Equine asthma (previously termed COPD or heaves) is a common welfare-significant respiratory condition in horses that requires environmental management alongside medical treatment for effective control.
Equine asthma welfare is particularly important because affected horses in poorly managed environments experience ongoing respiratory distress affecting their ability to exercise and rest comfortably. The condition has a clear environmental trigger that owners can address, making this a largely controllable welfare problem when properly managed. Horses with severe heaves in dusty stabling environments may experience significant respiratory effort even at rest - a state of chronic welfare compromise comparable to severe asthma in humans. The welfare approach requires treating environmental management as primary therapy, not an optional adjunct to medication.