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Stringhalt...???

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Stringhalt...???
  • Does anyone have any helpful advice or information regarding the condition of 'stringhalt' in horses? My mare is showing a unilateral abnormal gait in the left hind leg where she lifts it in an exaggerated and prolonged way, towards her belly, before stomping it down with every step she takes. A friend of mine told me it was stringhalt. I did some research on the Internet and from the videos I've seen, my mare has this condition. She is 15 years old and was moved to a new pasture 3 weeks ago. The condition showed up about 4 days ago. We have searched the pasture and have found no suspicious weeds in it (it's really beautiful grass). The hay is from the same guy and from the same fields as the last two years. None of the other 3 horses have it. She was violently kicking out at the new mare we brought in about a week ago (although not ever making contact that we could see or determine) and about a week ago she clocked her head pretty hard on one end of the loafing shed as she was going after this new mare. After she hit her head, right above the eye - shaved the skin off the area, she staggered around and shook her head a bit. I was worried about her but she seemed to pull out of it.
    From what I can tell the prognosis isn't all that great. Anyone have any experience with this condition or any success stories. Any suggestions on what I might try? Hers isn't a severe case and it seems a little intermittent - more pronounced on some steps, slightly noticeable on others and barely there at the trot. Thanks a bunch!
  • My neighbor breeds horses and he's had two born with stringhaltwithin the last three years... first cases he's ever had.
     
    I personally don't know much about it, but my neighbor said that with his horses who had it (they've both been sold now) it only came about when they were still or laying down for long periods of time... when they stood up and walked, they jerked their legs up and out for the first few strides then they've be ok for the rest of the time. I know that there is some sort of surgical procedure or something like that that can get rid of it (I think...) but, in the words of my neighbor, if it isn't that bad, then it probably isn't worth paying all the money to fix.
  • Thanks for the info...I agree with your neighbor about not paying a lot of money if it doesn't seem to be causing pain. I've gotten some advice about mineral supplements so I will try that. I'm going to wait a little bit and watch what happens...as of now it doesn't seem to bother her. However, it doesn't seem to be something related to laying down...she has it constantly.