COPD flare up or paranoid owner.

[Mince Pie]

Pony has got COPD/RAO. He's been in most of the winter due to the weather so has been ridden in the school/up and down the flattish drive to keep him ticking over, he's also had 2 hours out in the school every day. During this time he was stabled on rubber mats with a small Bedmax bed and fed haylage, he hasn't coughed at all and has wintered well. Just under 2 weeks ago he went on the 24/7 turnout and the hacking has dried up so he has been out hacking about 4 times in the last 12 days, the hacking at my yard is incredibly steep so he is having to work quite hard. The first time he was fine, and the second time was with my young sharer who hasn't quite got the strength yet to really push him up the hill. However, the last 2 times I've hacked him out I've really made him work up the hill and at the beginning of the hack he's had a couple of dry coughs and is then fine for the rest of the ride, he isn't coughing in the school. I'm wondering if the coughing is because his COPD is starting the flare up (it's been really warm here and we have blossom out on the trees so pollen could be a factor) or if I'm being paranoid and he's just clearing his throat - he's also 'snorting' a bit as well.
We've got some ventipulmin so not sure if it's worth giving him a few days on that or if I'm just being paranoid and he's fine? Just after some reassurance really :redface3:

 

[chestnut cob]

I really wouldn't worry about a couple of coughs early on. Mine does it, in fact every horse I know usually has a little sneeze and clear of their throat at the start of a ride. I do when I start to get out of breath during exercise.

I would just keep an eye on it. If it gets worse or he starts to cough up stuff, then you might need to worry but for now I think you're over-analysing.