Respiratory disease including equine asthma is extremely common in stabled horses, caused largely by organic dust from bedding and hay that can be substantially reduced by management changes.
Horses with equine asthma experience chronic airway inflammation causing cough, increased respiratory effort, and exercise intolerance. Severe cases cause significant distress during breathing. The condition is largely preventable through dust reduction management. Many horses are managed with medication rather than addressing the underlying dust exposure, which only partially controls the welfare problem.