Kim: What about hay & bedding?
Dr. Emmanuelle: Both play a big part in respiratory health. I strongly advise
all my clients to get a Haygain Hay Steamer because it reduces up to 99% of
the fine, respirable particles and kills fungi, bacteria and yeast in hay. Ample
scientific studies demonstrate the benefits of killing the fungi/mold. It hasn’t
been studied yet, but I think killing the bacteria has a positive impact on horses’
digestive function. I would like to look into that.
When it comes to preventative medicine, Haygain is something that speaks
for itself over time. That’s why you don’t see many hay steamers for sale
second-hand. Once horse owners adopt it, they don’t go back.
As for bedding, first consider flooring that can be disinfected. Then, wood
shavings are better because wood contains terpene, which is a natural antiseptic.
Cardboard and paper shavings are cleaner options. Straw, on the other
hand, can foster bacteria and fungal growth.
Kim: What about homemade hay steamers?
Dr. Emmanuelle: Not an option. Temperatures need to reach the range of
212°F (100°C) to kill bacteria and fungi. Steaming at lower temperatures actually
Kim: Does weather affect the amount of contaminants to which horses are
exposed?
Dr. Emmanuelle: Yes. Europe experienced particularly warm weather this
year, and earlier in the spring than normal. That corresponds to a record
number of respiratory cases, as did record pollen levels with record numbers of
asthmatic patients.
A Canadian study found a correlation between the temperature and humidity
and worsening symptoms of equine asthma. And global warming is having an
effect because there is a shorter or non-existent period when there is a layer
of frozen ground. That all affects the number of contaminants, including fungi,
mold and bacteria found in soil, in which hay or straw is grown.
Kim: Fungi sounds especially nasty and dangerous.
Dr. Emmanuelle: It is. Fungi, which is the same as mold, can be very allergenic
because it has proteins that can trigger a very strong reaction. It can become
infectious and start to grow inside the horse’s airways. That process can
produce toxins and irritations to the respiratory mucosa, which can ultimately
affect the throat muscles. Fungi can also trigger inflammatory responses that
manifest as rhinitis and sinusitis.
The role of fungi is not yet broadly recognized in the veterinary world. When
a fungal infection is suspected or diagnosed, current treatments often include
corticosteroids to address inflammation. Those further depress the immune
system, enhancing the opportunity for fungal infection.
In our study of 731 horses referred for suspected respiratory issues and/or
poor performance, 88% were found to have Inflammatory Airway Disease.
Horses with fungal elements in their airway were 2.1 times as likely to have
IAD.
In a study we did on sport horses, we detected a link between fungi in the
airways and the likelihood of Exercised Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage: a
horse is seven times more likely to bleed from the lungs, through the nose, during
extreme exertion when they have fungi in the airways. In the United States,
this could get a lot of attention as racetracks are in the process of phasing out
Lasix, the medication that reduces EIPH.
Kim: That’s a lot of bad news. How can we protect our horses from these
microscopic assailants?
Dr. Emmanuelle:
Assess and improve
your horse’s
environment! Cobwebs
serves as an incubator for contaminants.
This happened with a dressage horse referred for coughing while exercis-
ing. Using an over-ground endoscope, we found he had an
obstruction in his upper airway. Determined to help their
horse, the owner had made their own hay steamer.
What happened, though, was putting contaminated
hay into what was, in effect, an incubator. It wound
up culturing fungus to the highest level, to where
the fungus produced neurotoxins that affected the
muscle function and resulted in the obstruction.
Kim: How receptive are horse owners toward these preventative
indicate there isn’t enough
ventilation because spiders
won’t make them where
there’s any breeze.
measures you recommend?
Dr. Emmanuelle: As a sports medicine practice, we work mostly with high level
competitors. It has taken a while to educate our clients. As we treat horses
year to year, if we are always treating the same problem, I like to review the
management over going first for medications. As horses do better over the long
term, the results speak for themselves.
Kim: Thank you!!
1. Make sure there’s ventilation in the barn. That
means circulation and renewal of the air. If there’s no
renewal, moisture will accumulate and foster contaminant
growth. Cobwebs indicate there isn’t enough ventilation because
spiders won’t make them where there’s any breeze.
2. Reduce dust: the fine dust that can be inhaled and lodge in the airways and
deep in the lungs.
3. Look for signs of mold on walls, everywhere and especially on walls near
stored hay.
4. Look at floor mats: specifically, what is growing between and underneath
them. Urine accumulation can make it really dangerous and gross. It’s awful
for horses and people. Stables don’t have to be sterile, but they do need to be
clean.
EE Elite Equestrian does not endorse or confirm content suggestions in any articles. See credit page for disclaimer.
54 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com