Equine asthma encompasses a spectrum of respiratory conditions that cause significant suffering and performance limitation in horses managed in dusty stable environments.
Equine asthma illustrates how housing practices can create chronic disease in animals. The stable environment — particularly inadequately ventilated barns with dusty hay and bedding — is fundamentally unhealthy for the equine respiratory system, which evolved for life on open grasslands. The suffering of a horse in severe airway crisis — breathing visibly labored, every breath requiring effort — is acute and distressing. The management of mild cases matters too: subclinical inflammation that doesn not trigger obvious symptoms still impairs performance and suggests ongoing respiratory irritation. Maximizing outdoor time and minimizing dust exposure are welfare improvements available to virtually every horse owner.