Laryngeal paralysis

[Elliejolie]

Hi I've been looking at a horse with grade 3 laryngeal paralysis. He's a 5yr old 17hh gelding. He is the sweetest boy and very mannerley in all ways. He's very quiet under saddle. I only want to do gentle hacking due to my own disabilities with leg and back issues. What's your experiences of this condition anyone? My vet has said he would be fine for my job. he said the fitter he was the better for this problem. I thought I'd see how things have went for others horses with this complaint. Any feed back greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[ycbm]

I have owned 2 with this issue. One couldn't be operated on and he always roared but he had a long happy life hacking and dressage. The other was operated on which "cured" him and caused no further problems. I've also hunted with another roarer and he was fine, just noisy.

If he’s the right price then he sounds like he would suit you, but I would want the price to be low because if he does ever need a wind operation it won't be covered by insurance and it will cost several thousand pounds.
.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would not let this issue put you off the horse if he suits you .
The op would cost you a fair bit if you where unlucky and he deteriorated so think that through .
The vet is spot on when he says that horses with this condition are better kept fit .

 

[Elliejolie]

Hi I'm so pleased with your reply ? I really like this boy but there's a lot of negativity about it out there. So good to hear you've had success with yours. Insurance definitely wouldn't cover it as I've had him vetted and scoped so the history is there on five stage in black and white. I would do the surgery if he did turn out to need it but I'm hoping it won't progress too quickly. I literally want to do a max of 1hr about 4 or 5 times a week. He's such a sweetheart. I can hear him breathing at walk but he hasn't been ridden for 9 months so hes zero fitness and where he is atm is hilly! I would just hate to think he was struggling to breath if I ride him! Thanks so much for reply. Youve brightened my day.

 

[Elliejolie]

I have owned 2 with this issue. One couldn't be operated on and he always roared but he had a long happy life hacking and dressage. The other was operated on which "cured" him and caused no further problems. I've also hunted with another roarer and he was fine, just noisy.

If he’s the right price then he sounds like he would suit you, but I would want the price to be low because if he does ever need a wind operation it won't be covered by insurance and it will cost several thousand pounds.
.

 

[ycbm]

With a tiny bit of luck it won't progress at all. The one I couldn't have operated on never changed with age, he just always sounded like a train

Price being right, in your shoes I would buy him. If you can plan on interval training with some bursts of faster work when he is fit enough, you should find that it helps him a lot. Don't ever let him get fat, being able to see the last few ribs will help him too.

I hope you have a lovely time with him.
.

 

[Elliejolie]

I have owned 2 with this issue. One couldn't be operated on and he always roared but he had a long happy life hacking and dressage. The other was operated on which "cured" him and caused no further problems. I've also hunted with another roarer and he was fine, just noisy.

If he’s the right price then he sounds like he would suit you, but I would want the price to be low because if he does ever need a wind operation it won't be covered by insurance and it will cost several thousand pounds.
.

Hi I'm so pleased with your reply ? I really like this boy but there's a lot of negativity about it out there. So good to hear you've had success with yours. Insurance definitely wouldn't cover it as I've had him vetted and scoped so the history is there on five stage in black and white. I would do the surgery if he did turn out to need it but I'm hoping it won't progress too quickly. I literally want to do a max of 1hr about 4 or 5 times a week. He's such a sweetheart. I can hear him breathing at walk but he hasn't been ridden for 9 months and it's hilly where he is atm. Thanks for your reply. Im hopeful about him now. Youve brightened my day ?

 

[Elliejolie]

With a tiny bit of luck it won't progress at all. The one I couldn't have operated on never changed with age, he just always sounded like a train

Price being right, in your shoes I would buy him. If you can plan on interval training with some bursts of faster work when he is fit enough, you should find that it helps him a lot. Don't ever let him get fat, being able to see the last few ribs will help him too.

I hope you have a lovely time with him.
.

Fingers crossed it'll be the same for this boy. Yes I'll do the IT for sure. Definitely won't let him get fat. Thanks again ?

 

[ycbm]

Just a warning, you'll probably get a lot of people raising eyebrows about the noise he makes and insisting that you must have him operated on. Learn to laugh/ignore them or say you're not about to risk him under anaesthetic while he's so happy with life and capable of what you need him to do.
.

 

[Elliejolie]

I definitely won't be rushing into surgery until its necessary/if its necessary! As long as he's not distressed and not struggling he can stay as he is. I wouldn't see him suffer at all but I wouldn't see him go under the knife so to speak unnecessarily either. The success rates only seem to be 60-70%!

 

[ycbm]

The success rates for a tieback are a lot higher than that, I think. Perhaps you've seen the stats for a hobday, the less invasive procedure?
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[Elliejolie]

The success rates for a tieback are a lot higher than that, I think. Perhaps you've seen the stats for a hobday, the less invasive procedure?
.

No it was definitely tie back surgery I was looking at. I'll not worry about it for the time being though. Time enough if I need to I suppose. Fingers crossed I won't. We're any of yours susceptible to choke or more respiratory infections than usual? I noticed today that this guy had quite a bit of white discharge from his nose but it cleared quickly. He had been in stable and the haylage was very dry indeed. More like straw actually! Very course! I mean it wasn't straw but looked closer to straw than haylage!

 

[ycbm]

Mine were fine, I even travelled them with haynets. Never had a problem before or after the tieback.

