Posted 2008-09-04 11:13 PM (#90996) Subject: Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
Member
Posts: 34
I wanted to see if anyone out there has a horse or knows of a horse that makes a roaring noise when worked hard? From what I know about it is, a horse has a flap of skin in their throat that can prevent air flow, so there's a surgery that can be preformed, that goes in and sews the flap down, I guess it's some what comman in the racing world. I'm looking at a very talented horse that has this problem. So if anyone has any experience or knowledge please share it. My vet whom I do respect, thought for lighter riding like I do, that it should not be a problem. Thank you
Posted 2008-09-05 6:47 PM (#91049 - in reply to #90996) Subject: RE: Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I have not had a roarer myself, but in my eventing days I met a girl with a horse who had had the surgery. Other than the horse making odd noises and spitting up stuff when he coughed, he was fine and a really nice horse. I don't think that roaring is the end of the world. Just make sure it is something you can live with. You can usually tell which horses have had the surgery because they make a specific noise.
Posted 2008-09-05 7:22 PM (#91050 - in reply to #90996) Subject: RE: Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
Member
Posts: 20
Location: Tujunga, CA
We started a drill team at the ranch were I board and one of the girls has a horse that is a roarer. It sounds pretty bad, but doesn't seem to affect him too much. I know it took my horse a little while to get used to him riding along side or up behind her. She would get a little more amped up like she thought someone was charging up on her or that it was race time (no she is not a race horse, just goofy about other horses running around her). Anyways, I know he seemed to get "winded" a little sooner than some of the other horses but not bad considering the work we were doing and I don't know if that had anything to do with the roaring or just some other things he was dealing with. I'll ask her about it and get back to you. What type of riding are you planning to do with him if you get him?
Posted 2008-09-06 11:03 AM (#91069 - in reply to #91050) Subject: RE: Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
Member
Posts: 34
Thanks for all of your responses! The horse I'm looking at is mostly an all around gelding, a little cutting, and ranch work, so it would be fun to do a little of that. What we do is Ranch Roping competions, nothing stressful, mainly slow, we also like to take the horses on a few trail rides a year. I also wanted to know if there are future health risks as they get older. Thanks again!
Posted 2008-09-09 9:12 PM (#91210 - in reply to #90996) Subject: RE: Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
Several years ago I had a mare who roared. I had her scoped at K-State vet clinic and they found a severe case of melanoma that was blocking her left airway.. she went out to pasture for the rest of her days and I never rode her again. Your case could be a "flap" in the airway, but it may be a good idea to have it thoroughly checked out. Good luck.
Posted 2008-09-10 7:16 PM (#91278 - in reply to #90996) Subject: RE: Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
Member
Posts: 20
Location: Tujunga, CA
I talked to my friend in the drill team and she said she does all sorts of trail riding and other work with her roarer and has had no problems with him at all. She just recently took him on a camping trip and was riding in higher elevations than normal and he had no trouble with it. When they took a break on part of the climb she compared his breathing to the rest of the horses and they were all about the same and he seemed to recover sooner then some of the other horses as well. She also said that he hasn't had, nor is expected to have, any other health issues because of the roaring.
All horse are different and there are varying degrees/ causes for the condition, but this is her experience with it. Her horse is in good condition and she does a lot of different things with him. He does have a knee injury that slows him down from time to time, but as far as the roaring, for him it has not been an issue.
The only issue you may have is having to explain the noise to people and how other horses, cattle, etc. may react to it.
Have you Ever had a " Roarer" ( laryngeal hemiplegia)
