Managing respiratory conditions in horses including equine asthma and IAD to protect airways, performance, and long-term welfare.
Respiratory disease in horses is a welfare issue that extends from the acute suffering of a severe asthma attack to the chronic performance limitation and exercise intolerance of subclinical inflammatory airway disease. Horses with severe equine asthma experiencing exacerbations are in genuine respiratory distress — working hard to breathe with every breath, often standing with elbows turned out and nostrils flared in an effort to maximize airflow. The welfare-protective approach prioritizes environmental management: reducing dust exposure through quality forage, appropriate bedding (paper, wood chip, or rubber matting), and good stable ventilation addresses the root cause rather than just managing symptoms. Horses that remain in dusty environments despite treatment will experience chronic inflammation and progressive lung damage regardless of medication.