Allergies in Sport Horses
Allergies in sport horses are more common than one might think, and they can have a negative impact on a horse's performance. Grand Prix dressage rider Sarah Hassler from Hassler Dressage, USA, turned to steaming hay a few years ago when one of her top horses, Harmony's Davidoff Hitt, was allergic to grass. Yes, you read that right – he was allergic to all kinds of grass, meaning he was also allergic to all types of hay.
Grass Allergy in Dressage Horses!
The bad news was that her Grand Prix dressage horse, Harmony's Davidoff Hitt, was allergic to grass. The good news was that his condition led the Hassler family to steam hay.
Supplements and the meticulous cleanliness of his stable environment did not help. "We tried everything," explains Sara. Then, her vet, Cooper Williams, DVM, suggested steaming the hay.
"We noticed the difference overnight," recalls Sara. "First of all, he loved it! His skin issues cleared up, and he stopped coughing so much."
No matter the situation, whether it's coughing or other allergy symptoms, horses have responded wonderfully to steamed hay. There simply is no better solution to prevent horses from struggling with these kinds of issues."
Steaming hay eliminates up to 99% of breathable dust, mold, bacteria, and fungi that can be present even in high-quality hay. Its benefits were so obvious with Harmony's Davidoff Hitt that the Hasslers switched all their horses to it – even a retired mare who lives full-time in the pasture, Sara Staffeln. "I sent a small unit with her and asked the barn manager to please keep her on steamed hay."
As the gold standard in dressage training, coaching, and competition success, the Hassler program is also known for its emphasis on horse care and management. Steamed hay contributes so much to the horses' well-being, and has done so for so long, that Sara is surprised when she meets horse owners who don’t yet know the benefits of steaming hay. "Maybe I'm a little biased," she admits. "But it shocks me when people spend so much money on their horses but don't know anything about hay steaming."
When you consider the health benefits of hay steaming, there’s no going back!
The Hassler horses don’t travel without their steamer. "We live in two very high-allergen areas, Maryland and Florida, and our horses have never had problems thanks to our steamer," says Sara. "When you consider all the health benefits of steaming hay, you’ll never go back!"
Hay steaming was originally developed to protect and improve respiratory health. Since more than 80 percent of the active sport horse population is affected by some degree of respiratory issues – often without symptoms – hay steaming has prevented or made manageable these symptoms for thousands of horses, from Olympians to beloved backyard companions. It also adds water to the feed for digestive function, and its good taste turns formerly picky eaters into eager consumers.
"We are really known for our horse care and nutrition practices," notes Sara. "People constantly ask us questions. When they see the hay steamers in our barn aisle, we are thrilled to share the many benefits we’ve seen with our horses."
