Inflammatory airway disease and equine recurrent airway obstruction are common causes of respiratory discomfort in horses, with management and treatment significantly improving welfare.
Respiratory disease in horses causes genuine discomfort and reduced exercise capacity that affects quality of life. RAO in particular creates episodic severe respiratory distress analogous to asthma attacks that horses experience without the ability to understand or seek relief. The primary welfare intervention - reducing dusty hay and bedding exposure - is available to all horse owners but requires management commitment. Horses kept in dusty stables on dry hay and straw bedding develop worse RAO than those managed with soaked hay, haylage, and dust-free bedding alternatives. The welfare improvement from environmental management is dramatic and represents the most important intervention available.