If you are spending the season competing in the indoors circuit, you are probably familiar with the challenges of keeping your horse breathing clear.
Closed-in barns and enclosed arenas are more likely to trap dust particles and other irritants that can cause a horse to develop a cough or build up mucous. Unfortunately, that warm indoor air can be filled with allergens, dust, pollens, and mold. If your skin feels covered in dust and you nose is stuffy after working in the barn, imagine the dust your horse is inhaling!
Horses competing in the Northeastern United States’ indoors circuit also battle the effects of temperature extremes and the drying effects of very cold air.
You can’t necessarily control the footing in the arenas, nor can you simply “air out” the barn when the weather outside is frigid, but you can give your horse a little help. There are several good barn management tips to help keep the irritants in check:
* Cleaning time is turnout time. Take your horse out of the stall before cleaning it.
* Resist the urge to blow or sweep in the barn when horses are inside.
* Feed hay from the ground instead of from wall racks to help prevent your horse from inhaling hay particles.
If your horse still needs some help despite all your management tools, try an immunity boosting product to help eliminate mucous and keep the lungs clear. Open Air, Air Power, and Wind Aid are natural aids to consider incorporating as part of your indoors routine.