Allergic Rhinitis in horses

[lindaf89]

Hi all,
The horse I ride suffers from allergic rhinitis, basically this means that when he is ridden on a warm, dry day he starts flopping his ears (as if there is something in them) and shaking his head up and down, when he is like this he is unrideable. It's kind of like horse hay fever.
If I ride him when it is cooler, especially if there is moisture in the air he is fine, he only shakes his head at certain places. (unfortunately he does it at home)
He has had this for the last 10 years. Because he used to be a successful eventer; my parents did not want him unrideable, they did all the recommended treatments, including ear mite drops, daily needles which were supposed to desensitise him to what he is allergic to.
Basically I would like to know if anyone else has a horse with this problem, and if they have undertaken any treatment that has worked. I don't want to spend a fortune as he is in his 20s and I have another horse that I currently ride, but it would be handy to ride Messmate more than what I am currently able to.
I hope this makes sense to you all.

[Pink's lady]

Have you tried the nose net relief (http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/) (click 'product' - called net relief muzzel net)? it works fantastically with many horses -

[Shiny McShine]

I suffer from allergic rhinitis! I have never found anything that worked for me and that is why I can't work in big stables anymore. I have no idea how you could help a horse to get over it... I would imagine he would have problems with different things than a human would so I guess I'm not much help! The muzzle idea seems the most logical.

[blackhorses]

I had a cob gelding with this and we had so many tests done on him to see what it was he was allergic to, we even sent him to the vet college in Edinburgh where the countries leading horse nose and throat vet was - but he had never seen anything like it, we tried inhalers and nebulisers - which is easier said than done on a horse! He had it for about 11/2yrs, he was only 10yrs old and lived out and had no history of allergies as we had had him for 3yrs, eventually it got so bad and the linings of his nose got so swolen he couldn't breath, we tried one last steroid, it worked really well but gave him crippling laminitis - so he could breath but not walk and it cost a fortune and would have to be given once a week, so in the end we had him put to sleep. Obviously yours is not as serious and if it only occurs at a certain time of year then that's not so bad! I don't think much research has been done as it varies so much from horse to horse and is very uncommon, maybe try herbal remadies as these are often cheaper than drugs and don't have the side affects, other than that there is not much you can do if you don't know what it is he's allergic to, you've done well to keep him going with it for so long! Sorry I can't be more helpfull but it just isn't very common! Good luck with him.:)

[lindaf89]

Thanks for the advice.
I will definately try and buy a muzzle net and see if it makes him improve, perhaps the fact that he is better in wetter or humid weather means that whatever is airborne when it is dry is making him head shake.
There is a medicine made from herbs that works for him, but unfortunately it is pretty expensive to purchase, and because I am unable to ride him a lot means that the expense isn't justified. I will soon be moving closer to my parents where the horses are, so I will probably buy the medicine when I move.
He is such a special horse to ride, such a pity. I guess that if he didn't have the allergies my parents probably would have sold him on... Can't have it both ways.