Stringhalt advice/experiences

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carthorse15

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Hi, looking for advice please. My 12 year old horse has developed stringhalt in one leg, vet has confirmed. Has had a previous injury to tendon so most likely linked to this injury. Has been rested for almost six weeks and had four weeks of bute to see if would settle. However, its more or less the same, she does appear to step out of it after about 4/5 strides. Shes not in pain and very happy with having a wee holiday. Have searched and read everything about stringhalt on internet. Please can I hear from people who's horses have this condition. Explain what is classed as mild stringhalt and what is classed as severe? Prognosis. I just want my horse to hack out on a few days a week, nothing strenuous. Is this feasible? I'd be really grateful to hear your stories.

Thanks.
 
I have a 10yr old spanish x tb with mild stringhalt in one leg. He walks like he has a travel boot on the affected leg for maybe 3/4 steps when he comes out of the stable and sometimes puts in a couple of steps if he gets wound up or excited. He had the condition when we bought him as a 6 yr old. I knew little about stringhalt at the time and had a long chat with my vet, instructor and YO. YO used to do a lot of high level SJ and actually had a grade A jumper with it. Vet said if he fit the bill in all other ways then we should not rule him out just because of the stringhalt. He has been fantastic and the stringhalt has never been an issue. My daughter evented him and was doing really well until he popped a tendon. he is sound now and competing at dressage and has placed every time out since coming back to work. His stringhalt is no different today than when we got him nearly 5 yrs ago.
 
PS. With regard to exercise, we were told it was better to keep him fit and well exercised and he was ridden about 5 times a week but I have to say stringhalt was no different after 8 weeks of box rest following tendon injury and the controlled exercise after that. Now he is sound he is now back to being ridden 5 times a week (very little jumping tho).
 
Fabio has mild stringhalt. Literally the only sign is you'll occassionally see him lift his leg for a moment while he's grazing then put back down. And also when you pick his feet he'll hold his back leg up a bit more then relax.
He does everything - hack, school, jump - no issues. Never bothers him - a lot of people say they won't back up, Fab does a nice rein back!
It depends on the severity, but a lot of people compete successfully with horse with stringhalt. Sure you'll be fine if you're just wanting to hack. :)
Ditto above - keep in exercise. Also Fab is on 24 hour turnout which is supposed to help along with a high oil diet.
 
My eventer had stringhalt, just like the one Dun Dally described. Noticeable when first coming out of the stable in the morning and the occasional odd step. (In fact it wasn't that noticeable at all - the the vendors waited for me to mention it when I went to see him!!)

After talking it over with the vet, I bought him who said exactly as above and he was the soundest horse I ever had, a little TB. But I guess he was born with it, I don't think it was from an injury.

So - that doesn't really answer your question. I think it is a case of carry on and see what happens.

If you were looking to buy a horse with stringhalt I would say no if you wanted to do dressage or showing, but apart from that I didn't find that it affected his performance in any way, but I don't know if it got worse with age as I sold him when he was 12.
 
DD, FAF and OH thanks so much for your replies - sounds positive. I'm a bit of a 'glass half empty' person and haven't had much luck with horses recently, so this has come as a bit of a blow. The more I read and the more you tube clips I watch the worse I feel. So thank you for your positivity!
 
My old boy also has mild stringhalt. I did rest him for a while but as he wasn't in pain I brought him back into work and it improved massively. He's much happier being ridden and now barely does it all.
 
Apercrumbie said:
My old boy also has mild stringhalt. I did rest him for a while but as he wasn't in pain I brought him back into work and it improved massively. He's much happier being ridden and now barely does it all.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by mild? How high is the elevation? Does he walk out of it in a few strides or not?

She ooked a lot worse today and am waiting for vet to phone me back so that I can have a chat about it. Its been so wet and muddy wondered if that made it worse.

Thanks.
 
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