If it is cold, put a blanket on the horse and soak the hay fed to the horse in water first. If your horse must stay in the stall most or all of the time, try to store your hay in a separate place and ensure good airflow in the barn. Treatment of this problem can be as simple as keeping your horse outside where air circulation is available (fresh air versus stagnant dust filled air). Each year, the horse usually shows more symptoms as its reaction to the problem gets stronger and stronger. However, hay that is taken from local fields can be a year round problem. This is a seasonal thing, so for the horse at pasture the problem may only be seen in spring and summer. Several types of mould spores and weeds found in otherwise high quality hay or straw seem to bother many horses. There are many causes of allergic Respiratory Disease but some are more common. Other symptoms include coughing, a lot of eye discharge and they get tired easily. The horse owner sees this as frequent (recurrent) 'chest colds' that the horse never quite gets over, as I did, before I heard that it was in fact a form of hay fever. Their lungs become inflamed and are more likely to get viral and bacterial infections. Unlike humans, horses that have allergies tend to show more flu like symptoms and less sinus and nasal effects.

Although the season is closing, I thought I'd still take a look at what it's all about so you can be on the lookout for it nest year.Īpparently it's a fairly common condition seen in young and old horses alike, and it's an allergic Respiratory Disease. I don't get it myself, for which I am very grateful, but I do have friends that do, and can see the misery it causes, so I can assume that it is equally uncomfortable for a horse.

I have been around horses for quite some years but I have never heard this allergic reaction described as hay fever (as in the same problem that humans suffer with).

Bearded dragon spring fever