Horse Heaves (Equine Asthma): Respiratory Welfare

Heaves (severe equine asthma) causes chronic respiratory distress in horses. Environmental management and treatment dramatically improve quality of life for affected horses.

Key Facts

Equine asthma affects up to 17% of horses and ranges from mild to severe (heaves)
Severe heaves involves chronic bronchospasm, mucus accumulation, and airway remodeling causing permanent damage
Environmental triggers include dust, mold spores, hay particles, and ammonia from bedding
Affected horses show flared nostrils, exaggerated abdominal effort breathing, chronic cough, and reduced exercise tolerance
Management centers on reducing dust exposure through hay soaking, outdoor keeping, and alternative bedding
Bronchodilators and corticosteroids (inhaled or systemic) reduce inflammation and improve airway function

Welfare Considerations

Severe heaves causes significant chronic welfare harm — horses with advanced disease breathe with visible effort at rest, showing the characteristic "heave line" of hypertrophied abdominal muscles from prolonged forced exhalation. Exercise causes acute respiratory distress. The condition is often significantly reversible with environmental management — moving horses from stabled hay environments to 24-hour turnout on pasture frequently produces rapid, dramatic improvement. Horses that respond to environmental management but cannot remain on pasture require soaked hay, dust-free bedding, and maximized ventilation to maintain respiratory welfare.

What You Can Do

Move horses with heaves to 24-hour outdoor living on pasture wherever possible — it is the single most effective management
Soak all hay for 30-60 minutes before feeding to reduce inhalable dust and mold spores
Replace straw or dusty wood shavings bedding with rubber matting or paper bedding
Work with your vet to establish an appropriate inhaled corticosteroid protocol for horses unable to be kept outdoors