Noisy breathing in canter

[scruffyponies]

Not at all worried about this horse, but interested in other people's experience, as not something I have come across before.

Solo is a Welsh x Hackney in his mid-teens. A terrible accident (RTA, shoulder trauma) aged 4 should have been the end of him, but we have carefully allowed him into work and miraculously he's now as sound as the next horse, if perhaps not as fit - he is carrying a bit of weight as he loves to eat nettles.

He really enjoys a gallop but sometimes when he's flat out he makes a snorting noise on each breath out. Sounds kind of like a whoopee cushion / pull start noise.
Is this what is referred to as a 'high blower'? Does anyone else have one?

I should add that nothing suggests any form of respiratory distress. His posture is normal and he's totally relaxed. He just sounds like someone trying to start a lawnmower! It goes away in a minute or two after he slows down he gets his breath back to normal.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Yes it sounds like you have a high blower - a prft prft prft with every stride? It's quite relaxing when they have a longer stride. One of the high blowers at work sounds like a jack hammer on speed as he has such a short, pathetic stride ??

 

[Pinkvboots]

One of my horses does it at canter he sometimes and has a bit of a wheeze at walk but I think it's a nervous type thing he does, as it's not something he does all the time and I had a vet check him and his breathing is fine.

 

[scruffyponies]

"a prft prft prft with every stride". Exactly this.

It is kind of cute.

 

[Polos]

My mare does the prft prft prft with every stride in canter. She’s always done it and I’ve had the vet out and she’s fine.

I find it’s a great indicator for identifying when she is tense in canter (the only pace she gets tense in) so it’s a useful reminder for when I need to get her to relax more haha

 

[teddypops]

My Welsh x TB does this and I love it! She is 29 and never caused any issues. She is still up for charging around the woods on a daily basis!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It doesn't affect the air intake and their breathing as it's on the exhale not the inhale.

 

[scruffyponies]

It doesn't affect the air intake and their breathing as it's on the exhale not the inhale.

It certainly didn't seem to be slowing him down!

 

[Auslander]

Alf does this - I call it "happy snorts". It's one of my favourite noises

 

[Sauerkraut]

Yep my daughters welsh mare does this too ... pocket rocket ? steam train ?

 

[nikicb]

My Welsh cross mare is like this as well. A friend with a Welshie mentioned that this is pretty common with the breed as they are quite 'thick' round their throat area. For that reason, I always have the throat lash particularly loose, but it never seems to be a problem in terms of energy levels etc. In fact I usually tire before my mare does!! x