With every stride a horse takes in canter or gallop it takes one breath. Both systems work in perfect unison, this is called respiratory-locomotor coupling. Horses breathe through their nasal cavity and not through their mouth. When running in a race a horse will consume about 40 litres of air PER SECOND. They must breathe in and out 140 times per minute during a race and this all must happen through the nose! Think about that the next time you are watching a race. 

Imagine the horse in full gallop. Their whole body acts similar to a piston in an engine, inhaling air into the lungs as the head raises and exhaling as the head is lowered. This is the most energy and time-efficient way of moving vast amounts of air in and out of the lungs during strenuous work. Similar to Showjumping, the horse holds in a breath in the suspension phase of the jump and does not take a breath at all in between a double or combination fence…think about a six bar competition! We can sometimes hear the horse grunting to hold its breath and expelling that air on the landing side of a fence.

The External Intercostal muscles and the External Abdominal Oblique muscles are responsible for aiding in respiration. However, sometimes these muscles, like every other muscle in the body can fall victim to tension or injury. In high impact traumas where the ribs are broken or fractured, often the muscle surrounding the ribs are forgotten about in the rehab process. In Therapy, a horse may snort, blow or even cough continuously when I am performing tissue stretches along the abdominal muscles, all positive signs of release in this area of the body.

To optimize your horse’s respiratory efficiency here are some tips that I would recommend:

• A GOOD WARM UP – As a Massage Therapist I am constantly stressing how important warming your horse up correctly is. Too many times I see riders under pressure at a show and are forced to start cantering and jumping far too soon. This all links back to CIRCULATION and the production of oxygen-rich blood around the body. If the body is not given enough time to properly adapt to increased oxygen demands, the muscles will fatigue more quickly, resulting in a loss of performance.
• COOL DOWN – A good cool down is just as important as a good warm up. One lap of walk after your dressage test or Showjumping round is not adequate. This is to remove toxins away from the muscles to prevent muscle soreness the next day. Your horse must return to a normal heart rate and breathing rate before being put back in the stable or horsebox.
• ENSURE – your stables are well ventilated and as dust-free as possible. Keep in mind, if you are staying away at a show, often the stables can be poorly ventilated. 
• NASAL STRIPS – Equine Nasal Strips are scientifically proven to reduce the resistance of airflow in the nasal passage while in work. Very useful as we come into the warmer seasons.
• ASK YOUR VET – If you are unsure about any nasal discharge or strange noises in your horse’s breathing call your vet immediately and don’t leave it to chance. Your vet may suggest a simple scope test to determine the issue