Q: My nerves make me breathe shallowly and hold my breath. How do I remember to breathe properly while riding? A: Breath holding under stress is incredibly common and significantly impacts performance. When you hold your breath, you tense your core, stiffen your seat, and restrict your horse's movement. Your brain also receives less oxygen,…
Q: I am beyond anxious at the moment - I'm worried about my horses, and my family, and the whole world has gone crazy. How am I going to get through the next few weeks? Answered by Linda Hennings, Forging Ahead, Equestrian Mindset Coaching A: I know that it’s not easy, but the answer is actually a…
Q: What are heaves? A: An equine respiratory allergy such as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) commonly known as heaves, is a possibility during seasonal changes. Two of the major causes of heaves are: Increased amounts of dust in the hay or bedding, which horses who are stabled tend to inhale. As a result, the horse may…
Your horse's respiratory rate (number of breaths he takes per minute) should be between 10-24 breaths per minute. Just as with heart rate it will be affected by exercise or pain and discomfort. You can measure the respiratory rate by either watching the movement of his nostrils, or the movement of his flank as he…
By Sarah Wilkinson Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease affecting the respiratory system of a horse. It occurs worldwide but is particularly common in South Africa because of our dry environment (especially in winter). In the northern hemisphere, it tends to occur in the dry summer season. COPD is also commonly known as heaves or recurrent airway obstruction (RAO).…
The therapy has proven to relieve several respiratory-related problems in horses [dropcap]A[/dropcap] respiratory treatment (using only 100% natural salt) to increase the performance of sport horses has been developed in the UK, and has taken off in a big way in America and all over Europe. Vets who have scoped before and after the treatment cannot…

