Pollen allergy in horses

Sneezing, head shaking, and rubbing the nose are typical signs of a horse with pollen allergy. These symptoms often occur in the spring as soon as the first plants start to bloom. Just like humans, horses can suffer from "hay fever", but what can you do to help your horse with pollen allergy? Here are some tips!

What is a pollen allergy?

With a pollen allergy, the horse reacts allergically to the pollen drifting in the air. In horses, this can manifest as nasal discharge, coughing, and other respiratory problems. But in more severe cases, a horse can also start head shaking. A horse does this because it feels irritation/itching in its nose and wants to get rid of it. Sometimes it is so extreme that riding becomes dangerous and impossible.

A pollen allergy can be diagnosed by a veterinarian, who will need to perform an endoscopy to take a mucus sample from the trachea. The mucus sample can then be tested for allergens.

But often a horse owner can already tell if it is a pollen allergy because the problems start in the spring and are less/not present when the horse is in the stable. Does your horse have pollen allergy or do you suspect pollen allergy? Here are some tips that can help your horse!

Tips!

• Pollen mask/fly mask with nose flap in the pasture

In the pasture, your horse may be most affected by pollen allergy. He is then very close to the pollen with his nose. By using a pollen mask (or fly mask with a long nose flap), you block a portion of the pollen.

• Pollen net on bridle

While riding, horses can also suffer greatly from pollen, as well as from the dust that swirls up. It is therefore advisable to attach a nose net to the bridle. This nose net removes some of the pollen/dust, but also puts pressure on the nose and many horses find that "pressure" comfortable. Nose nets are allowed at KNHS competitions.

• Avoiding pollen

Obviously, a difficult one, but horses with extreme pollen allergies are probably not very happy in a pasture or on a forest ride. Try to house horses with pollen allergies in a place with relatively few pollen (for example, by the sea or in a non-forest environment) or put your horse in the stable when there are extremely high levels of pollen. And go for a forest ride after it has rained, as many pollen are temporarily washed down.

• Maintain high resistance

Allergies are all small inflammatory reactions, which put a strain on the immune system. It is therefore important to keep your horse's immune system strong so that it can cope more easily with allergic reactions. Consider using a product with cannabinoids.

• Supplement to support the respiratory system

Pollen allergy irritates the respiratory system, causing these horses to often cough and have nasal discharge. By supporting your horse with a supplement specifically for the respiratory system, these problems can be relieved and recover faster. Choose a supplement that has a cleansing and soothing effect, but also replenishes mucous membranes.

• Medications from the veterinarian

Sometimes the pollen allergy is so extreme that supplements alone are not enough. Consult with your veterinarian about the possible medication options.

• Keep a diary

Record the days when your horse is most affected, this way you may discover a pattern and figure out which plant/tree your horse is allergic to. Then you can more specifically determine when these plants/trees bloom and your horse will start having problems. And then you can start taking measures before that time.

• Keep an eye on hooikoortsradar.nl

On this website, you can see daily how much pollen is in the air. This way, on days with extremely high pollen levels, you can take extra precautions, such as not going for an outdoor ride on that day.

Conclusion:

If your horse has a pollen allergy, it will be a journey to find the best treatment for your horse. It is important to start addressing pollen allergy in a timely manner to prevent a large part of the irritation.