Coughing on hay - reassure me please

[Widgeon]

Horse is currently out on a small paddock while his normal field recovers - I'm just waiting for it to develop a decent enough grass coverage that he doesn't need extra hay, then he'll go back in there. In the meantime he's having hay every day; I'm getting towards the end of a big bale and while the hay looks and smells fine, no mould or other visible nasties, it's not exactly benefited from sitting around and is a bit dusty.

Yesterday I hacked him out for about 7 miles (normal would only be about 4 miles - neither of us are terribly fit so we're working on that before summer fun rides start); we had a trot up a long tarmac hill (it was pretty hard going, he's a minimal effort kind of horse unless we're jumping or cantering in a group) and when we got to the top he started coughing. He was really heaving, coughing with his whole body - I was so alarmed that I got off until he was done. It was probably only about half a dozen enormous coughs but it was a bit upsetting. He was fine once the coughing was over, and quite perky and happy when we got home. So is this something that could be triggered by dusty hay, and will stop in a week or so when I move him onto "proper" grass? He doesn't cough at home, on short hacks, or in the arena. I don't want it to happen again, I don't like seeing him distressed.

 

[windand rain]

My guess would he inhaled a bit of saliva if its not normal if regular thing damp his hay down. doesn't need soaked it can be steamed if you have a kettle a tub and a plastic bag. Put the bag in a tub put the hay in thebag and pour the boiling water over it. Leave a few minutes while it cools then lift out and feed but make sure its not hot in the middle. easiest is just to run it under the tap for a few minutes

 

[MissTyc]

It can be triggered by dusty hay, and in my experience once/*if* their lungs have been compromised you want to pull out all the stops to manage the situation. So in your case, I would be soaking that hay until he goes out onto the grass. Since it's only a week I'd play it safe anyway!

 

[Widgeon]

My guess would he inhaled a bit of saliva if its not normal

That's a good point, he might well have done - it was when we were at the top of the hill having a breather that it happened, so it could well be that.

It can be triggered by dusty hay

I think I will steam his hay for the next week just to be on the safe side. I can put it in a plastic bin in a haynet and pour boiling water over it. I will take my kettle to the yard as the only one there is in the YO's kitchen!

Thank you both very much.