"Panting" horse

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KatB

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Anyone ever come across this? The horse should be fit from his workload, worked 5-6 days a week under saddle or on the lunge, including schooling, lunging, hacking (including fast work) and jumping, with 6 days a week on a walker for an hour alongside work, but will quite often finish work "panting" which is almost like he is blowing like horses would after fast work, but it stops quite quickly after he has finished work.

Anyone any ideas? Horse has got good wind, has hunted etc no problems, but does "gulp" occasionally aswell...?!! Interested to know if anyone has come across this before?
 
I'm not sure I'd be worried, some do blow a lot quicker than others, particularly if the weather is warm - just like some sweat more freely than others. The recovery rate would be what I would keep an eye on, as well as any signs of distress.

Only other question would be size: is he carrying too much condition? Nothing like a bit of blubber to make you pant with exercise - and I should know
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Sounds like my horse - but she has bad breathing. She sounds horendous while jumping, she only does it when she is excited, but within 5 seconds of finishing her breathing is back to normal. I think her noise is caused by 80% excitement and 20% her breathing is wrong.
 
Thanks Pinktiger, I dont think it is as he always does it after work.

Tabledancer, he is never a "skinny" horse but not really fat either... He does recover quite quickly, eg he will go XC and be fine by the time he has walked back to the lorry (a couple of mins) but will pant like he is completely b*ggered straight afterwards!!

Thanks DD, you cant hear him at all, just see him "blowing" as such.
 
I have.... with my boy this was the start of a chest infection (to add to his ever growing list) - keep a close eye over the next few days.

hope all is ok.
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Maybe something simple, like his coat is still a bit wooly for the really warm weather we are having?

Or it may be the first sign of a compromised respiratory system, e.g. onset of some kind of pollen or dust allergy he never had before?
 
Mine always seems to puff and pant, no matter how fit he is!! He sounds like a puffing steam train going xc sometimes!!

He has always done it though, passed the vet when we got him, and always seems to recover well (better if he's fitter obviously!).

I think mine just has 'flappy' nostrils
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From the pics in your siggie he looks like ha has a touch of the something "cold" about him and probably is a fairly warm horse. The colder breeds will pant like dogs when they feel too hot to help cool off. They haven't got such thin skin as your average arab or tb. My boy has always done this too (Been 3DE fit)and recovers quickly too. It is always the recovery time that is important. My guess is he is just trying all he can to cool off, even more important with these types to give them a nice cold wash down after exertion. Good luck for the season ahead. he looks super.
 
Thanks Pep, you've spotted the carthorse in him then
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He is actually quite fine skinned in the fact he rubs easily, BUT grows a cob coat
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I aim to keep him clipped as much as possible. Interesting re. the cooling off, makes alot of sense, and never registered that horses would pant to cool off!!
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Does your panting horse sweat when hot? The reason I ask is that my friend's cob hardly ever sweats at all, apparently some horses have virtually no sweat glands so they pant like a dog to cool off. I think that its pretty unusual but not unheard of!! She spends a lot of time keeping him cool.....
 
My Cob used to do this no matter how fit she was. The first time she did the MK3DE I was totally paranoid about her fitness, and had her interval training for 3 lots of 9 mins before! but she still puffed and panted.

On the actual day of the event, after the R&T she came into the 10 min box, and was checked by the Vet. He said her resp rate was very fast, and he was rather concerned. However when he listened to her heart it was barely 40bpm!. Even after 5 mins she was still puffing and her heart had dropped to 30bpm.

Needles to say she completed with no prob and has happily puffed and panted after everything ever since
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I think is is the 'common' blood that does it.

I was also told many moons ago that its not the breathing rate that determines your horses fitness, but his heart rate and heart recovery rate. I take heart rates at the end of fast work, then 5 mins later, and then another 5 mins after that. As long as it is dropping to almost normal after that time, then he is plenty fit enough.

Oh - sorry! Didnt meant to be so long winded (excuse the pun
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Thanks Britestar, thats really reassuring!!
Cavalo, I know a horse who got to 4* and didnt sweat (he is coloured too!) and he apparently used to pant a fair bit too. Mine does sweat, not excessively but does sweat
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