My horse will burp, especially when we’re working. Rather odd, since I thought horses didn’t. She does not pass much gas, however. Is burping normal?
I was always told that horses can’t burp. Sonny used to burp and man they stunk. He is the only horse I have known that burped. He farted an average amount.
Not normal. Can be a sign of ulcers.
They say they can’t burp, but I’ve personally witnessed my TB burp and it was gross lol. He no longer gets mints because of it, they seem to upset his stomach.
I always heard horses could not burp too, but I had a pony that used to burp. He burped right through his adolescence and into his dotage. He never seemed bothered by it.
My horse had hiccups a few times…?
There is a windsucker/cribber at our barn that burps frequently while he is in the act of cribbing. Doesn’t happen randomly or while working, etc.
This is what I was going to say. Although my cribber will burp randomly after she was cribbing earlier in the day, and even while working.
Burping, can be a signal that stomach acid is refluxing into the esophagus.
Some horses have an esophageal sphincter that is lax and allows the reflux to happen when their head is lowered, or they lift their back.
You might speak to the vet about a short acting PPI, or anti-acid, to give just prior to riding.
^^^ This. It is a sign of acid reflux. Horse will likely need an antacid, and should be ridden with a belly full of hay.
If you’ve ever had acid reflux yourself, you will understand how incredibly painful it is!
3 Likes
Now I realize that my first horse burped not infrequently, but I’ve never heard my other 3 burp at all! There was a saying (maybe on a T-shirt?) “Healthy horses seldom burp” but that sure is what it sounded like my boy was doing.
Oh, and he was once scoped for ulcers, none found.
Yes, acid reflux and ulcers are not the same thing. The horse I know that burps and has been diagnosed with acid reflux also scopes as the picture of equine gut health.
1 Like
