[Clementine]

The past three or four times I've ridden Jazz, he has started coughing when we begin trotting. It's only at the beginning of our ride, during the warm-up...he'll cough four or five times, and then trot on like nothing's wrong. He hasn't seemed odd in any other way, but since it's happened a few times now, it's starting to concern me. Any ideas what might be causing this?

Thanks so much.

 

[IslandWave]

My horse coughs about twice then snorts/exhales loudly around three times when I start trotting. She does it no matter where we're riding, in an arena or on grass. She's done it for as long as I can remember, which would be about a year. I personally think it's just a habit of hers and it's nothing to worry about.

Has it been especially dry or dusty where you ride?

 

[Clementine]

He didn't do it for the first two weeks I had him, he just started doing it. It's been pretty cold (between 16-18 degrees), maybe that's harsh on his lungs or something? The arenas at the stable are really nice - I don't think it's any dustier now than last week or anything. It's just...weird.

 

[ridergirl23]

I sometimes cough when i start working out, or warming up in gym... haha maybe im part horse? but i think they jsut might need to get the spider webs out before they start serious work. or maybe its the weather? who knows

 

[MIEventer]

Yep, I agree.

Nelson coughs too when we merge into the trot. It's perfectly ok. He was scoped this Spring as well and nothing was found out of the ordinary. He'll cough about 5 - 6 times and when he's done, he's done.

I find that if I do a proper warm up at the walk, he wont cough when we start to trot. If I cut our walk warm up short, he'll cough during the first few of our trot.

It's ok. Don't stress about it. If you want to keep ontop of your horses lungs and breathing, buy a stethascope *which we should all have in our first aid kits anyhow* and educate yourself on what to listen for - what is normal and what is not.

Learn to time your horses breathing reps and find out what is normal and what is not.

If you are concerned, get him scoped. But I think you don't need to do so.

 

[Tasia]

Yep my horse does it too just a few coughs and then hes fine. Tho at a big show he got sick and was hacking 20 times everyride...