to collapse working through it. The 'roar' gets less noisey the fitty and skinnyer(good way not ribby) he is, you can do all sorts with them as long as you know the noise and do not push them, hope this helps

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

it is quite common that big horses make a noise unfortunately. as your vet is not worried, i would work on his base fitness (6 weeks w/t pavement pounding6 weeks w/t/c including schooling and jumping) fitness will often reduce noise. a tie back or hobday is not the end of the world (only 2 to 3k nearer) and most are very successful. i would suggest a fitness programme and regular vet checks to assess the noise. are you insured? if so you only have 12 months from diagnosis should you wish to claim for a wind op. BUT not the end of the world. i am sure he will do a good job for you.