Stringhalt

[MrsMozart]

Anyone have any experiences?

Little Lad has a tentative diagnosis. He's only 13hh though and my vet has only seen it in big horses; the reading I've done supports that.

As I don't have a jockey for him (he broncs, handstand bucks, etc.), plus he's laminitic, suffers from sweatitch, and is a bolshy little g!t, I've retired him. He is more than happy about this. So long as he comes in every week for a feed and a scratch behind the ear he'll be in clover.

 

[Rowreach]

My old hunter has had it for years. Only stopped hunting 2 seasons ago (and would still be very happy and able to go) and is on loan to a friend and does everything with her, hacking, riding club stuff, jumping. Doesn't seem to adversely affect him at all

 

[MrsMozart]

Ah, so just another 'thing' to add to LL's list

My only point of concern really was the references to brain lessions

. He really was an absolute g!t the other day. I know he can be a pr*t, but he's not normally that bad, not even after longer stints of box rest.

Ho hum.

 

[Rowreach]

Hmm if you ask 6 people you will get 6 opinions as to what causes it!

From all that you have ever said about LL there may well be something about him that makes him behave the way he does. Otherwise like you say, just add this one on the end of the list! Maybe though it is a good reason to make the decision to retire him.

 

[MrsMozart]

Good point

. He certainly is an interesting little thing. Ah well. No doubt he'll now be a happy little thing

.

Just really glad I hadn't bought him a new saddle (yet another one!).

 

[Donkeymad]

How strange, just had someone ask about stringhalt on the donkey forum. They can continue working, it shouldn't stop them at all. In fact, quite some years ago, a horse won the Grand national with it.

 

[MrsMozart]

Ta Donklet

. I only know of one horse, and he seems fine

. The vet was quite upbeat, just not aware of other little ponies. Just had to be LL!

 

[catembi]

I had an ID mare with it, & she was fine jumping, dressaging etc. She was tricky to shoe behind, so the farrier used to hold her feet v low to the ground as she *couldn't* hold them up properly. Back legs kind of went into spasm if held higher than her comfort zone.

It didn't affect her performance in any way & it didn't get worse in the 2 years that I owned her, and she passed the vet for hacking/RD level competing when I sold her.

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you C

.

If LL wasn't such a twit in all other directions, I'd try and get a rider for him, but as it is...

.

He's happy and comfortable.

 

[Kenzo]

Quite a few TB's are raced with the condition, also many horses that have sustained external leg injuries (field injuries/kicks etc) can will show signs of stringhalt after the injury has healed but after 6 months back in work this can completely disappear, therefore some horses can be mistaken for having the condition.

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you K. Another bit of info to add to the pot.

He's enjoying chilling out in the field

. Likes to come in for a cuddle, but seems to have taken to the life of the retired lol.