Horse Respiratory Disease and Arena Work

Equine asthma and inflammatory airway disease impair performance and welfare; management focuses on reducing allergen exposure and appropriate treatment.

Key Facts

Equine asthma — formerly called COPD or heaves — affects up to 14% of horses in temperate climates.
Dust from hay, bedding, and arena surfaces is the primary trigger for equine lower airway inflammation.
Mild equine asthma can progress to severe disease if allergen exposure is not reduced.
Treatment with corticosteroids (inhaled or systemic) and bronchodilators provides symptomatic relief.
Soaking or steaming hay reduces dust spore content by up to 99% and is a highly effective management intervention.

Welfare Considerations

Horses with equine asthma experience respiratory discomfort ranging from mild cough and reduced exercise tolerance to severe dyspnoea (breathing difficulty), increased respiratory rate, and abdominal heave. Severe equine asthma significantly impairs quality of life — affected horses may be uncomfortable at rest and show signs of chronic distress. Dust reduction through hay steaming, dust-free bedding (rubber matting, paper, or hemp), and reduced stable time dramatically improves clinical signs. Inhaled therapy using equine-specific inhalers (Aeromask) minimises systemic steroid exposure. Horses with severe equine asthma that cannot be managed effectively require significant lifestyle adaptations.

What You Can Do

Steam or soak hay fed to horses with respiratory disease to reduce mould spore content.
Switch to dust-extracted or dust-free bedding for horses with equine asthma.
Maximise turnout time for affected horses to reduce allergen exposure compared with stabling.
Discuss inhaled therapy with your vet as a targeted option with fewer systemic side effects.