Equine asthma and respiratory infections cause significant welfare compromise in stabled horses, preventable through environmental and management improvements.
Respiratory disease in stabled horses is largely an environmental welfare problem created by housing design and management practices that expose horses to high dust environments inconsistent with their natural grazing ecology. Horses evolved breathing clean outdoor air; stabling in enclosed spaces with dusty hay and deep organic bedding creates a chronic respiratory insult. The welfare impact of equine asthma includes reduced exercise capacity, chronic coughing that disturbs rest and social behaviour, and in severe cases, significant respiratory distress. Environmental management improvements are effective and accessible: hay soaking, improved ventilation, and low-dust bedding alternatives address the primary cause rather than relying entirely on pharmacological management.