Inflammatory Airway Disease study findings

New study finds that 88% of horses referred suffered from Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), and that steaming hay with a Haygain hay steamer reduced IAD by 65%. 

Coughing could be a sign of Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD)

IAD can affect horses of all ages and clinical signs include poor performance (exercise intolerance and poor recovery), nasal discharge and occasional coughing at rest and/or during exercise. 


Clinical signs are often subtle and horses have normal breathing at rest, so IAD can go unnoticed while affecting the horses ability to perform.  Common treatments prescribed by veterinarians include bronchodilators and corticosteroids but the key to both prevention and management of IAD is reducing exposure to airborne dust.


A recent study* found 88% of horses referred were suffering from Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD). 

Steam, don't Soak

The IAD study found that IAD was closely linked to the dust found in hay, and that simply by steaming hay with a Haygain hay steamer the incidence of IAD reduced by 65%.

Other benefits of steaming your hay with a Haygain hay steamer include:

  • Increased palatability - several studies show how horses prefer steamed hay over dry and soaked hay

  • Hydration - steamed hay provides a useful additional source of water in high temperatures

  • Retains nutritional value – unlike soaking, steaming retains the nutritional goodness of the hay including protein and minerals with just a small, variable loss of water soluble carbohydrate


What riders say

“I love using Haygain Steamed Hay because it helps improve my horses’ respiratory conditions and stopped them from coughing,” “With Haygain’s help, I can make sure the hay wherever I go is never dusty and it’s bacteria free [...]"

Jessica Springsteen, Team USA



“[We] take the smaller unit away to competitions all over Europe, which we find essential. The horses have been free from coughs and nasal discharge, they are healthy and performing well.”

William Fox-Pitt, Team GBR Three Olympic Medals, seven World Championship medals



What the veterinarians say

“We have used Haygain for foals with severe Rhodococcusequi pneumonia to aid in reducing the amount of inhaled allergens when they eat hay. We have also steamed bedding (ie: straw, not shavings) for the same reduction of potential inhaled allergens. For our colic surgeries that are not eating well, we have used Haygain to entice those horses to consume more roughage. The fresh aroma after the hay has been steamed appears to increase many horse's appetite postsurgery. I have first-hand experience with this product because not only do I use Haygain at my hospital, but for my own personal dressage and racehorses as well.”
Nathan Slovis

DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, CHT Director of the McGee Critical Care and Medical Center Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky

"I am very happy with the results that I am seeing. One of my horses has had a dry cough for quite a while. I started [using] Haygain and within days [the cough] was gone. I can't wait to keep seeing the benefits of the Haygain.”
Sherry Cervi, USA World Champion Barrel Racing 4 Barrel Racing World Titles 3x WNFR Average Winner


"Luebbo had a little bit of a cough last summer. He'd cough once or twice when I started working him, then it would go away and come back. Ever since he's been on the Haygain, he hasn't coughed at all! I was shocked by how fast I saw a difference. His appetite has improved dramatically too [...]"
Jamie Barge, Team USA World Cup Finalist