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Can your horse have a hard time catching its breath? It should indeed, even when it's in the prime of its life. If it doesn't, it could signal issues with the diaphragm. That can lead to multiple other challenges in your horse's body and psyche. We have spoken to veterinarian and osteopath Bettina Købke about how it all links together.
It almost goes without saying. Healthy breathing is important for the body to function. But actually, it reaches further than that. Healthy breathing stimulates our bodies to become even healthier, happier, less stressed, and with greater energy. In addition, efficient breathing has a positive effect on digestion and physical problems.
Many struggle with breathing correctly and deeply into the stomach, which includes our horses too. Breathing that's quick and shallow doesn't allow the body to operate optimally. Perhaps only the neck and chest muscles are working, while the stomach, ribs, and back don't move as they should.
"It's important that the horse breathes correctly. Whether it does so, you can notice by observing the movement around its ribs. They should be able to move outwards and inwards, and the movement should be clearly visible."
explains Bettina
Bettina often finds that superficial respiration in horses is due to the ribs not being able to move freely. This can be mistaken for the horse being in good shape and hence not becoming winded.
"All horses should be able to get winded. It's a sign of healthy mobility and balance in the body. Pay attention to whether the horse takes a deep breath after hard work or in general."
says Bettina
Many horses have difficulties with breathing, and there could be several reasons for this. For instance, the diaphragm could become irritated due to tensions, impacts, twists, or stress. When this happens, the diaphragmatic muscle will contract and become rigid and inflexible.
Due to the muscle's location and attachment on the underside of the entire lumbar region, the horse's lumbar area comes under pressure because the tense muscle can't yield. This reverberates in other parts of the body. And it's very often the back that's challenged.
Good blood circulation is important. It carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, optimizing functions in the brain, heart, lungs, muscles, and digestion.
When the diaphragm is challenged, it affects the horse's body's blood circulation. In addition to putting organs and muscles under pressure, it can also have other symptoms. An example of this is edema, which can collect in the horse's legs.
When the diaphragm doesn't function, the horse's body usually doesn't either. The body becomes inflexible and movements become stiff. The horse may, for example, have difficulty stepping under itself with its hind legs and have difficulty making lateral movements - movements that presuppose a supple and flexible body.
The reduced mobility has consequences. The horse must compensate in its body to be able to move without discomfort, and this can, for instance, lead to the horse developing an improper or skewed muscle development. Horses with a challenged diaphragm will often have overdeveloped muscles in their hind thighs.
When we are stressed, it affects how we breathe, and the same is true for horses.
"The stressed horse will hold its breath and never completely let it out. This means that the ribs are inflated and cannot give way," explains Bettina.
And it can work both ways. Problems with the diaphragm can lead to a stressed horse because it can't breathe properly. The horse will feel physically tense, and this reflects on its mental state. The horse simply becomes stressed because it cannot breathe optimally.
On the other hand, a horse that is stressed due to other reasons, such as unpleasant experiences, moving, or transport, can also face diaphragm challenges. Simply because it holds its breath due to stress and thus doesn't breathe properly. Over time, this will cause tensions that will affect the diaphragm.
When the horse has challenges with the diaphragm, a domino effect can occur; a vicious cycle. If the horse holds its breath and never fully exhales, it will often become tired and lack energy. It will not get enough oxygen and a chemical process in the body occurs, which among other things means that the muscles become stiff.
When the muscles become stiff, they become inflexible, and it becomes uncomfortable for the horse to move as it usually does. As mentioned, this can result in the horse inventing compensatory patterns, which in turn can create entirely different challenges.
As riders, we can contribute to wreaking havoc on the horse's diaphragm. If the horse, for example, turns its head away from you when you mount, perhaps to accept a treat, you can very easily create a manipulation of the vertebrae. One or more of the vertebrae can be displaced, and since they have a direct connection to the ribs, we can inadvertently affect the horse's ability for optimal breathing.
Bettina therefore recommends that as riders, we always ensure that the horse is looking straight ahead or towards us when we get in the saddle.
Just like with other physical challenges, the body adapts to function despite the challenges. This can result in a changed movement pattern, visibly apparent physical changes in the horse's body, or behavioral changes.
A challenged diaphragm can be helped, but according to Bettina, it can only happen with holistic treatment. One of the types of professionals trained to look at the whole picture and treat based on that are veterinarians who have continued their education as Equine Osteopath EDO®.
"You always need to check all related structures, otherwise it doesn't hold. For example, it makes no sense just to adjust the loin," Bettina explains.
In other words, it requires the right professional if the horse is to be helped with diaphragm-related issues. Someone who works holistically and is capable of assessing and treating the whole horse. Not just the superficial structures, but also deep inside the horse.
"If the organs do not lie as they should, it can also cause problems in the diaphragm as it can then move too far back in the horse," Bettina explains.
Bettina also tells us that the 3rd to 5th cervical vertebrae are related to the diaphragm. So stiffness here can also be a symptom of a problem in the diaphragm. In short: everything is connected.
