Can horses loose their voices as they age?

[nicola_g]

My pony is 18 and appears to have lost his voice, he is very demonstrative and used to squeal like a big girl. However he has stopped squealing and his whinnie now sounds like 'a morris minor with a dodgie starter motor' to quote my OH.

This has happened over the last 3 years since moving from Scotland to France. He has developed an allergy to something in the French air although only in summer (pollen perhaps as he lives out) and this causes coughing which is alleviated by giving him a course of medication.

I have mentioned his loss of voice more than once to my vet but he does not seem concerned by this.

Any thoughts?

 

[Haniki]

My old horse is 25 and still has her usual voice. It does sound like your horse's allergy may be the cause.

 

[Ezme]

our 19 year old 3/4 shire still squeels like a shetland pony.... his voice has always been not what you'd think but not noticed it any different although he does do it less and less now

 

[nicola_g]

Probably is allergy related but as the allergy only appears in summer I would have thought that his voice would return to 'normal' in winter.