Is it something of concern that a horse makes that blowing noise that some horses do in the canter, but he does it at the trot instead? It’s no where near as loud or as long as the noise they make at the canter, but it is audible… Sounds like the noise horses start to make before they blow their nose, but then he never blows his nose.
Thoughts? Would this stop you from buying a horse?
I can’t quite “picture” what sound you’re talking about. Any video with audio?
Does he sound like a roarer? Allergy related is my first thought if it is a sound like he’s about to sneeze? Or is it grunting that might be related to pain or ulcers? What’s he like to ride?
Yes, here’s a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq6Z8zlbWdY&feature=youtu.be
It’s not grunting. He just makes that nasal fluttering sound when he trots. I don’t have any experience with roarers, so I have no idea if that’s the sound they make when they’re not doing the super loud roar?
He’s great to ride. Forward but not rushy, responsive but calm… He’s great. That breathing noise is the only thing I’m worried about right now.
So a few questions:
Does the horse get louder/breath harder at the canter?
Does this horse get tired easily?
Does this horse cough… ever?
Is this horse stalled and if so, for how long, and how is hay fed (ground vs hay bag/racks)?
Have you attempted to take all vitals (heartbeat, temp, and respiration)?
Is there any nasal discharge?
Is there any discharge from the eyes?
These are all things that would be useful for us to help us assess if there are possible big issues like laryngeal paralysis/COPD or small issues like allergies.
Not roaring . That sound is on the inhale. This is on the exhale.
I think he’s just “blowing”, and is green enough that the rhythm of his breath is not stable yet. When he really relaxes, I bet he will be one of those horses who has a nice rhythmic blow in time with the trot AND the canter… I think It’s a good thing 
it is a favorable action seen with a relaxed and lifted horse. Many will do it in the canter and when the trot is lifted and active you can get it too.
as arlo said A good thing
I sat often with Victor Hugo Vidal and he would always appreciate a horse that had what he called “the wuffle”
He doesn’t make a sound at the canter. I haven’t noticed him breathing any harder during it.
He is only 3, so he doesn’t get ridden hard, but the couple of times I’ve been out to test ride him, both his trainer and I rode him one after another, and he didn’t seem to get tired after both of us had ridden him w/t/c. He didn’t seem tired after being lunged either.
I don’t think I’ve heard him cough the three times I’ve been out to see him, ride him, watch him be ridden, and watch him be lunged.
He is almost always turned out in a small dirt paddock. Hay is thrown in there. It gets pretty dusty in there from what I’ve seen. I believe he is stalled for about an hour, 3-5 days a week. He may be turned out in a huge grass pasture too, but I’m not sure on that one.
Haven’t taken any vitals, etc. Getting a PPE next week. I wanted to get opinions from COTH on his breathing sound before the PPE actually took place, in case you guys knew what caused this sound and if it was a deal breaker or not.
I don’t think I noticed eye or nasal discharge, but I honestly didn’t pay much attention to that, so I could have looked right over it.
[QUOTE=hoopoe;7823488]
it is a favorable action seen with a relaxed and lifted horse. Many will do it in the canter and when the trot is lifted and active you can get it too.
as arlo said A good thing
I sat often with Victor Hugo Vidal and he would always appreciate a horse that had what he called “the wuffle”[/QUOTE]
You know, my old guy TB used to do this at the canter without fail his entire life. I used to joke that if I ever showed him again it would be under the name “Puff the Magic Dragon”. However, he was never relaxed under saddle. Even on his calmest days he was a bit tightly wound and never had a nice relaxed canter. Sitting it was impossible because it was so jerky and stiff. Until this past year, that is, when we have been actually doing proper dressage and he is getting a topline for the first time in his almost 20 years of life and flexibility and rhythm and strength and has 3 distinct beats to the canter.
His “puff puff puff puff” with each stride stride stride stride has gone away; it has been especially notably absent the past 2 months as we hit a glorious breakthrough with his canter.
So I’m certainly not saying you’re wrong. I’ve never known another horse to do that, I just wonder why my experience has been the opposite?
To me, he hasn’t relaxed enough to blow. He is close but not there yet, if you try him again try and blow and blow and blow till he does when you are riding. the Blow I am talking about is blow out with loose lips. I think you will be surprised that he will start blowing. Also see if you can get him to slow down just a bit at the trot and move more long and low. It will be easier for him to blow.
What I am sayings that it wouldn’t bother me at all but with that said I would do a PPE.
I think Eleanor nailed it. He’s close, wants to blow consistently…but isn’t quite there yet.
Interesting. I’ve never seen one do that at the trot. Mine does it when he’s at a nice forward relaxed canter/hand gallop. He blows out every stride. I love it since I know once I hear that on warmup, I know he’s good to go for the jumping phases.
One of the mares I used to ride made this horrible noise while trotting that sounded like I was strangling a frog. She was even noisier at the canter when she was feeling frisky.
I would say some sort of soft palate issue. I wouldn’t be real concerned. Seems like she does it when she is relaxed…not stressed, especially if it stops at a canter. You might have her scoped if you are really worried…I don’t think it is a major issue…perhaps just a habit?? Nice horse.
[QUOTE=SeeTheCityLights;7823492]
He doesn’t make a sound at the canter. I haven’t noticed him breathing any harder during it.
He is only 3, so he doesn’t get ridden hard, but the couple of times I’ve been out to test ride him, both his trainer and I rode him one after another, and he didn’t seem to get tired after both of us had ridden him w/t/c. He didn’t seem tired after being lunged either.
I don’t think I’ve heard him cough the three times I’ve been out to see him, ride him, watch him be ridden, and watch him be lunged.
He is almost always turned out in a small dirt paddock. Hay is thrown in there. It gets pretty dusty in there from what I’ve seen. I believe he is stalled for about an hour, 3-5 days a week. He may be turned out in a huge grass pasture too, but I’m not sure on that one.
Haven’t taken any vitals, etc. Getting a PPE next week. I wanted to get opinions from COTH on his breathing sound before the PPE actually took place, in case you guys knew what caused this sound and if it was a deal breaker or not.
I don’t think I noticed eye or nasal discharge, but I honestly didn’t pay much attention to that, so I could have looked right over it.[/QUOTE]
With all of this, I would say that I wouldn’t balk at this point but I would mention to the vet that you were concerned about his breathing when doing the PPE. I wouldn’t say it is a “normal” sound but it may be a “normal” sound for him and not something to worry about, you should just have the vet investigate a little.
Excellent Thanks, everyone! I’ll definitely be going ahead with the PPE. Fingers crossed!
Back in the day… that noise was called High Blowing, nothing wrong, it is from the air rushing in & out of the nostrils. ( IMHO )
So nice! I think it is normal breathing. Good luck with the PPE!
My TB mare makes a nasal fluttery, snorty sound when she is hacking out and she is feeling frisky. Mostly at the trot, but sometimes she even does it at the walk. She never exhibits any problems with her breathing, and does not do this noise all the time. If you like all the other things about the horse have the vet check him out with regards to the breathing.
[QUOTE=hoopoe;7823488]
it is a favorable action seen with a relaxed and lifted horse. Many will do it in the canter and when the trot is lifted and active you can get it too.
as arlo said A good thing
I sat often with Victor Hugo Vidal and he would always appreciate a horse that had what he called “the wuffle”[/QUOTE]
My older OTTB mare did this and I always found it so relaxing and pleasant listening to her while we were on xc! It was never a problem, she always cooled down appropriately and never had breathing issues.
