Respiratory disease is the second most common cause of poor performance in horses. Stable management choices profoundly affect respiratory health and welfare.
Equine respiratory welfare is substantially within owner control through stable management choices. Horses with asthma spending hours in poorly ventilated stables with dusty hay and straw bedding are experiencing daily respiratory distress that management can prevent. The evidence base for low-dust management is clear: soaked hay, appropriate bedding, and maximum ventilation dramatically improve respiratory health. Owners who prioritise their horse's respiratory welfare make evidence-based management choices rather than conventional ones.