The air is clear. The sky is blue. The birds are singing and the earth awakens to another spring.
The only drawback is that your horse is suddenly coughing more. Additionally, when asked to work, he’s more sluggish and breathing harder than usual. The first thought is that he must be out of shape after inactivity this past winter.
That must be it. Or is it?
◆︎ Pollen:
Springtime is also when you have a high pollen count from the trees. You also have elevated pollen levels from the hills covered in flowering plants.
While you sometimes see the yellow powdery dust from a lot of pollen, the individual grains are frequently too small to be seen. They can range in size from 2.5 – 200 microns. The small particles of 2.5 microns or less are the ones that are concerning for damage to the lungs.
◆︎ Lungs:
The horse’s respiratory system is beautifully designed. There is mucus on the inside surface, which can trap dust and small particles. The cilia on the insides of the lungs can sweep away the mucus and trapped particles. But this system can be overwhelmed. When that happens, inflammatory processes can run rampant.
The goal for horse owners, it to keep your horse as healthy as possible for as long as possible. One way to achieve this is by taking steps to reduce the inflammatory response to the air particles.
◆︎ Proactive steps that you can take:
Pollen levels are the highest at about midday. Consider working your horse in the early morning, or late afternoon, when the pollen counts are lower.
Monitor the pollen counts. On days that the pollen levels are high, consider giving your horse the day off, or just an easy ride instead of an intense work.
◆︎ Supplements:
➡ Spirulina: This is one of the mainstays of being able to help your horse’s breathing, due to its anti-inflammatory action. While it helps breathing, it can also be useful for skin allergies due to fly bites. Recommended serving size: 1/8 cup twice a day.
➡ MSM: Another anti-inflammatory to reduce the body’s response to allergens. Recommended serving size: 1 tablespoon twice a day.
➡ Chondroitin Sulfate: Best known for its actions in arthritis, it is a potent anti-inflammatory to reduce the body’s response to allergens. Recommended serving size: 1-3 teaspoon twice a day.
➡ Quercetin: This is a powerful bioflavonoid that may useful to help reduce the histamine response in the horse’s lungs. Recommended serving size: 5 grams twice a day.
➡ Mov-Ease: This proprietary bioflavonoid may also help reduce the histamine response in the horse's lungs. Recommended serving size: 3 grams twice a day.
➡ N-Acetyl Cysteine: NAC has the dual role of being an anti-oxidant plus thinning mucus. Because it can thin mucus, the horse can better cough up airborne particles. Recommended serving size: 10 grams per day, which is about 1 tablespoon.
➡ Vitamin C: While horses can make their own vitamin C, this can still be a helpful vitamin as an anti-oxidant. It also supports the immune system – both the innate and adaptive immunity arms. Recommended serving size: 10 grams per day.
➡ Jiaogulan: J herb stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which can provide a beneficial support to the linings of the lungs. Recommended serving size: 2 tablespoons.
◆︎ Veterinary care:
If your horse’s breathing is severely compromised, veterinary care important. Your veterinarian can recommend a treatment plan, which may include medications. Medications are available that can be administered by mouth, in the muscle, as an i.v., or nebulized. With many options available, your vet can determine what treatment is best for your situation.
We do the best that we can for our horses. Understanding the options available to help a horse's breathing is a part of that.
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Disclaimer: Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
©Joan Kulifay 2025