Hunting a horse with COPD

[1588]

Would you?? I know there are differing degrees of it etc.
My horse has evented at lower levels and completes the Xc phase at a slower pace than before it 'developed' but doesn't seem to be in pain or laboured. He is also currently on ventipulmin 2x scoops a day.

I am planning on taking him drag hunting this autumn as the other hunt's country is too big and fast IMO. The lines are about 4-5 fields long with about 8 walls in each line. I think he'll be ok but I'd really appreciate your opinions folks as I usually warm him up really slowly to expand his airways and lungs before going Xc and I'm aware that out hunting he could quite easily go from a quick walk down the road to a flat out gallop in minutes. This is what concerns me.

Thanks in advance
Pip x

 

[Spot_On]

see how he goes... if he starts to struggle then call it a day. As long as he is fit enough there shouldn't be too much problem. Having a good gallop once or twice a week really helped mine with COPD,but every horse is different.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

My boy hunted for years with COPD. He was kept out all the time and came in the night before hunting only and was kept on rubber, with virtually no bedding. He was a very white grey so not easy. I would pick my days for him carefully and at times I would take short cuts to keep up. He would pull himself up if he struggled but tbh it was not a real problem.

Depends on you you hunt with as to how you manage it but it is perfectly doable with common sense. My boy had a few health / soundness issues but still hunted within his capabilities for many years until he was 21.

You know your horse, so go, use your head and enjoy. A lot of horses end up hunting because they can no longer do their day job.

 

[Spot_On]

If you can, when you get to the hunt maybe let them know your horse has COPD, maybe you can buddy up with another rider?

 

[1588]

Thanks for your replies, I think as advised I'll give it a go.

 

[skint1]

My daughter is taking my horse out this season and she has very mild COPD, as she has gotten fitter it's really improved the condition generally and we are fortunate that she can be stabled on straw at night as her barn is well ventilated. Daughter took her cubbing a couple of weeks back with the Berks and Bucks Draghounds (who were very kind to us) and I had a nice conversation with one of the people there who really did a lot to allay my concerns. They explained that the fences are optional, there are lots of breaks between lines, and you can choose your own pace, they're going to stick to the novice meets too.

If you're interested in supplements to support COPD horses my mare did amazingly well on Respimin (but it was a bit pricey) and now Secreta Pro-Max, she had a course of Ventipulmin back in the summer when it was really hot but the rest of the time these two products worked well for her.