For many of us, winter management of our horses involves stabling them for some period of the day. While the weather gets colder and wetter stabling our horses has many practical benefits such as helping to prolong grazing, keep them out of the harsher conditions and help to prevent certain health issues such as mud fever. However, stabling horses has its own health concerns and challenges. It’s important to address and prevent these from the first time the horse is brought into the stable, thus ensuring your horses remain happy and healthy right through to spring.
One of the main challenges of stabling horses is respiratory stress. Stables are typically dusty environments, despite owners taking as many precautions as possible to limit the amount of dust spores. Forage and bedding choices, as well as the horses themselves, all contribute to levels of dust in the air. In addition to this, the potential endotoxins and fungal spores in the air from some preserved forages can expose horse’s lungs to further harmful particles.
Even if you as an owner are careful of dust levels through your management, the type of stabling can affect the air quality – American barn stabling systems, for example, mean that the airspace is shared by multiple horses, with varied levels of ventilation. If your equine neighbour is stabled on straw and fed dry hay, this can impact your horse’s respiratory health as much as its own.
When caring for our horse’s respiratory health it’s really important to remember the effect that breathing difficulties will have on the horse’s performance as an athlete, not just it’s everyday health while in the stable or field. Lung health and capacity are one of the most recognised limitations on equine performance so it’s important to monitor and support your horse’s respiratory health as much as possible to promote a clear airway.
Management tips:
Ensure your horse’s stable is as well-ventilated as possible, but not draughty Feed forage with a low dust content, such as haylage or soaked/steamed hay Feed forage on the floor – by feeding lower you are encouraging natural drainage of your horse’s airways. Choose low dust/dust extracted bedding Supplement with targeted nutritional support to help maintain airway healthNAF Five Star Respiratory Boost is a tried and trusted supplement that provides valuable nutritional support to the respiratory mucosal immune system and the capillary blood vessels that surround the lungs. This supplement promotes healthy, clear lungs and optimal breathing capacity.
Containing a unique blend of MSM combined with powerful botanicals chosen for respiratory health, Respiratory Boost gives your horse the targeted support it needs for a healthy respiratory system. MSM is included as a bio-available form of sulphur – this essential nutrient is indicated for supporting the sensitive tissues of the respiratory tract.
Research has shown that by supplementing the diet with naturally sourced anti-oxidants, the horse’s lungs can be given valuable levels of support. Respirator Boost contains a concentrated solution of natural anti-oxidants, alongside herbs such as ginger, rosehip and blueberries which have been chosen for their targeted support of healthy lung function. Echinacea has also been included for immune system support, while liquorice has shown benefits in soothing the delicate mucosal linings.
NAF recommends using Five Star Respiratory Boost for stabled horses, particularly in situations where close contact with other horses showing respiratory stress may be a cause for concern. This supplement will also support horses in harder/faster work needing to have the optimal breathing capacity and respiratory health.
