Cough.. Reason to be concerned?

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YoungEventer

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My mare has developed a cough over the past week but nothing like what I've had with anything I've previously worked with. She's currently in overnight, doesn't cough in stable in field etc it's literally first thing in the morning when I get her out. It's only ever 1/2 coughs if I ask her to trot then she's absolutely fine, just snorts. If she doesn't trot she goes out to field all happy and no coughing, and no coughs later when I ride. I know it must be something to do with the stable (It's quite drafty and a bit damp.. hoping to move yards soon!) but am baffled as to why the coughing is then so limited? She doesn't always cough either, the other day she trotted fine.

Any help appreciated! Normally I'd have got the vet out but because it's not much I'm baffled?!
 
Any coughing needs to be taken seriously but not all coughs are serious, the problem is that something minor can become a chronic problem that then requires expensive treatment and very careful management for the rest of the horses life, to me is sounds like a reaction to dust, in the hay, bedding or stable itself, they often clear out when first moving, so walking to the field is where it is noticed by the time you get the in to ride they have been in the fresh air so no more coughing until the following morning.
Getting the environment she is in as dust free as possible, soaking hay, dust free bedding would be the best starting point, if it gets worse or doesn't clear up with some management changes I would get the vet to take a look.
 
Okay great thanks everyone, so soak hay and swap straw for shavings. Anything else I should do? And how long should I wait to see if there's a change?
 
If it is just a reaction to slightly dusty hay or bedding I would expect the cough to stop pretty much immediately you remove the cause, certainly within a couple of days for such a minor cough, turning out 24/7 would be another option to consider so they really get the chance to be out in the fresh air as much as possible.
 
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