Coughing when I put her bridle on - behavioural?

PoppyAnderson

PoppyAnderson

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I'll try and keep it brief! Horse started coughing about a year ago. Did all the usual - soaked hay, out more, ventapulin, inhalers etc etc. Ended up with her at Leahurst for the day - scoped, x rays & scanned. Found nothing. She only really coughs when in school, with me on board, never whilst being lunged or on a hack. Vet said we might have to conclude that it's behavioural. For the first time ever today, she coughed when I put her bridle on. So, any thoughts? Do you think it is behavioural? I'm at a loss really. Could the bit in some way be restricting her ability to breathe or make her think it is? She's a good as gold pony but clever and canny!
 
Years ago my friend and I kept our horses at a livery yard. The mare developed COPD and was treated with Ventipulmin etc. This mare learned that coughing meant she would get attention, and would frequently cough if she felt she was being 'neglected', long after the breathing problem had subsided. Other liveries would often come running to find us to say she was having a terrible coughing fit. A scratch and a bit more haylage would solve the problem instantly :) She was a very clever mare :) Fast forward about 15 years, she is now retired (due to a back problem) and lives with me, her chest and breathing are fine but she will still cough on occasion, but only if I am late feeding her or if she considers that one of the others is getting more attention than her.
 
I am so reluctant to come to this conclusion but perhaps they are tricky enough to make this connection and use it to their advantage!
 
Me too and if I hadn't known this mare I would be firmly in the 'no they don't think like that' camp. She is as clever as they come, over the years she has had many people convinced she was seriously ill only to 'recover' instantly when a feed bucket appears. She is one of those who notices when the gate didn't shut correctly and waits until you are out of site to pull it open and escape to longer grass! She keeps me on my toes, that's for sure and I love her for her funny ways.
 
One of our mares tries the same thing - just to get out of work - she can also suss out a soft touch when it comes to extra fussing and feeding
 
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