Heavy Breathing in Horses?

I have a 10yr old Thoroughbred Gelding and he has recently started breathing heavily. He mainly does it when he is worked. (I only get on to check if he is getting better) I hardly ride him, (walk to the arena) and he is already puffing. He is not off his food. is not over weight, got a good diet and is always outside. He is fairly fit and was not doing the breathing thing before now (was ridden 3-4 time a week). There is a dusty stable in his paddock but he is not locked in it. When I fist noticed the breathing about 2 weeks ago I was at a jumping school and the instructor pointed it out before the lesson even started. (He hadn't been worked yet) 10min into the lesson he was sweating all over like he had done an hr of work, so I stopped and got off. The instructor said it was a virus and told me to put him on a coarse of 'Blud' (10days) and give him 2 weeks off. I did this and he is still not better. He doesn't look to be in pain or having 'trouble' breathing its just heavy and unnatural (nostrils and flanks flaring). Please Help if you can.|||How many breaths per minute does he take?





Normal is 8-12. If he's taking more than this, something is wrong and it is time to geth the vet out. Fast breathing is a sign of significant pain.





It could be heaves (COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which is a manageable condition like emphysema in humans. I would want a vet to diagnose it and prescribe medications. I've had horses with it; it's quite manageable.





I think your instructor is off base here. Blud is a protein/mineral supplement high in iron, intended to treat horses with Anemia. I don't see how that could treat shortness of breath/ heavy breathing.





If his nostrils and flanks are flaring, that IS a sign of trouble breathing and of PAIN.





Please get the vet.|||Blud is used to build hemoglobin and red blood cells, which is what carries oxygen around the body. This was a suggestion as the horse was running out of oxygen easily. Therefore by giving Blud, and building the hemoglobin in the blood this allows the horse to get more oxygen in and around the body.

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|||Instead of listening to your instructor and using some off the wall remedy (what the heck is Blud anyway?) why not get a vet out for your horse ??





Your horse could have pain somewhere... pain will increase heart rate and respiration rate, but if he is not lame, then allergies or COPD (heaves) could be the culprit.





Time for a vet.|||Sounds like some kind of obstructive pulmonary disease, due to allergens, either in the stable or in the pasture. Commonly called heaves. It's not curable but is manageable.|||Symptoms for laminitis include heavy breathing, check him out for that. If it's not laminitis then I'd get a vet out to do blood works and a general check up for him.|||I don't know, because I don't really know your gelding. he could have respiration problems, allergies, or just isn't fit. I don't know what blud is but you could try some other respiratory supplements. It is probebly allergies is what I am thinking? Get a vet out to check him for health problems and if he gets the A okay, then slowly build up his fitness level by lunging, then with a sircingle, and then ride him- 10 minutes at the walk the first day, and then keep adding 10 minutes on every three days, and gradually start trotting, and cantering, then jumping.


like here is a scedule that I am thinking may work. by the way- 1-2 and 3-4 and so on is like day one and day two- do this, three and four- do that... and so on. Here it is:


1-2 = 10 minutes walking- lunge line


3-5 = 20 minutes walking- lunge line


6-8 = 20 minutes walking, 5 minutes trotting- lunge line


9-10 = 10 minutes walking, 10 minutes trotting- lunge line


11-12 = 10 minutes trotting - lunge line + sercingle


13-14 = 5 minutes- walk/trot/canter for each = lunge line +sercingle


15-16 = 10 minute walking, 5 minutes trotting- you ride him


17-18 = 8 minutes walking, 10 minutes trotting - riding


19-20 = 5min. walk/trot/canter (each) - riding


21-22 = 10 min walk/trot/canter


23-24 = 25 min. cavaletti, and ground poles


25-26 = low jumping - 18 inches max


27+ slowly build up his jumping muscles, and slowly raise the jumps. 3 inches every week should be good.





hope that helps!!