Horse Equine Asthma Pasture Management

Equine asthma (formerly RAO and IAD) causes respiratory distress in horses. Managing environmental allergens through pasture and stable management significantly improves welfare.

Key Facts

Equine asthma ranges from mild inflammatory airway disease to severe recurrent airway obstruction
Stable dust from hay, bedding and mucking out is the primary trigger for most affected horses
Soaking hay reduces respirable dust by up to 95% while steaming achieves similar results while preserving nutrition
Pasture turnout is the single most effective environmental management for dust-sensitive horses
Bronchodilators and corticosteroids delivered via inhaler provide medical management during exacerbations

Welfare Considerations

Horses with equine asthma experience breathlessness and chronic respiratory discomfort significantly affecting exercise tolerance and quality of life. The welfare priority is environmental management to reduce allergen exposure as medical treatment alone does not address the underlying cause. Horses that cannot be turned out require maximum dust reduction in stabling through appropriate hay treatment, bedding choice and ventilation.

What You Can Do

Maximize turnout time for horses with equine asthma to reduce stable dust exposure
Soak or steam hay for horses that must be stabled and use dust-free bedding alternatives
Ensure maximum ventilation in stables with affected horses by opening all doors and windows
Avoid sweeping, mucking out or doing dusty work near horses with equine asthma
Work with a vet to develop an inhaler management protocol for medical control during episodes