Thebigdog 1 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 Has anyone had any problems with stringhalt in there horses or may be a cure for this. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhaussen 3,226 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 I have seen a horse affected some years ago. Not sure that there is a cure as I seem to recall it was a nervous disorder - stand to be corrected though. It is an exagerated high hock action that can lift the hind hoof to near the horses belly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegL 5 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 Doesn't affect their ability to gallop - we had one with it who won a few races on the flat and over hurdles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairleez 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 We brought a mare over from Australia years ago, with mild string-halt. It got progressively worse as she aged. Got to the stage she couldn't go backwards very easily (not really a necessity but handy to have a reverse gear at times....)Some Auzzie bloke told me it is quite common there - they can get it from eating dandielion plants...not sure how true that is! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Vivian 742 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 I have seen a horse affected some years ago. Not sure that there is a cure as I seem to recall it was a nervous disorder - stand to be corrected though. It is an exagerated high hock action that can lift the hind hoof to near the horses belly. Yeah - I've always been told and read, that there is no cure for it. Seems to get worse as they get older. Only seen it a couple of times. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramello 0 Report post Posted July 14, 2012 We brought a mare over from Australia years ago, with mild string-halt. It got progressively worse as she aged. Got to the stage she couldn't go backwards very easily (not really a necessity but handy to have a reverse gear at times....)Some Auzzie bloke told me it is quite common there - they can get it from eating dandielion plants...not sure how true that is! but it is not caused by dandelion, it is cause by the catsear plant - unless you know the difference you would call the plant dandelion. Catsear has lots of little flower head and longer stems, with bigger leaves, where as dandelion has only 1 large flower head per stem and smaller leaves and shorter stem. We have had horses get it before, the only thing you can do is keep them calm, relaxed, and put them in the big lush paddock to help flush out the toxins, a toxic binder can also help, but because it temporary deadens the nerve endings in the back legs, the more wound up the horse gets the worse the symptoms. Quickest way to determine if its catsear poisoning, is the try and back them up. they will snatch up the hind legs, usually both, or in some causes can't back up at all. We have had horses with this before, all have recovered some longer than other, as a general rule if they dont recover within 2 years then the chance of full recovery at slim. worst thing to do is confine them, the grass helps flush it out. best way to get rid of catsear is to pull it out. It most potent in the summer when there is bugger all grass (sand country is the worst, usually around the same time as facial excema dangers.) and a big downpour of rain, will cause a fungus to grow on the plant. that is what does the damage. we have sprayed for years for catsear and it always come back, since we have been pulling the plants out, we are getting less and less, to a point that we dont have to worry about it now. We have been about 10 yrs without incident. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berri 2,131 Report post Posted July 14, 2012 It's a result of a nerve being trapped between C3 and 4, which affects the saecrum, which in turn provides the hitch in the hock, causing the leg to become raised during the gait exchange. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
