PPE question - Young prospect

[alterusername]

Keeping details vague for anonymity.
I recently vetted a 3 year old unstarted WB gelding with phenomenal movement bred for the upper levels of dressage. I am looking to get my bronze and event through Novice with my next competition horse. PPE included movement eval, physical exam, and a complete set of radiographs (back, neck, hocks, stifles, fetlocks, all four feet, knees).

During the physical exam, the vet noted the heartbeat to have a premature added beat every 5 beats (I think). This interval of the added beat stayed the same and did not change. We proceeded to the movement evaluation (free longing), where the added heartbeat went away after exercise. The vet seemed fairly confident due to the added heartbeat going away, and we proceeded to the radiographs.

I followed up with the PPE vet after the exam regarding an incidental finding on the X rays in a hind fetlock and at that point the vet had expressed reservations about completing the purchase without a halter monitor/electromyogram to determine where the premature added beat was coming from - if it were from the atrium or the ventricle. The horse would need to be hauled to the university vet school, and the test would cost roughly 500 dollars. The vet did not have reservations about the X ray finding after further review/a second opinion.

How concerned should I be about this added beat for my purposes?

[anonevent]

The vet’s reservations would always be in the back of my mind, so I’d need the test. Your risk tolerance might be different.

[IPEsq]

For an event horse prospect especially, I’d want to know more about the heart issue. Or pass if the cost and hassle of the vetting is too much. Ideally the seller should investigate this, but there are often differences of opinion on what’s worth investigating.

[fivestrideline]

For an event horse, heart issues/questions would be a pass for me without diagnostics confirming a non-issue. And I wouldn’t be hauling and doing diagnostics on someone else’s horse.

[beowulf]

Go for the cardiologist if you love everything else about this horse. Pass if you don’t.

It’s about $500-650 depending, that’s worth peace of mind. I’ve done it myself with a personal horse and it was very educational.

People think that eventing is a higher ask than dressage, but at the lower levels (getting your Bronze and competing Novice) the ask is usually proportionate. It’s not usually the 2 minutes out in XC that hurt a horse with heart issues. It’s the inability to do extensive training in day-to-day and build any real meaningful condition. It’s worth exploring the reason for the additional heartbeat if you really want the horse. If it’s ASD or some other defect, you need to know. It will shape the horse’s future.

If you discover anything of significance but still love the horse, see if the seller will work with you on price. Breeders don’t want a horse with heart issues anymore than riders do. Talk to the seller and see if they are interested in pursuing diagnostics.

[Ghazzu]

Might be worth speaking to the seller and offer to split the cost of the cardiac testing.