Abnormalities of the upper respiratory tract are second only to musculoskeletal disorders as leading causes of poor performance in athletic horses. While a small number of horses with mild upper airway issues can be managed medically, many horse owners elect surgery as a primary treatment option.

"Any abnormality of the respiratory system can negatively impact performance," comments Norm G. Ducharme, DMV, MSc, Dipl. ACVS, medical director of the Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in New York. "An exercising horse needs to move large volumes of air between the environment and the lungs. Disorders of either the upper or lower respiratory tracts that impede or disturb the flow of air can decrease the amount of oxygen being delivered to the horse's lungs and, therefore, the skeletal muscles."

This article describes the most common upper airway disorders contributing to performance problems in horses, the available surgical treatment options for these disorders, and some potential complications associated with surgery of the upper respiratory tract