Allergies (horse, hay)
Your horse needs to evolve in an attractive environment to be competitive. It is therefore necessary to avoid any contact with elements that could trigger an allergy for him. If for you, such a reality is a novelty, the data presented in the following lines are intended for you.
What are hay allergies for a horse?
The first allergy that is often noticed in horses with regard to hay is the allergy to dust. Indeed, the hay offered or purchased is not always clean. These are impurities recorded due to the renovation of the means of cultivation, harvesting and storage. Horses are therefore sometimes exposed to dust. If they are allergic to uncleanliness, the chain reaction is automatically triggered. Suddenly, the owner has difficulty managing his animal who falls ill.
The second allergy noted is due to mold and spores. Contained in the hay served by some farms that do not respect hygiene rules. This situation occurs as soon as the hay delivered is stored too long before finally being sold. This offers the possibility for mold to settle, therefore disturbing the horse, triggering respiratory problems.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of a horse allergy are easy to notice, at least at first. The first reaction is an intense cough in the horse. At the very least, the rider notices that at the beginning of the work, the horse is not comfortable and seems to have something in its throat. It may shed tears, cough loudly or have itching. In the medium term, the allergy can become a respiratory problem. The horse ends up short of breath to the point of no longer following the same work rhythm as before. In this case, the situation is very advanced and deserves special attention from the rider.
In some special cases, for very resistant horses, the allergy is not noticeable as a reaction to a disturbing element. It is experienced as increased fatigue which lowers the horse's performance. It can suddenly become very slow or lazy. If nothing is done, this leads to a fever or loss of appetite.
What precautions should be taken?
Caring for a horse in this condition is an emergency for its rider. To begin with, it should be noted that the horse needs a clean and well-groomed environment. To do this, it is advisable to clean its living space every day in the morning and evening. Thus, if it feels clean around it, it will be somewhat more relaxed and will offer you perfect services. You should still be careful with the different products used for cleaning. Several stores specializing in equestrianism offer quality products to take care of mounts.
In addition, the hay must be purified using a hay purifier. By steaming, the hay is revitalized and offered to the horse as a meal that preserves all its nutrients. He gorges himself on it cleanly and becomes the cheerful horse from the beginning of the collaboration again. You can get more advice from professionals and experts on the precise use of this tool.