In order to find out which housing conditions are suitable for horses with respiratory diseases, we first have to ask ourselves the question: What housing options are there?
What was it like before?
If we look at older stables, we can still find some of the remains of the old tethered housing. This type of housing is no longer practiced for the benefit of the horses and is contrary to animal welfare. Surprisingly, however, we have to note that tethered housing has only been banned in Germany since January 2014. Fortunately, thanks to the ban, we do not have to talk about its suitability.
box keeping
Classic box housing is widespread. The FN guidelines stipulate a minimum size of (2x withers height)² for horse boxes. In addition, the horses must at least have visual contact with other horses. The boxes must be bright and airy. But why all this?
Stable dust and ammonia have been proven to damage the respiratory tract. Therefore, constant fresh air and stable hygiene must be guaranteed. In addition, every horse should be allowed to run freely for at least four hours a day. For horses with respiratory diseases, as much run-out as possible should be aimed for so that the horses can move around in the fresh air.
In addition, care should be taken to ensure that horses with respiratory diseases have sufficient fresh air in their stables. When kept in stables, the choice of bedding is even more important, as the horses spend most of the day (or ideally only the night) in their stables. Ideally, the horses should not be in the stable during mucking out, as mucking out and adding bedding can lead to enormous increases in stable dust and ammonia levels.
paddock boxes
Paddock boxes offer the advantage that the horses have more space available and can therefore move around more. The "balcony" also gives the horses the opportunity to get plenty of fresh air. Social contact for horses in paddock boxes is also generally easier. Of course, the small paddock next to the box is no substitute for paddock or pasture access. Horses in paddock boxes should also be allowed to move freely with other horses every day.
In both normal boxes and paddock boxes, the horses are kept individually at least overnight. This allows for more individual feeding of each horse. For example, feeding steamed hay to horses suffering from respiratory diseases has proven effective in practice.
open stable
Open stables have become increasingly popular in recent years. Ideally, an open stable is divided into different functional areas that offer the horses incentives to move. A great advantage for horses with respiratory diseases, in addition to the constant opportunity to move, is the fresh air. In open stables, the horses are usually kept in groups. The individual Feeding, for example, steamed hay or individual low-dust bedding It is much more difficult to choose when keeping several horses in groups. However, individual feeding may be possible in open stables/active stables with automated solutions such as automatic feeders.
Overall, it can be said that the respective housing conditions should always be tailored to the horse. There is no one ideal housing for every horse. However, especially for horses with respiratory diseases, always ensure that the animals are kept in a place with plenty of space and fresh air, as well as clean and hygienic lying areas and bedding be respected.
Sources:
Dr. Bianca Schwarz – Respiratory diseases in horses: Not all coughs are the same – Webinar from March 7, 2023
German Equestrian Federation (2016) Basic knowledge of keeping, feeding, health and breeding, guidelines for riding and driving Volume 4, FNverlag, Warendorf
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), Department of Animal Welfare, Expert Group on Animal Welfare-Appropriate Horse Keeping, Guidelines for the Assessment of Horse Keeping from an Animal Welfare Perspective of 9 June 2009