ETA I'm seeing success stats for a tieback from 60 to 95% and I suspect the lower rate includes tiebacks for racehorses (there are lots! ) where the tieback "failed" because it didn't result in being able to carry on racing. I suspect for your purposes you'd have a very high chance of it being a success. Anyway, you probably won't need it

 

[Elliejolie]

Mine were fine, I even travelled them with haynets. Never had a problem before or after the tieback.

ETA I'm seeing success stats for a tieback from 60 to 95% and I suspect the lower rate includes tiebacks for racehorses (there are lots! ) where the tieback "failed" because it didn't result in being able to carry on racing. I suspect for your purposes you'd have a very high chance of it being a success. Anyway, you probably won't need it

Thats great very encouraging I think I'll be getting him. He's so chilled and very kind eye. Not at all spooky. Yes you're right they were stats from racehorses! silly me! Thanks for checking for me ? 60-95% sounds much better but hopefully won't need surgery fingers crossed. What will be will be though. Did yours get white discharge when stabled?

 

[Elliejolie]

I would not let this issue put you off the horse if he suits you .
The op would cost you a fair bit if you where unlucky and he deteriorated so think that through .
The vet is spot on when he says that horses with this condition are better kept fit .

Thanks for the help. I've factored the surgery cost into purchase price. I'll have a friend hacking him as well as me so he will be kept fit ?

 

[Red-1]

I had one. He walked pretty quietly, but at canter he was very noisy indeed. He had investigation and the vet advised that he made a lot of noise but had space for sufficient airflow, so I evented him. Mum liked his as he also dished. She was not horse savvy and his dish and roaring made her able to identify him in the collecting ring ?

I did my first events with him, PN and even did a novice. He was then sold to someone who evented to Intermediate. I would say his breathing did have an effect on his performance at eventing, but he was perfectly happy to go round at his own pace at PN (XC up to 1m5).

It didn't deteriorate. He was better the fitter he was, as in it took maybe a bit longer to get him fit.

I did have people tell me to have the operation. I didn't do it. He had a long and successful career, still SJing at 18 with another rider still. He liked to show people the ropes. He was never over pushed. He was over 17hh.

 

[Elliejolie]

I had one. He walked pretty quietly, but at canter he was very noisy indeed. He had investigation and the vet advised that he made a lot of noise but had space for sufficient airflow, so I evented him. Mum liked his as he also dished. She was not horse savvy and his dish and roaring made her able to identify him in the collecting ring ?

I did my first events with him, PN and even did a novice. He was then sold to someone who evented to Intermediate. I would say his breathing did have an effect on his performance at eventing, but he was perfectly happy to go round at his own pace at PN (XC up to 1m5).

It didn't deteriorate. He was better the fitter he was, as in it took maybe a bit longer to get him fit.

I did have people tell me to have the operation. I didn't do it. He had a long and successful career, still SJing at 18 with another rider still. He liked to show people the ropes. He was never over pushed. He was over 17hh.

Thats so fantastic to hear. Thank you so much. I hate to think of him suffering so that's great news. I'll stop being so woosy about it and just get on with it. I've more or less made my mind up anyway now. Thanks again ?

 

[ycbm]

. Did yours get white discharge when stabled?

No but I had another big horse who did. I wouldn't be certain it's related to the laryngeal paralysis.

I forgot to mention that my one that couldn't be operated on hunted with me without a problem. He pootled along at his own speed, jumping everything.
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[Elliejolie]

No but I had another big horse who did. I wouldn't be certain it's related to the laryngeal paralysis.

I forgot to mention that my one that couldn't be operated on hunted with me without a problem. He pootled along at his own speed, jumping everything.
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Yes. There is a virus going round atm so it's possibly related to that.
Good to hear about your horse hunting. Did you not worry that he might be struggling with his breathing when hunting. The noise my horse (I bought him) is making even in walk atm is like he's out of breath. It is concerning to me but I think I need to learn to get used to it maybe?! Hes not exactly roaring like a dragon. A friend of mine years ago had an ex racer who scared the life out of me when I heard him in the barn. The barn nearly shuddered with the noise. It was dreadful. Poor horse. I took him to be a companion for one of my horses for 6 months and he had no issues out on grass!

The other thing I was wanting to ask about is how yours dealt with humid conditions? Our weather is humid a lot except maybe for a few winter months

 

[ycbm]

As long as he was able to keep up with most of the field out hunting, I didn't worry that he sounded like a train. If they run short of oxygen, they have to slow down, its not like over tiring muscles or over stretching tendons, they can't really do themselves any harm.

I had him through a hot summer and he was fine.

You bought him, yay! We need a picture though ....
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[Elliejolie]

As long as he was able to keep up with most of the field out hunting, I didn't worry that he sounded like a train. If they run short of oxygen, they have to slow down, its not like over tiring muscles or over stretching tendons, they can't really do themselves any harm.

I had him through a hot summer and he was fine.

You bought him, yay! We need a picture though ....
.

Thats brilliant. I was just worried that I wouldn't realise if he was struggling but I'll only be hacking anyway. I'm past all the hunting etc now. Can't stick the pain anymore once the adrenalin subsides. I'll try and upload some pics. I thought I had already. Thank you so much for your advice and reassurance. He really is the sweetest boy. A real sick. Im 100% certain he's for me and I'm for him. He will have a good life with me. I'm such a softie ?

 

[Elliejolie]

I love him already. Can't wait to get to know him better. Now for figuring out a fittening schedule! He has been on a break for 9 months after being backed last sept and doing 10wks schooling. Any tips welcome from a seasoned owner of roarers lol.