10/09/2026
Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is one of the most common dynamic upper airway disorders in horses. It occurs when the soft palate moves upward into the airway during exercise, disrupting airflow and compromising respiratory efficiency.
But DDSP is more than a soft palate problem. The soft palate is part of a larger system involving the pharynx, larynx, hyoid apparatus, and neuromuscular control. When airway stability is challenged by factors like fatigue, inflammation, head and neck position, tongue position, or other airway conditions, that system can lose stability.
As exercise intensity increases, negative pressure within the airway also increases. If the airway is already compromised, that pressure can contribute to the soft palate displacing upward—creating even more airflow disruption and resistance.
The result can be sudden and dramatic. A horse may start strong, then abruptly lose power, acceleration, speed, or the ability to finish. Some horses may make gurgling, fluttering, choking, or snoring sounds, while others can remain surprisingly quiet despite significant airflow disruption. That’s what makes DDSP so important to understand: the horse may look completely normal until the moment the airway can no longer maintain stability under load.
And when respiratory demand is at its highest, every breath matters.
Learn more: https://flairstrips.com/pages/upper-airway-conditions-in-horses
