My horse is having a lot of trouble with the New England weather. It was hot, wet and humid this past summer, and now we are having wet and mold this late fall coming into winter. My guy was diagnosed a few years ago with heaves, but the weather has made it worse. Does anyone have any stories of moving a heavy horse to a different location and found it helped or possibly cured the horse? I would love to hear your success stories!
No, because I’m not that lucky :lol:
My horse with IAD/Allergies is moving to a new stable shortly. The vet said not to use his nebulizer at the new place for a week or two in order to see if new living conditions will help the matter. I’m skeptical, but it will be a slightly different set up. He actually got worse when I moved this past August to another stable due to my own relocation. So, we will see how this move pans out. It’s mostly a move for me to have better riding facilities and environment, but he will also have a nice set up.
So, I am in a somewhat similar situation. The vet said it’s entirely possible. He’s allergic to quite a few things (dust, mold, various grasses/plants), and it’s not out of the question for his new stable to have less of his allergens.
What do you mean by different location? Just another stable a few towns over? Or another state? Or…
If you know what exacerbates the issue and you find a location with less of those things, that should help, in theory.
I was just talking to a friend who acquired a horse from someone in SoCal where they were having terrible Heaves/RAO issues with the horse…to the point that the horse was almost unable to do anything. Here in the NW the horse has been symptom-free…even through the hot, dry (for here) summer. So I think a change of environment can absolutely make a huge difference. I just don’t know what would be different enough from New England. Though if humidity/mold is the issue, maybe a hot and arid climate?
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Unfortunately, the horse will get sensitive to new things in his new location. You may buy some time with location change, just know it will be short lived. We got a pair of older driving horses, one had allergy attacks. Maybe twice a year. Seemed to be pine pollen that bothered him. We got lots of use that first year, one mild attack. The next year he had more attacks, not just when the pines had pollen. We invested in one of the first Aero mask to deliver his breathing treatments. He thought we were trying to kill him, COULD NOT BREATHE! Finally we both tackled him to get the nebulizer in him and he eased, quit fighting. He was better the 2nd and 3rd times of treatment, but you had to mover FAST once the mask was on because he was sucking so hard to get air.
We got use from him that second year. Attacks were always a surprise, then he had a set of meds after before he was drivable again. The third year he got progressively worse, more frequent attacks. He would recover, finish meds, have a day or two of peace, then another attack. We put him down that fall. He was moved from Illinois to Michigan, not far, but enough different to help him for a bit.
My allergic friend is on all kinds of meds. She went on vacation from Michigan to Alabama. Once there she did not need her meds!! Said it was a wonderful time, she could breathe, no med side effects! She came home ready to sell her place and move. Her allergy Dr said the effect was only temporary. She would start getting sensitized to things in Alabama and be using meds within 6 to 9 months. Not worth throwing everything away for the temporary fix. Better to visit med free, than move and lose the visit time of being med free.
Sorry about your horse and his problems. Ours did not have extra cold weather issues, but all his bad things to react to kept increasing. Recovery meds were affecting his skin, he was not having any fun anymore when we let him go. His attacks were scary, you could see it in his face,. It was time… He was a really nice horse, no other unsoundness issues
I am also in New England. My horse tends to need his hay soaked in the summer, but once it cools down, he is good. My horse lives out 24/7 with access to a stall. Does your horse live outside?
I ha e heard great things about adding Vitamin C supplement for horses with heaves. Smart Pak has it
I’m going through the same thing. My heavy horse really struggled in the spring, got better during the early summer, needed a dex course in August, and then improved again when things cooled off again in the fall. I noticed he is significantly better (less coughing under saddle) when I ride after he comes in from turnout vs. in the morning before he goes out. I’m debating asking the BM if we can try a week or two of pasture board to see if he improves… but my horse has Capital O - Opinions about 24/7 turnout. He hates it, and I don’t know if winter is the best time to try this experiment since his symptoms have been manageable lately. Also, the reverse tends to happen in the summer - he’s better inside than out, so I’m not convinced that stall time is a trigger.
Ugh… heaves is so frustrating. I feel your pain, OP.
As an aside, my breathing issues clear up according to what I eat.
And I avoid preservatives.
Do you steam his hay? It has made all the difference for my RAO horse. My husband made the steamer and it has reduced my horses need for Dex to once in the spring and once in the fall. We are in Wisconsin with plenty of wet and humid weather. He’s been better at shows in Iowa and Kentucky for whatever reason, but the steaming has kept him breathing clear and cough free.
