A Breath of Fresh Air for Racehorses: How Low-Dust Forages Can Help

Horse racing isn't just about speed—it's also about the health and well-being of the horses. A recent clinical trial conducted by researchers from Purdue University aimed to understand how different types of forage affect respiratory health and inflammation in Thoroughbred racehorses. Here’s what they discovered.

The Problem with Dust and Asthma in Horses

Many racehorses experience mild asthma, an inflammation of the airways that can affect their performance. One major culprit? The dust present in dry hay, which these horses commonly consume. Dust particles, including bacteria and fungal spores, can trigger respiratory issues. To make matters worse, diets low in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, could exacerbate the problem.

The Study: Comparing Forage Types

This study involved 43 racehorses divided at random into three groups, each fed a different type of forage for six weeks:

• Dry hay (standard feed, known to release more dust)
• Steamed hay (heat and moisture added to reduce dust and kill bacteria/fungi)
• Haylage (high-moisture forage with naturally lower dust content and nutritious value close to fresh grass)

Researchers measured the horses’ dust exposure, airway cell makeup in lung mucus, and omega-3 levels in the blood before and during the trial.

Key Findings

• Dust Exposure: Horses fed dry hay experienced higher dust exposure compared to those given steamed hay or haylage.
• Airway Inflammation: The horses eating haylage showed significantly reduced levels of airway neutrophils (a sign of inflammation), particularly by the six-week mark. Horses eating steamed hay experienced a modest reduction in airway inflammation.
• Omega-3 Benefits: Only the haylage diet increased the ratio of anti-inflammatory omega-3 to pro-inflammatory fatty acids in the blood.

Why This Matters

Switching to low-dust forages, especially haylage, can improve airway health in racehorses by reducing inflammation and promoting better respiratory function. This could mean healthier, better-performing horses, with fewer respiratory issues to hinder them.

The Takeaway

For racehorse trainers looking to optimize their horses’ respiratory health, haylage could be a game-changer. This feed type not only reduces dust exposure but also supports an anti-inflammatory profile in the horses' plasma.