stringhalt?anyone with experience?

[princessa81]

my boy has been doing funny things with his back legs recently. I got someone (whom I trust implicitly) to look at him, and he thinks it is string halt. I am arranging for vet to come take a look, but I am now wondering what to do if it actually turns out to be string halt. How do I manage and what would the treatment be? I have been reading that in Oz and NZ that it has been caused by horses grazing on dandelions? I suppose I have trawled the net and read a few books on nuerological conditions but am feeling very low and lost as they say it is incurable : (

Any reassurance would be much appreciated.

Elizabeth

xxx

 

[Luci07]

I have known a couple with different degrees of severity and while it looks odd, both horses carried on jumping and hacking. One seemed to actually reduce the symptoms with more work so not the end of the world.

 

[princessa81]

I have known a couple with different degrees of severity and while it looks odd, both horses carried on jumping and hacking. One seemed to actually reduce the symptoms with more work so not the end of the world.

Thanks Lucie : )

 

[aimsymc]

I have known a few with stringhalt, one was an old mare at livery yard was pretty severe but had gotten worse as she got older in her younger years had evented to decent level. Another was a good friends horse, you would only notice first few steps in walk never in trot or canter. Never really affected him tbh. Currently another friend has a horse jumping with a rider down south and he also has stringhalt, he went to hoys last year and is improving all the time, again you only notice first few walk steps. I wouldnt panick although its not cureable I personaly dont think its the end of the world! hope this helps

 

[princessa81]

I have known a few with stringhalt, one was an old mare at livery yard was pretty severe but had gotten worse as she got older in her younger years had evented to decent level. Another was a good friends horse, you would only notice first few steps in walk never in trot or canter. Never really affected him tbh. Currently another friend has a horse jumping with a rider down south and he also has stringhalt, he went to hoys last year and is improving all the time, again you only notice first few walk steps. I wouldnt panick although its not cureable I personaly dont think its the end of the world! hope this helps

thanks aimsymc

thankfully I don't think his is severe(i'm in no way a vet!) as he only does it when it has been raining heavily. Im suprised my farrier didn't know what it is. He looked at him the other day and said he'd never seen a horse doing it or what it could be..i thought a farrier would have an idea?

 

[luckyhorseshoe]

I know a super comp horse with it. Causes him no bother and has great paces, only time you notice is when you pick out his feet.

 

[cheekywelshie]

My horse has stringhalt - he has a very exaggerated hind leg action when he first comes out of the stable or if he has been standing still a while but this goes after a few strides. He's also a bit fussy about having hid hind feet picked out , but not in a major way. I do a fair amount of xc and jumping and he doesn't seem bothered at all. Nowadays i don't jump more than twice a week but that's cos he gets bored if I do too much so I vary his routine as much as possible.

 

[princessa81]

thank you....you have all made me feel more positive : )

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Only one I knew was fine but had to be kept walking eg couldn't stand in line in a showing class waiting for the individual display bit. Stringhalt isn't a hoof problem. Maybe your farrier never saw a horse with stringhalt before.

 

[Pidgeon]

My horse has it and I've had him on NAF D-Tox which dramatically reduces his symptons. Hasn't affected what I do with him, though have a very good and sympathetic farrier.

 

[Bayneddie]

My last one had stringhalt. Like others, only noticeable coming out of the stable and in walk and gets better once been ridden for a while. Also not great at picking back legs up but manageable. Didn't alter in the time I had him and we showjumped fine with it. He's gone on to hunt fine too.
I've been told they don't even know they have it ie there's no pain and to them it feels like normal, natural movement. That made me feel a lot better.

 

[DunDally]

Mine has it too and, like a lot of the other posters say, has an exaggerated leg action in the affected leg for the frst few strides when coming out the stable. Sometimes if he will do the odd step if he is very excted. My vet said it was due to a problem with the hamstring and he was probably born like it. My daughter evented my boy and it caused him no problems at all and they were doing very well until he suffered a tendon injury (different leg). He is sound again now and out competing at dressage. He has been placed every time out since coming back to competing. We were advised to keep him fit and i think that worked as hen he was really fit and eventing regularly, we didn't even gt the steps coming out of the stable. My boy also has no problems with picking his feet up and the condition has remined the same throughout the 5 years we have had him

 

[FabioandFreddy]

Fabio has mild stringhalt - only noticeable when picking his feet or you'll see him occassionally lift and hold his leg for a second in the field! Not affected him doing anything, jump etc with him.

High oil diet is supposed to help, as is lot of turnout and exercise.

 

[princessa81]

My horse has it and I've had him on NAF D-Tox which dramatically reduces his symptons. Hasn't affected what I do with him, though have a very good and sympathetic farrier.

thanks for that! well once vet has seen him on wednesday and told me what's what il look into Naf D-tox.Thanks Mrs

Elizabeth

x

 

[princessa81]

My last one had stringhalt. Like others, only noticeable coming out of the stable and in walk and gets better once been ridden for a while. Also not great at picking back legs up but manageable. Didn't alter in the time I had him and we showjumped fine with it. He's gone on to hunt fine too.
I've been told they don't even know they have it ie there's no pain and to them it feels like normal, natural movement. That made me feel a lot better.

well thats the thing if it was/is painful I would feel bad. So thanks for helping to put my mind at rest! : )

 

[princessa81]

Fabio has mild stringhalt - only noticeable when picking his feet or you'll see him occassionally lift and hold his leg for a second in the field! Not affected him doing anything, jump etc with him.

High oil diet is supposed to help, as is lot of turnout and exercise.

Wonderful! ive got him on oil,and pink powder at the mo,but once the vet gives his diagnosis and route to take il re assess the situation. Thankfully he lives out 24/7(he wouldnt have it any other way!) I lunge him more than i ride due to the poor fields at the moment.
Thanks
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[princessa81]

Mine has it too and, like a lot of the other posters say, has an exaggerated leg action in the affected leg for the frst few strides when coming out the stable. Sometimes if he will do the odd step if he is very excted. My vet said it was due to a problem with the hamstring and he was probably born like it. My daughter evented my boy and it caused him no problems at all and they were doing very well until he suffered a tendon injury (different leg). He is sound again now and out competing at dressage. He has been placed every time out since coming back to competing. We were advised to keep him fit and i think that worked as hen he was really fit and eventing regularly, we didn't even gt the steps coming out of the stable. My boy also has no problems with picking his feet up and the condition has remined the same throughout the 5 years we have had him

thanks dundally

he has only just started exihibiting symptoms for the past couple of weeks but doesnt do it when i ride or lunge him so fingers crossed it isnt a severe case!
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