Arena dust from dry surfaces exposes horses and riders to respirable particles that cause inflammatory airway disease, and water management is the primary welfare intervention.
Arena dust causes direct welfare harm through respiratory inflammation that impairs breathing comfort and exercise tolerance. Horses with inflammatory airway disease experience coughing, exercise intolerance, and chronic airway discomfort. The condition is often underdiagnosed because horses continue to exercise despite significant airway inflammation. Preventing dust generation through regular arena watering is the most effective intervention and significantly reduces the inflammatory burden on the equine airway. Dust suppression is a welfare responsibility of arena managers that is often neglected due to the cost and inconvenience of watering systems.