The environment is especially important as a cause of respiratory distress. The conventional environment of a horse is a stall with straw on the floor and hay in a manager. The particulates found in such a scenario are at a level beyond the point where the government will allow an industrial worker to operate. Even brief exposure to a bad environment can be damaging. Horse owners need to understand that the dust concentration in the breathing zone of a horse is most important.
Proper management can make a difference.
Changing the management of even one stall can make a significant difference. Proper ventilation contributes greatly to a proper environment for the horse. Horses do not mind cold weather. Keeping them cozy and warm in a closed atmosphere is not doing them a service. If the horses must be stabled, then allowing the air to circulate freely will create a better atmosphere for good respiratory health.