LEFT -  Clean hay sample a = leaf material b = plant hair c = pollen grain
Right - Heavily moulded sample typical of heated hay and straw or of contaminated bedding material.

The graph below from the ERC research report shows the comparison between the rate of dust particles of four different sizes detected in the breathing zone of a horse using Horsehae and hay. The test showed that the mean number of particles in the four size ranges were significantly lower when Horsehae was fed as compared to dry hay.

Some other significant points from the report are noted below: 

	The welfare and well-being of horses is dependent on healthy lungs
	Poor air quality can contribute to various respiratory diseases in the horse
	The main source of respirable dust in stables is feed and bedding
	Along with the respiratory challenges which contaminated hay presents there may be nutritional concerns. Mouldy feeds contain mycotoxins which could induce digestive problems in the horse
	In this study, the respirable challenge to the horse while feeding was shown to be significantly lower when Horsehae was fed as compared to dry hay
	The research demonstrated a "very low spore count of Aspergillus fumigates and Actinomyces spp., two agents shown to contribute to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in horses."

Please view the complete report for more details.