Respiratory conditions including exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and equine asthma cause significant welfare harm in horses, particularly in racing and sport disciplines.
Respiratory disease in horses causes suffering that compromises their ability to perform a basic biological function - breathing. Horses with active equine asthma show visible respiratory effort at rest in severe cases, with flared nostrils and labored breathing. Exercise is severely restricted and causes distress. EIPH, while often subclinical, indicates pulmonary hemorrhage that would cause welfare concern in any other context - blood in the airways during exercise is not a benign finding. The racing and performance horse industry's acceptance of EIPH as a normal consequence of training reflects competitive pressure over welfare consideration. Horses with poorly managed respiratory conditions who continue to work experience significant suffering.