How stable environment management affects equine respiratory welfare and what practical interventions reduce antigen load.
Stable respiratory welfare requires treating the environment as the primary patient rather than the individual horse. Soaking hay and treating one horse with bronchodilators while the adjacent horse spreads dusty hay and straw provides incomplete relief because the antigen load in the shared air space remains high. A whole-yard approach to dust reduction - soaked or steamed hay throughout, minimal straw bedding, maximum ventilation and regular mucking out - creates a respiratory environment in which horses with asthma can be managed with much lower medication loads. This represents better welfare for affected horses and reduces antibiotic and steroid exposure with associated long-term health benefits.