Horse Respiratory Health and Stable Management

Equine asthma and respiratory disease are among the most common chronic welfare problems in horses, largely driven by dust and ammonia in stable environments.

Key Facts

Equine asthma (formerly called COPD or heaves) affects an estimated 14% of horses in temperate climates.
Hay contains fungal spores and dust that trigger airway inflammation in susceptible horses when fed in a stable environment.
Ammonia from urine breakdown in bedding is a potent airway irritant that worsens respiratory disease.
Horses evolved as outdoor grazing animals and their respiratory systems are poorly adapted to the dusty environments of conventional stabling.
Good ventilation, dust-extracted or haylage feeding, and dust-free bedding can dramatically reduce respiratory disease incidence.

Welfare Considerations

Chronic respiratory disease in horses causes persistent coughing, breathlessness on exercise, and reduced quality of life. Horses are largely silent sufferers — owners often attribute poor performance or mild cough to other causes before respiratory disease is diagnosed. The welfare burden is largely preventable through environmental management. Feeding soaked hay or haylage, using rubber matting with minimal dust bedding, and ensuring excellent ventilation address the root causes rather than simply treating symptoms.

What You Can Do

Ensure your horse's stable has excellent ventilation — open windows, doors, and ridge ventilation rather than sealed spaces.
Soak hay for 30 minutes or feed haylage to reduce fungal spore and dust inhalation.
Use low-dust bedding materials such as rubber matting, paper bedding, or cardboard.
Consult your vet about lung function testing if your horse coughs regularly or shows reduced exercise tolerance.