Sore Hocks
Short behind, reluctant to stop, fussy in the turns.
Read more → Horse Care
Breathing & Dusty Arenas
Indoor arenas, dry pens, hay in a closed trailer: a performance horse's airway takes a beating before it ever makes a run. Air is the one thing a horse cannot store up.
Coughs and bleeding are vet calls
A horse that coughs under saddle, has nasal discharge, or bleeds after hard work needs a veterinarian. What follows is support for a healthy airway in a dusty life, not treatment for a sick one.
On the run: FLAIR Strips
FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips are drug-free, self-adhesive strips that support the soft tissue over the nasal passages during exercise to reduce airway resistance and improve airflow when the horse needs oxygen most. We put one on before a run. Check your association's rules on their use in competition.
Every day: dust and the inside
Wet the arena, soak or steam dusty hay, haul with the vents open, and keep the horse out of the barn when the aisle is being swept. For daily support, CEP Daily Lung is a respiratory support supplement with vitamin C; it is ordered by phone. Ask your vet whether it fits your horse.
CEP supplements are ordered by phone so we can match the program to your horse: 720-504-5536. See the full CEP line.
Questions we get a lot
Do FLAIR Strips work for barrel horses and rope horses?
FLAIR Strips are used across disciplines, from racing to barrel racing, and are designed to reduce airway resistance during exercise. Apply on a clean, dry nose as directed and check your association's rules.
Are FLAIR Strips allowed in competition?
Rules vary by association and event. Many allow them; some do not. Check the current rule book for your sport before you use one in the arena.
What causes a horse to breathe hard in a dusty arena?
Dust and mold spores irritate the airway and over time can contribute to inflammatory airway conditions. A horse that is consistently breathing harder than its fitness explains, or that coughs, should be seen by a veterinarian.
Talk to a rider. Text or call 720-504-5536 with your horse's age, workload and what you are seeing. We will tell you what we would use and what is on the shelf.
This page is general horsemanship from our own barn plus the manufacturers' product information. It is not veterinary advice. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Work with your veterinarian and check your association's rules on gear and supplements.
More horse care
Other things riders ask about
Sore Back
Girthy, cold-backed, hollow when you ask for round, flinching when you brush the loin.
Read more →Tendons & Suspensories
Soft tissue is slow to heal and quick to re-injure.
Read more →Hauling & Trailer Stress
A horse standing in a trailer for six hours is working: bracing, balancing, not drinking enough, sometimes not eating.
Read more →Ulcer-Prone Horses
Girthy, picky, dull coat, cranky under saddle: a lot of performance horses live with stomach trouble.
Read more →Fly Season
Stomping all day wears feet, splits hooves and sours attitudes.
Read more →