How emerging monitoring technologies are advancing respiratory welfare assessment in horses, from wearable sensors to stable air quality monitoring systems.
Respiratory welfare monitoring in horses is advancing from subjective clinical assessment toward objective, continuous measurement approaches that detect problems earlier and with greater accuracy. The ability to monitor respiratory rate continuously during work, assess stable air quality objectively, and evaluate airway inflammation with non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques transforms respiratory management from reactive to preventive. Horses with subclinical respiratory inflammation that would be missed by clinical examination alone can be identified and managed before they develop clinical disease. This technological advancement serves both welfare — preventing chronic respiratory suffering — and performance — maintaining optimal airway health for sustained athletic effort.