is it stringhalt??

[mybaileysglide]

when i go to pick out my 11 yr old 15.2hh warmblood's hind feet or lift her hind legs (especially the left one) she picks up her foot really high, kicks out and then holds it up shaking it a bit. i dont think she tries to kick me or anything as she is a really sweet mare but i think she is in pain, she has done this ever since i brought her (about a year ago) but it wasnt as bad then and it gets worse in the winter. she doesnt exagerate lifting with here hind legs when moving, but when i ride her she tends to colaps a leg sometimes, like just drop it. a farrier said it might be stringhalt, but i dont know so if anyone could help me out and share their thoughts on this i would appreciate it.

 

[Sam22]

It sounds more like a shiverer to me. If you google search shivering and stringhalt (in horses!) you will find good videos to compare to you horse. With stringhalt horses tend to snatch their leg up quickly when they walk then place it normally. shiverers do as you describe. When you pick a leg up they snatch it up and "shiver". Shiverers also really struggle to go backwards so try backing your horse up in the morning and see if they shiver then. the biggest problem with shivering is if it is so severe they cannot stand to be shod and often end up having to go without hind shoes. It is difficult to predict if it will or how fast it may progress. It is a neurological disorder. There is no specific treatment but a high oil diet can help. I mean as much oil as you can get her to eat but increase it gradually as oil is not very palatable.

 

[SophieLouBee]

My big boy has had a slight shiver since birth, he's 16.2 and was born out of a 14hh mare! Difficult birth, and probably quite cramped in the womb. However, this has not got any worse over his life, he's 16 now!

All he does is pick his hind leg up extra high when you ask him to lift it, holds it there for a second, then relaxes. Also when he has been stood still for a period of time, then walks off, he lifts it up and out for a few strides. As Sam22, he can't go backwards very well either! He has been looked at by a few vets, he is not in any pain at all, and gets on with his life. (he is professionally dressage trained) as it does not affect him when in exercise.

On the other hand I know a beautifull ex dressage horse who has very painful, regular shivers, who has to be bandaged all the time as his legs swell up. On his off days he can't walk and the only way to ease the pain is to walk him and get the swelling down, slightly difficult! He also can't go backwards atall! The vet advised his owner that she NEEDS to make sure he is lightly exercised on a regular basis as it will help him greatly, and

Definatley get it looked at by a vet! It could be something or nothing, but it's better to know what you are dealing with sooner rather than later

 

[EQUISCENE]

For your piece of mind I would get a vet to look at your horse as it could be other things such as arthritis..

 

[ImogenBurrows]

Sounds like mild shivers to me. get a vet to check the horse over!

 

[tootsietoo]

I got a 12hh pony in the summer who I thought had stringhalt, and it turned out to be arthritis in her hocks (bone spavin is the old name for it I believe). You probably do need to have a vet look at it.

 

[Tnavas]

I'd be inclined to have a chiropractor look at her - not liking to pick back feet up, snatching away or lifting very high is often a sign of a sore back.

 

[RolyPolyPony]

I agree that it sounds like shivers. My boy is a 25yr old 17hh wb x tb and has always had shivers. He does exactly what you described when trying to pick up his near side hind, it can sometimes take up to an hour to trim that hoof. I would get a vet out. I'd even be tempted to then get another vet out for a second opinion as i know horses who've been diagnosed as having stringhalt when they've actually had shivers.

 

[Pidgeon]

Sounds like Pidge. Second getting the vet out as well. However I've had great success with feeding Pidge NAF D-Tox which has helped tremendously.

 

[mybaileysglide]

thanks everyone, i will be getting the vet out as soon as i can

 

[Tr0uble]

Worth considering EPSM also....do you feed any oil?