How controlling dust improves horse health, similar to human health.

By: StopDustNow

In 2024, with thousands of years of advancement in the relationship between horses and humans, many problems have been solved regarding the horses’ accessories, medicines, and transport. However, one major factor tends to be neglected, the horse’s exposure to crystalline silica dust (known as pm10 and pm2.5).

The relationship between the horse and owner is paramount to the impact on the horse’s health.

“The equine respiratory tract… is, on a basic level, quite similar to the human respiratory tract” (Purdue, 2013). Suppose we use the same logic used in the dust laws for humans under EPA, CDC, OSHA, ALA, WHO, etc. guidelines. In that case, the horse’s health IS impacted by fugitive dust created from riding activities in horse arenas. Yet the dust is overlooked time and time again.

“Respiratory diseases can result from, or be exacerbated by, exposure to dust and other airborne irritants” (Purdue, 2013). These diseases will “reduce [the horse’s] performance in mild cases and result in early retirement for others” (Purdue, 2013). Some common respiratory diseases from horse exercise include recurrent airway obstruction, inflammatory airway disease, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, and laryngeal hemiplegia (Purdue, 2013).

So, what is the best way to improve the horse’s respiratory health?

By controlling the dust.

There have been many products on the market that have come and gone to “control” the dust. Products such as, but not limited to, Magnesium Chlorides, Calcium Chlorides, and Pine Tar. Chlorides are corrosive to equipment, and horseshoes. When they become dry, they become airborne, which creates another hazard by breathing the chlorides in. They also make the surface hard and compact, lessening the shock absorption capacity of the footing. Chlorides, under ideal conditions, do not last more than a few months at best and need to be reapplied constantly.

However, water is most used to control the dust, but the disadvantages of water are many such as, but not limited to, making the footing unstable (by creating a slippery surface). So it is limited in use and mostly neglected for fear of injuring the horse, especially while jumping on a slippery surface. The other disadvantage of year-round use of water, specifically in indoor riding arenas, is it can freeze in the northern part of the country. Winter is when riders and horses are exposed to the most silica dust danger.

This is 100% preventable by using leading-edge, sustainable technologies. Specifically, a product by The Dust Pros called HevyRayn, which is a 100% non-toxic, long-lasting, dust control system that performs like the footing was watered down, but still compacts and holds its surface tension as a dry, pact surface does.

Knowing that dust impacts horse health in a similar way to humans, why are we not sustainably controlling the dust in horse riding arenas?

/StopDustNow