Mythbuster Monday: Horses Ridden in Dusty Arenas Have Diminished Lung Capacity
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Does riding horses in a dusty arena permanently decrease their lung capacity?
It’s Mythbuster Monday, where Horse Nation dives into different equestrian myths and provides research-based evidence to either bust or confirm those myths. Today’s topic: Does riding horses in a dusty arena permanently decrease their lung capacity? How long does it take? Will they acquire heaves? Read more to find out!
Myth: Riding horses in dusty arenas permanently diminishes their lung capacity
Myth or Fact: Fact
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According to Equus Magazine, severe lung damage can occur when horses are regularly ridden in dusty arenas. Over time, this exposure can lead to chronic conditions like heaves or permanently reduced lung capacity. You can tell the footing is poor if you’re blowing footing particles out of your own nose after a ride. Even less obvious signs, like how quickly dust accumulates on surfaces such as mounting blocks or mirrors, can be telling. If dust builds up noticeably after just one ride, that’s a red flag indicating the environment may be harmful to your horse’s respiratory health.
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An article by Farm and Barn states that arena dust can significantly impact a horse’s lung health as footing materials break down into fine airborne particles. This risk is amplified in indoor arenas, where dust becomes trapped and concentrated within the enclosed space. Prolonged exposure to these particles can lead to serious respiratory conditions, including recurrent airway obstruction, heaves, inflammatory airway disease, and a general decline in performance.
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Another article by Kentucky Equine Research found that airway inflammation is common in young, athletic horses and can significantly reduce performance. Heaves, a more severe form of respiratory disease under the equine asthma syndrome umbrella, further impairs a horse’s athletic ability. While stabling conditions and barn dust have been widely studied, the impact of arena dust, especially in indoor environments, has often been overlooked.
Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research, emphasized the importance of this issue, particularly for horses in northern climates that must train indoors for extended periods, even if they’re primarily stabled outdoors.
In a study conducted by German researchers, dust particle concentrations were measured monthly over a year in indoor arenas while a single horse performed standardized exercises. Airborne particles between 0.3 and 5 μm were recorded at horse and rider height. Predictably, dust levels spiked during riding sessions, even with just one horse in the arena, suggesting that particle counts would be significantly higher during group use.
Analysis of the footing revealed that the arenas contained 21–30% small particles, far exceeding the recommended <5% of particles under 250 μm. These smaller particles are easily kicked up and inhaled, posing risks to both horse and rider. However, the study also showed that regular watering and maintenance of the footing helped reduce airborne dust levels.
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After diving into the research, riding horses in dusty arenas can permanently diminish lung capacity over time. The risk is amplified in indoor arenas. However, regular watering an maintenance reduces airborne dust particles.
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