What is a normal amount of exertion breathing for a horse?

[Dwyran_gold]

I’ve recently backed a driving horse who’s been out of work for a year, about three/four months ago I started him, I’ve been fittening him up but been driven he’s not used to a canter. The last month I’ve been working on canter out on hacks and a couple of times in the school but it really worries me how long it takes him to recover from it, he doesn’t make any noise that’s worrying but his nostrils flare and I can feel his chest going quite quickly for a good 5/10 minutes after. Would you consider this normal for a newly backed horse? Should I persist with the schooling or take it back to regular hacks?

 

[Cowpony]

Is it heavy breathing because he needs to get air in, or could it be due to pain - in the same way that humans pant hard if they hurt themselves? Maybe there's a reason he's a driving horse and has been out of work?

 

[Goldenstar]

Driving horses have often never cantered or done very little cantering .
They do not develop the same muscles in the same way as ridden horses .
they have weak thoracic slings and abdominal muscles .
They therefore find cantering extremely hard work .
I think it’s likely this is what you are seeing .
Just keep going with it its an investment in his future .
Are you doing any ridden schooling work with him ?

 

[Dwyran_gold]

Driving horses have often never cantered or done very little cantering .
They do not develop the same muscles in the same way as ridden horses .
they have weak thoracic slings and abdominal muscles .
They therefore find cantering extremely hard work .
I think it’s likely this is what you are seeing .
Just keep going with it its an investment in his future .
Are you doing any ridden schooling work with him ?

Thank you for this. you are spot on. I feel like such a numpty but I clipped him yesterday and the problems solved! I schooled him today and he gave me a couple of really good balanced canters and without the exertion! Just the usual ‘I’m still leaning’ type. I didn’t realise he was as fluffy as he was as his hair lies really flat and I’m new to hairy horses. He’s much more comfortable now. Panic over! Thank god ??

 

[Dwyran_gold]

Is it heavy breathing because he needs to get air in, or could it be due to pain - in the same way that humans pant hard if they hurt themselves? Maybe there's a reason he's a driving horse and has been out of work?

It’s only been due to a harsh winter and then covid hitting. All of his and his pulling parters weddings and proms were cancelled, he’s in good health apart from the time off and been unfit. X