Coughing and weezing - Help! Please....

[CVDK]

My horse started coughing at the start of the summer, just 3 times, every time we went into the school, when we first started exercising. At about the same time, we noticed that she sounded seemed to be breathing heavily throughout the ride, especially on the exhale – however she is a stressy mare and we didn’t think this was terribly unusual. She has also had a slightly runny (clear) nose throughout the summer which we put down to extreme buttercups in the field.
One thing we noticed, was that she did this while hacking as well as in the school, but when she was calm (in certain lessons in particular) she didn’t do it – even after a full hour of intensive schooling – which made us think it was stress related.

Just this week we did a 10 mile ride, and whilst she was breathing heavily, she was high as a kite so we didn’t just put it down to stress s- there was no coughing.

Now for the past two days she has been coughing a lot when ridden day one – hack, day two in the school, she’s not been stressed, and it’s straight away rather than after exercise

She is currently out in the field and not stabled. She is looking in great condition, and this hasn’t stopped her from being forward going. It doesn’t appear to get in any way worse as exercise goes on, it’s the same in the beginning as after 45 mins full work.

Obviously we'll get the vet out but has anyone got any suggestions? am worried about COPD etc.

Thanks

 

[soulfull]

You are right to get vet ASAP. It could be an infection Early prevention could clear it up without long term effects, but leaving it could cause copd
My lad had similar and it wasn't until he had ventipilmun that he went from a clear discharge to a yucky one as his body was not clearing it himself. He only had the cough a few days but it was worse than your horses. He had a bacterial infection and it was a stubborn one, took 3 lots of antibiotics and steroids to clear it up

I am also glad I had him scoped as it proved it was an infection and no dust so insurance have not put any exclusions on his renewal