Does my Gelding Have Stringhalt? (sorry a bit of a long 1)

MandyMoo

MandyMoo

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i have an 18yr old 16.3hh chestnut gelding...and he has never had any problems, been SJ, XC and hunted and is really lively with no arhtritis/stiffness etc ever. But on saturday morning i fetched him in and he was walking like as if he has a springhalt (his near hind leg was being lifted really high and slamming down) he looked really uncomfortable and lame...but was eating fine and seemed unbothered. I kept him in for the night.
Sunday morning i checked on him and walked and trotted him up...no way as bad but still slightly springhalty...just lifting his leg up and snatching it down just slightly higher than normal...but he was more lively in himself. I havent ridden him as i don't want to cause any damage, so just taken him for walks down the lane on a leadrope...he seems to losen up slightly after a bit of a walk, but doesnt completly losen up. Got a back guy coming to check his back and nerves on wednesday...but can't wait til then =S too nervous...just wondering if ne1 knows about springhalt?
can a horse just get it randomly at his age? i thought a horse was born with it or got it with trauma...which Monty hasnt had. I just hope it isnt anything too serious or perminant, as i wanted to showjump in BSJA soon...and hope it wont perminantly harm him in any way =S
mandy xx
 
Hi,
It could be an impingement of a nerve in the hip/stiffle area. Horses that have String halt find it difficult to go back, try asking him to reverse up whilst you are on the ground and you may notice he is finds it difficult with an exagerated hind leg action! my gelding has string halt in his right hind from an old injury several years ago but has only come on in the last 6 months, he can still do dressage to medium level (advanced before) and does rein back whilst I am on him with no problem only when you push them back from the ground.
 
I used to ride a pony who had a stringhalt and he had no problems with it.

Used to hunt sj, xc with him and never had a problem

Until the hunting horn went off and he would start bucking and wouldnt stop until he got home lol he was 22 when i hunted him and he lived for it!!
 
He would be very unlikely to just develop stringhalt now.
He has probably injured himself somehow.
One of our horses had these symptoms recently (although, he was worse in canter). He had fallen over in the lorry and we had ther vet, farrier and back lady out to check him but nothing in particular could be found. He was off for a month or so then came back fine.
He is a similar age / height to yours.
 
hi thanks 4 all ur info...had back man look at him today...he had a vertibrae out of place and a wonky pelvis that he might have twisted while bombing around the field...the back guy sorted him out and he's coming on a bit...tomorrow im going to have a play in the school with him, just leading him round etc. as he's getting bored of being on box rest =P LOL...thanks anyway guys, he should be on the mend soon!! mandy xx ly xx
 
my friend has a 17hh warm blood,he had the same symptons as your horse her vet thought it was stringhalt,her head was wrecked,she got a second opinion off our vet who told her it was fibrotic myopothay [pulled hamstring] he only needed some physio,and bringing back into work slowly.
 
monty's perfectly fine now...i reckon it was just his back etc, injured out in the field most likley...went showjumping BSJA for the first time last saturday at Vale View EC, going to Arena UK this sunday =D British Novice and Discovery atm...next few times aswell...but then will try Newcomers and Foxhunter later on maybe =D raave...thanks 4 all the comments guys...it really helps =] mandy xx ly xx
 
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