Did you know....

Dust from hay and stable bedding are two of the biggest causes of respiratory inflammation?

Steaming hay with a Haygain hay steamer removes the harmful mould and fungal spores, bacteria and dust mites from the dust in hay which otherwise leads to repsiratory inflammation. But there is still a signicant level of dust coming from stable bedding, not to mention harmful ammonia gases coming from trapped urea.

How does it show itself?

Dust from the stable can cause a range of respiratory conditions including Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD). A recent study* showed 84% of horses had IAD.

Signs of IAD include:
• Nasal discharge
• Increased respiratory rate (which is difficult to spot!)
• Increased respiratory effort
• Flaring of the nostrils
• Respiratory noise (even at rest)
• Poor recovery
• Lower performance

Why does it matter?

Aside from poor quality of life, a respiratory condition if serious can require vet treatment. According to a study** 14% of horses studied suffered from Severe Equine Asthma.

Performance is also impaired.

“The equine upper airway is highly complex and adapted for exercise. Airflows in the horse’s airways are very high, which means that even a small abnormality can lead to a large decrease in performance,” Cheetham, VetMB, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, from the Department of Clinical Sciences at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

How can Haygain help?

The ComfortStall flooring system is an orthopaedic padded system that has comfort and support built in, saving up to 75% on bedding, a major cause of stable dust.

ComfortStall is also sealed and fully impermeable, preventing urine seeping through and collecting to form ammonia and dangerous off-gasing.

The result is a healthy stable environment and one that offers comfort and support for your horse for many years to come.