Upper airway conditions are common in performance horses and cause exercise intolerance and discomfort. Modern diagnostic and surgical options improve welfare outcomes.
Upper airway conditions in performance horses cause welfare compromise through the subjective experience of impaired breathing during exertion. A horse working at pace with a significantly obstructed airway is experiencing the equivalent of exercising while breathing through a partially blocked airway — a distressing sensation. The stoic nature of horses means many continue working despite significant airway limitation, masking the welfare impact from owners. Dynamic endoscopy, which allows assessment of airway function during actual exercise on a treadmill, has transformed diagnosis by revealing conditions that cannot be detected at rest. Appropriate surgical correction in properly selected cases significantly improves both welfare and athletic function.