Horse Respiratory Welfare: Stable Air Quality and Heaves Management

Equine asthma and respiratory disease cause significant welfare compromise in stabled horses, with stable management decisions as primary controllable risk factors.

Key Facts

Severe equine asthma affects approximately 14% of horses over 7 years old in Europe and North America
Mold spores and organic dust from hay and bedding are the primary environmental triggers
Soaking or steaming hay dramatically reduces respirable dust and mold spore levels
Shavings or rubber matting bedding produces significantly less dust than straw for susceptible horses
Bronchodilators and corticosteroids provide symptom relief but environmental management addresses the cause

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory welfare in stabled horses is directly controlled by management decisions that owners make daily. Dusty hay, straw bedding, and poor stable ventilation create the chronic exposure to respirable particles that drives equine asthma progression. Horses with established asthma suffer significant chronic respiratory distress during and after exercise if the environment is not managed. Welfare-positive respiratory management prioritizes low-dust environments through hay steaming, appropriate bedding choice, and maximum ventilation, with medication used to treat established disease while environmental improvements are implemented.

What You Can Do

Steam or soak hay for horses with any degree of respiratory disease rather than dry feeding
Switch to dust-extracted shavings or paper bedding for horses with respiratory sensitivity
Maximize stable ventilation — remove top doors and windows, avoid closing stables during day
Have horses with coughing or poor exercise tolerance assessed by a vet before competing
Learn to use rebreathing bags for respiratory function assessment as a monitoring tool