Whistling, Roaring and making a noise?

[Lisamd]

My horse makes a slight noise. A low level whistling noise whilst cantering, higher level when galloping.

He is a 17hh, 6 years old ISH.

He is eventing, sj and showing this year - hoping to finish the season at BE Novice.

I am getting him scoped this week to check the seriousness of the problem.

He is fit and seems unaffected by this problem, going XC without even breaking a sweat and doesn't tire easily.

I'm not worried about his re-sale value as he will be with me for life.

Does anyone have experience of this type of problem and has it had any detrimental effect on your competition horses?

 

[cptrayes]

I've had several big horses that make a noise, it's very common over 16.3. I had one operated on because he could not canter to get fit to event. I still have him and it was the making of him. I sold another because he could not be operated on, but he could canter and do dressage. Another two have evented to novice with no problems at all, they just made a noise. If he ain't broke don't fix him, the general anaesthetic itself has a one in 100 chance of killing him and the tieback leaves him uninsurable for respiratory tract infections and more prone to getting them. It doesn't usually cure the noise, either! Personally I wouldn't even have him scoped. He competes fine with the whistle. If you have him scoped you will have to tell your insurer and they may exclude claims in future.

You could end up with a situation where you are forced to have him tied back now even though he doesn't need it, in case it gets worse in future when you won't then be covered for the operation because it was a known problem when the insurance was renewed. Be very careful!!

 

[lannerch]

I too have a 17.2 that events and used to make a noise, he had last october a very sucessful hobday and tie back, and now no longer makes a noise and has no trace at all of the original problem. ( no scar, no cough ) I would tell someone though if I sold him, although I would also expect him to pass a vet on his wind.

I would back up the above posters caution though, the condition can be progressive and your insurance ( provided of course you are insured for vets fees ) will only cover you for a year after first diagnosis of the noise, ie when you document you first noticed it, so if you are likely to need the operation in the future and off course your vets will have to say it is necessary, then the insurance will cover you now but not a year later.