Most equestrians know firsthand the dangers that accompany their passion for horses: bumps and bruises (and the occasional broken bone) are nothing out of the ordinary. But fewer horse owners are aware of the damage they can receive by simply spending time in the barn; poor air quality can be just as dangerous for owners as it is for the horses in their care.

"We care about the airway quality in barns because of its effect on both horses and humans," noted Melissa Mazan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor and director of the equine sports medicine program at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s Hospital for Large Animals in North Grafton, Mass. Mazan presented on the topic at the 2011 America College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum, held June 15-18 in Denver, Colo.

Unlike in the swine and poultry industries, she explained, air quality in horse barns is not subject to regulations and lacks oversight from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Mazan said that up to 80% of stabled horses develop airway inflammation, and this statistic likely has consequences for humans working in barns as well: They are subjected to the same environmental conditions as their equine charges.

Responses to a widespread questionnaire sent to horse barn employees revealed that nasal and throat irritation were common complaints from workers, as were chest issues including breathing difficulty, wheezing, productive cough, and shortness of breath