COPD, keeping a horse with it well and active~?

[eternallyskint]

My 20yo 15.1hh Connemara x Tb, was diagnosed with COPD last week. Now he is on shavings and having hayledge not hay he is much better, I hacked out yesterday and he was a very happy keen bean, my sharer rode today and as she is not very confident she doesn't do a huge amount, but said he was very good. My vet is happy to just remove the dust from his surroundings and see how he goes, Obvs if/when he begins to require medication he will go on it straight away, This horse is the love of my life and does not/will not ever want for anything. So can I hear your experience's of this condition please?

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Regular exercise to keep the lungs working is beneficial. The fitter you can keep them, the better. When it becomes more advanced they don't hold fitness well, if you go on holiday for two weeks get someone else to keep the exercise going, or be prepared to start a mini fitness program on your return. Mine likes his head down when ridden if his breathing is bad. Short trots and canters, starting with a few strides and gradually building up from there each ride, helps prevent coughing and wheezing. Dodson & Horrell Breathe Free, NAF Easy Breathing, Feedmark Clarity have all been successful in helping to keep it under control. It helps to keep weight down as carrying excess weight puts additional strain on the heart and lungs anyway. Be aware of your stable neighbours, if you have gaps between wall and roof so you share air space, its not good if they're shaking up straw/shavings or horse eating dry hay while your horse is stabled, because your horse will get the dust too. Draughty stables or barns are good! It's not always easy to see them coughing and wheezing, and feels cruel to be working them through it, though its for the best. COPD is not the end of the world though, unless perhaps you're competing at a high level. Your horse doesn't sound too bad if its controlled purely by a dust free environment. Remember to de-cobwebs your stable regularly too. Fresh webs catch flies, old webs catch dust.