A horse that cannot properly breathe can experience a dramatic decrease in performance. Events that require speedy bursts of speed use large quantities of oxygen. Both allergies and exercise-induced lung haemorrhage (EIPH) are two of the most common causes of breathing problems in performance horses. Poor respiratory health is often linked to allergies. Mucus and irritation in the airways can make breathing difficult, especially during a run. EIPH (also known as bleeding) is when blood builds up in the lungs and airways after exercise. The horse’s ability to absorb oxygen can be reduced, leading to decreased performance. EIPH can also lead to chronic inflammatory asthma disease.

What is horse allergy?

An allergy is an “overreaction”. Horses react to a substance that they perceive as dangerous and become allergic. Allergies often do not manifest until later in life.

How can you tell if your horse is allergic? It would help if you looked out for these signs:

Coughing

Itchiness

Heaves

Hair loss

Nose stuffed

Watery eyes

Although a horse may react to one or two allergens, there are more likely chances that horses will experience a reaction to multiple allergens. Horses are most allergic to dust, mould, weeds, grasses, and grooming equipment.

Reducing Allergens

You can prevent allergic flare-ups by limiting your horse’s exposure to allergens. Horses that are hypersensitive to insect saliva may have an allergy flare-up. You can use a fly product to reduce the number of fly larvae in your horse’s manure. Other steps, such as frequently spraying fungicide and providing fans to help repel insects, or using fly-proof garments such as fly sheets for horses, can also be helpful.

Horses and dust seem to be inseparable. Dust can be eliminated by watering barn alleys, increasing turn-out time, wetting the hay, and ensuring that stalls are well-ventilated and clean. If you notice excessive dust in warm-up areas, it is best to move to a more dry area. Even the most healthy horses can be affected by mould. Mould can hide in your barn, trailer, or hay. Mould can be eliminated by deep cleaning your barn, stalls, or trailer. Horses with allergies can have a difficult time in spring because pollen starts floating in the air, and weeds sprout up in the fields after every rainfall.

You should reduce the number of weeds in your fields and plan for your horse to be bestowed with a fan during peak pollen seasons. You should only choose products made from natural ingredients if your horse is in the sensitive category. Your horse may develop dermatitis around the areas where your boots or pad are placed. Switch to a different pad or boot material.

What’s exercise-induced pneumonia (EIPH), you ask?

Intensive exercise can increase blood pressure in the lungs, causing pressure on the pulmonary capillaries to burst. This can cause bleeding in the lungs. You may experience coughing, difficulty returning to normal breathing intervals after exercise, or decreased performance. Preventing bleeding is possible by controlling blood pressure. Lasix, a diuretic that reduces blood pressure, is often recommended. Horses with respiratory problems may benefit from daily support for the soft tissue of the lungs. This will promote normal blood pressure, normal inflammatory response tissue repair, inflammation, and blood pressure.