Inflammatory airway conditions including equine asthma significantly affect horse welfare and performance. Understanding causes and management options improves respiratory health.
Respiratory disease causes significant welfare impacts in affected horses. Severe equine asthma involves labored breathing, visible flank heave, and mucus accumulation that creates the equine equivalent of severe human asthma. The effort required for breathing during exacerbations causes obvious distress. Exercise intolerance frustrates working horses and limits their ability to perform natural movement. Chronic respiratory inflammation causes persistent low-grade discomfort even between acute episodes. Environmental management that dramatically reduces dust exposure can transform welfare outcomes for affected horses.