As we move into competition season, you may be thinking about fitness, training plans and preparation. But could your horse’s respiratory health also be influencing how well they perform?
Horses are exceptional athletes, but their airways work hard during exercise. And as obligate nasal breathers, they can’t mouth breathe to increase air intake during exercise. This means that during intense activity, almost all horses will have reduced blood oxygen levels and even small reductions in respiratory function can have a big impact on performance and recovery.1
In this blog, we explore the connection between healthy airways and athletic potential, including when to call your vet, and the practical steps you can take to support respiratory health and wellbeing.
A hidden limiter of performance
Most owners would recognise coughing, nasal discharge or changes in breathing as signs of a respiratory problem. But airway issues are not always that obvious.
Sometimes, the first signs are subtle changes in how your horse feels to ride or how well they recover after work. They may seem less willing than usual, tire more quickly, take longer to get their breath back, or simply feel as though they have lost their usual spark.
Any unexplained drop in performance should be discussed with a vet. Keep a particular eye out for:
- A decline in performance, stamina or enthusiasm for exercise
- Slower recovery periods when compared with previous fitness levels
- Reluctance to go forward or work at a higher intensity
- Coughing during or after exercise
- Nasal discharge, particularly if it is thick or yellow
- Increased breathing effort or abnormal respiratory noises
Your vet will examine your horse and assess their breathing. If needed, they may recommend further tests, such as endoscopy to look inside the airways or bronchoalveolar lavage, where a small fluid sample is collected from the lungs. These tests can help identify inflammation, mucus, infection or other changes that may be affecting performance.
Supporting your horse’s respiratory system
Alongside veterinary care, there are practical steps you can take to help support your horse’s airways:
Nebulisation
Nebulisation turns a liquid, such as prescribed medication, saline or another non-drug respiratory support product, into a fine mist that your horse can breathe in.
Routine nebulisation can be a useful way to support your horse’s airways during training, competition, travel or other times of increased challenge. Unlike prescribed medication, which is used to treat a specific condition, routine nebulisation is focused on maintaining airway comfort, supporting mucus clearance and helping the respiratory system’s natural defences.
Saline nebulisation
The most common option for routine nebulisation is saline solution. This works to break down thick and sticky mucus in the airways, helping your horse to clear it naturally. Even for horses without a diagnosed respiratory disease, excess mucus can block or narrow the airways, impeding performance and reducing the effectiveness of oxygen delivery in the body.
Other respiratory support options
Other respiratory support options can also be used as part of a routine airway care plan. These include essential oil formulations such as Balsamic Air, which is formulated to help maintain clear airways. Chelated silver solutions may also be used to provide immune support. Research suggests that nebulised silver nanoparticles have activity against some common bacteria and viruses.2,3
These options are not designed to replace veterinary treatment, but they can be useful as part of a proactive maintenance routine. This can be particularly relevant during competition season. Show venues and horseboxes can expose horses to dust, pollen and unfamiliar pathogens. Travel, changes in routine and the stress of competition may also affect immune defences, placing additional strain on the respiratory system. Routine nebulisation can therefore offer a practical way to support your horse’s airways during training, travel, competitions or other times of increased challenge.
Building a routine
It might take time to incorporate regular nebulisation into your horse’s routine but many horses accept it well, especially when it is introduced calmly and consistently. Consider nebulising…
- During periods of higher intensity training to support lung function
- Before travel and competitions to help prepare the airways for environmental changes
- During higher-risk periods such as high pollen counts or increased stabling time
For a horse with a diagnosed respiratory condition, nebulisation may be used to deliver prescribed medication, but also as part of a wider management plan.
In summary
Respiratory health can have a real impact on your horse’s performance, stamina and recovery. Because airway issues are not always obvious, subtle changes such as reduced enthusiasm, slower recovery or a loss of usual spark should not be ignored.
With veterinary advice where needed, good management and proactive airway support, you can help your horse breathe more comfortably and perform at their best throughout the season.
References
1 Franklin, S.H. et al. (2012) Respiratory responses of healthy horses to exercise. Equine Vet J, 44: 726-732. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00666.x
2 Frippiat, T. et al. (2021) Evaluation of the Bactericidal Effect of Nebulized Silver Nanoparticles on Common Respiratory Bacteria in Horses- In Vitro Studies. J Equine Vet Sci. 103:103635.
3 Frippiat, T. et al. (2023) In vitro virucidal activity of nebulized citrate-complexed silver nanoparticles against equine herpesvirus-1 and murine norovirus. Virology 585:232-239