Ok it's been a while since I've last posted here.... Well, I'm just curious if anyone has/knows a horse with stringhalt. (Or has any information about it in general) Like, if with proper care and exercise the horse could get better...
I know that stringhalt is still something not really known about, it isn't curable (?), and sometimes occurs in heavy horses or horses that have been made to pull things too heavy for them....
I'm wondering because there's this horse I really like, 3 yrs Arab, has stringhalt, and she got worse without exercise (when she was sold; now she's back), and her stringhalt isn't as noticeable.
Umm well anyways hope to hear from someone.

I have never encountered Stringhalt, and do not know a lot about it. The only "cure" I have ever heard of for it is surgically removing the tendon that is causing the involuntary flexion. The only people I have ever heard of opting for surgery is if the horse that has Stringhalt has it so bad that the horse is literally kicking itself in the belly.

If you want more info on it, you could try doing a Google search. Go to www.google.com and type in "Stringhalt Horse". That should pop up some info for you.

Yeah I've done that (which is how I know a bit about it) I'm just curious if there's anyone who's had experience with horses that have it.

HI,

As a Veterinary Technician we actually performed stringhalt surgeries at Chambers Prairie Vet hospital and also at Paycheck. Horses with stringhalt can never be "cured" without surgery and the usefulness of a horse with stringhalt is minimal to negligible. Mares are usually kept as broodmares.
After surgery there is a lengthy and intensive post op rehabilitation that can go into the span of years. Most stringhalt horses are put down or just adorn pastures.

We live in SC in an area that has been dealing with severe drought conditions for 2 years now. Our pastures dry up pretty bad in the summer and the horses don't have much to graze so we have to give hay all year round. Because the grass dries up, we have more weeds. Last year our very healthy TB mare which we have had for 4 years started to have this weird flexion in the back legs. To make a long story short, she was diagnosed with stringhalt. I took her to Tryon Equine in NC. She spent 3 weeks there as she was being treated for an eye ulcer. The stringhalt got worse there where she had difficulty walking forwad and was totally unable to back up. I have done alot of research and spoken to everyone I can find, veterinay hospitals, toxicologist, herbalist, other horse owners, the extension agencies. I was told that there are 2 types of stringhalt. One just happens and its a neurological disorder that can be confused with EPM or shivers. The other has the same symptoms but is caused by a toxin. I found out that some horses just start to eat too many dandelions when there is nothing else for them to eat in a field. Once they have aquired a taste for it , they eat it all the time.
I had 4 horses in one field, one came down with the stringhalt. One vet said that it was impossible for the dandelions to cause this becuase dandelions are everywhere in every field and all horses eat it. I was recommend to do surgery on our TB before leaving the hospital where a tendon is severed. She has the most beautiful gaits and I wanted to see if it was really a toxin or a neurological disorder. Well, I got the mare off the dandellions and within 3 months it started to clear up and she is back 100%.
Nine months ago I rescued another TB mare, I had her in a dry lot with no lameness. Three weeks ago I put her in a larger field that had the dandellions. This week she started with the stringhalt. I am putting her back in the dry lot today and I am spraying again. This tells me that it is the weeds as this mare got sick after she ate the weeds for 3 weeks. You might have one horse in the herd to get it, the rest might be fine. I think that the reason is that one horse probably eats more weeds. My advice is, check your pastures, get rid of the weeds, if your horse has stringhalt, GET THE HORSE OFF THE WEEDS, wait a few months and see if it clears up before you go doing surgery. Stringhalt is a rare condition but I think that due to the climate change in our region, we are seeing more of it. It has been frustrating because at this time none of the equine hospitals are interested in studying the problem. Unfortunately, there is only speculations, no medication, not a whole lot of help out there.

Thanks for posting. Good advice. I've owned horses my entire life but have never actually seen a horse eat dandelions or VERY rarely any type of yellow weed (which supposedly all yellow are not good for horses). Glad you were able to figure out the problem.

You are right, it is one of those things that is hard to get a definate answer on.
I currently have a 5 yr old Arab gelding with stringhalt in his right leg. He as most arabs do, has very straight legs, which also puts more stress in general on them. Whether it is related or not he has bog spavins in both hocks.
I have not found any relation in his workload directly related to his episodes, although he would be considered to be in light work 3x week about 45-1 hour each time. In a ring, so no hills. As far as the dandelions, that is funny. The owners who have a small 15-20 horses all nation quality Arabians feed dandelions as a treat. They actually pick them, cut the root stem off and feed, maybe daily. That has not effected him adversely either. Research does say- that removing the horse from pasture may help.
The only thing that I have had generally consistant help with are the Norfield magnetic hock boots. When first used, just because of it being different he would really elevate his leg, which would trigger a spasm. After he was used to wearing them, he wouldn't do that "knee jerk" reaction. We used mostly for maintnance, but if not used for awhile and he starts with spasm's, used for 3 days consecutively, he wouldn't have another for apprx. 2mths or longer.

On a personal note-you say there is a 3 yr old that you really like. There are enough good horses without medical issues, that if you are thinking about buying her, I just wouldn't.