Coughing horse?

Question

After i have been riding my horse for about 5-10 minutes, he starts coughing (not a lot, just about 5 coughs) so i walk him whilst he stops coughing. After this he is fine, but i was just wondering if anyone thinks they know why he always coughs?

Answer 1

well I would say that maybe you might be overworking him or he may have some problem with his heart. I would call your vet and have him/her check out your horse just in case there is a serious medical problem. Also my trainer had a horse that coughed and she wet her horse's hay and that stopped her from coughing. But I would call a vet because you can never be too safe.

Answer 2

some horse cough when they are warming, others might cough because of something respiratory, but if u r really concerned see a local vet.

Answer 3

Respiratory problems in horses are NOT trivial. An occasional cough should catch your attention; a chronic cough means that you should call the vet. The longer a cough goes untreated - or treated incorrectly - the greater the possibility that the horse will suffer permanent damage to its respiratory system.  Look up "COPD" (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), "chronic respiratory disease", and "heaves" in horses.

Answer 4

is he wormed for strangles worms or lung worms

Answer 5

Five coughs and nothing else is nothing to worry about...as you begin to exercise him, he breathes a bit more deeply and that stimulates normal mucus already present in the lower airways to be propelled forward until he feels it in his throat and coughs it out.

Answer 6

he could have some mild heaves. my horse does, but hers are more severe. She is medicated but still when i get on her she coughs for a few minutes to clear everything out, then she is fine. also look out because my mare learned that if she coughs she gets to rest for a minute (she also learned that if she limps i get off... and i mean she is not hurt at all she will practically drag one of her hoofs at every step and as soon as i turn her out again she takes off running) they can be tricky so just be careful.

Answer 7

While exercising, the cough from hay allergies improves but the cough from a recovering infection will worsen. The exercise and coughing helps the horse clear out the secretions caused by the allergy but will irritate the pharyngitis.

Bring your horse to the vet and check for an allergy to hay, or check that your hay is not musty or moldy.

Answer 8

my horse does that. Its harmless warm up coughing. If no gross stuff (other than chewed grass already in the mought) comes out, then its nothing to worry about. My horse had a respiratory infection about 4 years ago and she hasn't stopped the warm up coughs since. As long as they go away after the few at the beginning, don't worry about it.

Answer 9

I agree with Valerie's post coughing is not trivial and you should get your horse checked by the vet as soon as possible.  Does your horse cough at any other times? I had a horse who had "heaves" and at the time we could not do anything for her to fix the problem. She coughed all the time though.

Answer 10

Is he old? it happens to old horses sometimes when they get worked hard. Your doing the right thing tho, he'll eventually get over it I think.

If he's not too old, he may just not be in shape. Keep working him regularily, he'll be fine over time

Answer 11

That's a good thing! It means your horse is warming up and clearing his airways etc...all horses should do this =]

Answer 12

Horses cough sometimes, it's ok, the are probably just tired or out of breath, it doesn't mean that they are sick.

Answer 13

did it cross your mind the saddle might be tight or thats sometimes normal. its a release of tension that good. dont squeeze too hard though.