Keep Your Horse Breathing Well 

As the winter approaches, barn owners instinctively close up their horse stables and block out drafts. But as reassuring it might be to know your horse is snug and cozy in a warm barn, you might actually be harming your horse’s respiratory health. Winter brings all sorts of conditions that can cause respiratory issues for horses, and once they’ve started, respiratory issues can be difficult to clear up.  

While preparing your barn for winter, these tips can help you support your horse’s respiratory health and keep them breathing well.  

Choose Horse Stalls for Maximum Ventilation 

Ventilation is critical to your horse’s health, and your choice of horse stalls can directly impact the ventilation available to your horse.  

For example, our European horse stall fronts are custom built to order, meaning we can incorporate all sorts of designs that enhance ventilation. You can customize the stalls with a variety of swoops for an open feel that allows for enhanced airflow. The stall mesh consists of ¼-inch mesh with 2x2 openings, allowing plenty of airflow while still being strong and sturdy to prevent damage and keep your horse safe if they kick or rub against the mesh. 

Learn more about How to Improve Ventilation in Your Barn.

Our steel bars in upper grills are one-inch bars on three-inch centers, meaning there are just two inches between each bar to prevent hooves from becoming stuck. Lower grills feature even narrower spacing; the one-inch bars are placed on 2.5 centers.  

You can also enhance the ventilation of your existing horse stalls without necessarily replacing the entire stall. Our Grilled Stall Gates can replace a solid stall door, increasing ventilation and visibility. You might also explore installing our Stall Divider Grills in your solid stall partitions. These divider grills allow for increased ventilation, sunlight, and visibility, and they can make your stalls feel brighter, which is especially important in the winter.

Soak or Steam Hay 

Even your high-quality hay contains mold spores, bacteria, and small particles that can irritate your horse’s respiratory system if they’re inhaled. As your horse digs through the hay, they can inhale these particles and may experience airway inflammation as a result. 

Soaking or steaming your hay can help reduce your horse’s exposure to the dust and mold in hay. Though soaking hay in sub-freezing temperatures may not be practical, you can buy a variety of hay steamers that you can use throughout the winter.  

Feed Hay in Low Feeders 

Try to use hay feeders that are low to the ground, allowing your horse’s head to be in a more natural position. Encouraging your horse to lower their head as they eat can help them to clear their airways, helping to remove irritants and supporting their respiratory health. 

Don’t miss our guide on Choosing a Watering System for Your Horse Stalls, where we compare automatic waterers and integrated water lines to help you create a smarter, safer, and more luxurious stall environment.

Choose Low-Dust Bedding 

Your horse’s bedding can be a significant source of dust, so look for low-dust bedding to help improve the air quality in your barn for better respiratory health. Sawdust is one of the dustiest bedding types available. Instead, consider using wood pellets, wood shavings, or low-dust straw.  

You can also install the StableComfort - Horse Stall Mattress. This cushioned system is an innovative solution that prioritizes your horse's health and comfort. This multi-layered system features a crumb rubber mattress for superior cushioning, topped with a durable, waterproof, non-slip cover that ensures safety and easy cleaning. By mimicking the softness of deep bedding, the system provides the equivalent support of 4 to 6 inches of bedding, reducing the need for excessive bedding materials. This not only reduces labor and costs but also minimizes dust levels in the stall, creating a cleaner, healthier environment for your horse. The cushioning effect of the StableComfort™ system plays a crucial role in improving your horse’s sleep quality and promoting faster recovery, particularly after intense training or long days in the field. Its shock-absorbing properties protect joints and hooves, reducing stress and preventing injuries, making it ideal for horses prone to joint stiffness or soreness. 

Maximize Turnout 

Though you can improve the air quality in your barn, spending plenty of time outside is also essential to your horse’s respiratory health. Focus on maximizing turnout so your horse gets out of the barn for most of the day.  

Creating runs off of each stall can be a helpful way to do this. Installing barn Dutch Doors in each stall lets you easily let your horse out into their run. Our Dutch doors feature latch systems crafted from pre-galvanized material and stainless steel, making them durable enough to withstand the use they’ll see in any working barn. The doors are solid welded and arrive pre-hung for a simple installation, and they can be opened from inside or outside. They’re a great way to enhance your barn’s aesthetics and functionality.  

Creating runs off of each stall can be an excellent way to give your horses access to outdoor spaces while maintaining control and safety. Installing barn Dutch Doors in each stall makes it easy to let your horse out into their run.Our Dutch Doors are crafted with durability and functionality in mind, featuring latch systems made from pre-galvanized material and stainless steel to withstand the rigors of any working barn. The doors are solid welded, arrive pre-hung for effortless installation, and can be opened from either the inside or the outside, providing convenience and versatility.

In addition to enhancing your barn’s aesthetics and functionality, our Dutch Doors offer customizable options to suit your specific needs and style. We offer tempered glass infill upgrades with protective grill guards. And, all Dutch Doors can be configured into Sliding Paddock Doors, allowing them to operate seamlessly on a sliding track system. These and more custom options ensure that your barn doors not only meet your functional needs but also align perfectly with your aesthetic vision.

Maintain Ring Footing 

Your riding ring footing will also impact your horse’s respiratory health. Footing that gets too dry and too dusty can irritate your horse’s breathing, especially when you’re riding in an indoor arena. Create a schedule to regularly water and drag your footing to help minimize dust. Products like magnesium chloride can also reduce dust in your riding ring and help keep the footing from freezing for safer winter rides.  

Keep an eye on the temperatures, too. Even if your ring footing has minimal dust and is well-maintained, frigid winter weather can irritate your horse’s sensitive airway. Always give your horse a long warm-up, carefully monitor their breathing, and watch for coughing during cold-weather rides. When the temperatures are frigid, it’s probably best for your horse to skip your ride.  

Upgrade Your Horse Barn Now 

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your horse barn to support your horse’s health better this winter. Investing in European stalls, grilled stall grates, or Dutch doors can all improve ventilation for your horse. At American Stalls, we’re happy to help you plan out your upgrades and craft custom stall fronts and components for your barn. Contact us today at (855) 957-8255 or email sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation or ask any questions.