They're both coughing

[verient]

Both of my ponies are coughing, most during exercise. I don't exactly know why.. One of them coughs most of the time but the other one has just started. What should I do? I know my mum is never keen on getting the vet out. We soak our hay.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Sorry to hear both of your ponios are coughing. Although you soak your hay, how good is the quality and is it a little dusty? How long exactly do you soak the hay for?

What are the stable conditions like, i.e. ventilation and what are they bedded down on? Do any of the other horses on the yard cough? Is their any nasal discharge or swollen glands?

Questions, questions - ?

 

[hadfos]

Sounds bit like a hay cough,are they snotting when they drop their heads after excercise???(mine was doing this,we were using old hay up in field and within days he got a cough,after excercise i fed him from the floor and loadsa snot),moved fields and only has good quality hay at night and cough gone!!!If it is not great quality to start soaking wont make a great deal of difference!!

 

[hadfos]

Do any of the other horses on the yard cough? Is their any nasal discharge or swollen glands?

Obviously as said above if the whole yard coughing more than just hay!!!

 

[verient]

Only our 2 at the yard. One has nasal discharge. I just kinda spray the hay so it's damp all the way through. It isn't that great hay but Tonto has never coughed before...

 

[Llwyncwn]

The hay will need to be soaked for hours, otherwise as it dries out the dust and pollen spores remain. Is it possible to put the ponies on haylage? This would be much better for their breathing. You didnt say what they were bedded on? What is their stable management?