mickey
Well-Known Member
I wonder if anyone might be able to help me?
My horse has been doing an hr - an hr and a half's hacking 4 times a week, over the last month or so, having done little. I do expect him to walk out properly, and I school much of the way around with good stretches on a long rein too.
During the last week her has looked like he does not want to go out, lacking in enthusiasm. He is normally a bold horse who is inquisitive and appears to love going out. The last three times (last week and this week) he has been stretching his neck to the floor, between his front legs, as if tired - When all I ever do is walk with the occasional trot/canter off road.
Today I noticed a noise that sounded like puffing. Having established that it was not something rubbing against me somewhere, I decided to dismount and walk home. His breathing is not 'laboured' as such, but there is a definite noise that is not usually there.
There is no nasal discharge or coughing. His eye has been a bit watery but I thought that could have been due to flies.
He is bedded on straw.
He goes out every day (in the winter too), for 5-8 hrs. I have never noticed this before and I have had him 11 years.
He has really good quality hay which is not dusty, and alfalfa/feed balancer/sugar beet which is always wet.
He looks well in himself (very good actually) and his overall demenour is bright with alert ears/eyes and a shiny coat.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
My horse has been doing an hr - an hr and a half's hacking 4 times a week, over the last month or so, having done little. I do expect him to walk out properly, and I school much of the way around with good stretches on a long rein too.
During the last week her has looked like he does not want to go out, lacking in enthusiasm. He is normally a bold horse who is inquisitive and appears to love going out. The last three times (last week and this week) he has been stretching his neck to the floor, between his front legs, as if tired - When all I ever do is walk with the occasional trot/canter off road.
Today I noticed a noise that sounded like puffing. Having established that it was not something rubbing against me somewhere, I decided to dismount and walk home. His breathing is not 'laboured' as such, but there is a definite noise that is not usually there.
There is no nasal discharge or coughing. His eye has been a bit watery but I thought that could have been due to flies.
He is bedded on straw.
He goes out every day (in the winter too), for 5-8 hrs. I have never noticed this before and I have had him 11 years.
He has really good quality hay which is not dusty, and alfalfa/feed balancer/sugar beet which is always wet.
He looks well in himself (very good actually) and his overall demenour is bright with alert ears/eyes and a shiny coat.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
xx