Heart Murmurs

[TicTac]

Does any body else's horse have one? My little grey boy who I have had for 6 years has a grade 4 heart murmur. I can't remember the exact diagnosis but it a left valve problem which apparently is less of a problem than a right.

He failed the pre purchase vetting because of it but I bought him anyway and to be honest he has had no problems whatsoever. We were told that it is not a ' drop down dead' problem. However when he does strenuous excercise he does puff very heavily and I am always careful not to over do it with him, as he does have his limitation fitness wise. (although he often has other idea's of his own like today!)

I was advised to keep him in regular work , which I do even if it is lunging . He is 11 now. Can anybody tell me what I can expect from him as he gets older? Obviously I will let him tell me, but he always seems to have more energy than any of the other horses at the yard!

 

[Finlib]

I have a horse with a slight heart mumur the vet heard it at a routine vaccination check many years ago It didn't show on a vetting when I bought her (she was only 2 then)
She is now 20 and it has caused her no problem all her life and she has been bred from which the vet felt was it no problem with the extra weight and being out of work for about a year.
I hack her and some schooling .
The vet things it is unlikely it is something she will die from so I just have it checked when he comes out to do routine stuff.

 

[Barefoot4]

Ditto the previous reply. I have a 24 year old chap who I still hack out 3/4 times a week, admittedly not hard and fast, but he's fit as a flea and really enjoys his rides out. Still pops into a nice canter every now and then too with a big smile on his face!

 

[LoneRanger]

I had a cracking horse with a grade 4 heart murmur which was also caused by a leaky valve. He was successful at intermediate level eventing and very fast cross country, his heart murmur never bothered him. I loaned him out when he retired from eventing and he hunted and pony clubbed successfully until he came home to retire aged 22. He was put down aged 23 after an accident in the field.

If I could buy a similar horse today I'd jump at the chance even if I knew about the heart murmur beforehand. Hope you have many happy, successful years with yours.

 

[zoon]

My horse was a sucessful eventer and one day found to have a grade 5 murmur. No idea why it wasn't picked up earlier being quite serious! He was thrown in a field by rider and then sold to me for a pittance. Once fit again he's proven to be a complete star, if a bit quirky sometimes, and the murmur never affects him. Checked each year by Leslie Young (super equine cardiologist) to assess it as it is slowly getting worse - although no change over the last 3 years so it is progressing slowly. I've been told to treat him like any other horse of his age and fitness and just have the murmur monitored regualrly.