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  Discussion on Stringhalt - to buy or not to buy
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 19, 2001 - 8:32 pm:

I'm new to the horseman's advisor and need some information regarding stringhalt.

I am looking at buying a 12 year old QH mare who was treated for stringhalt in the past year. At the time she developed the symptoms she was confined to a stall - so I assume plant toxins were not the cause. She was treated with 6 doses of a drug that I cannot exactly recall - something beginning with azer....? or beginning with a z...? (Sorry, I prefer to blame the memory on kids rather than age). We have had this mare on trial for almost 4 weeks now. We have round penned her, lounged her, riddern her extensively. The only time you see an indication of the stringhalt is when you back her. When backed her left rear leg is more animated - similar to if you asked a horse to back over a log and they initially hit it and then picked their leg up higher to miss it on the second try. This movement does not go anywhere close to reaching the belly - just more animated than the right. There is no difference in any of the forward gaits. Since she was treated she has been largely on pasture and has had no recurrance of the problem. To my knowledge and the current owner's knowledge, there was no previous trauma to the leg.

This mare will be use for very light pleasure/trail riding. By very light I mean at most 10 times/month for one or two hours at a time. No performance, no showing. However, we do intend to breed this mare (very nice bloodlines) maybe 3 to 4 times.

Over the past couple of days I have read everything I can find on stringhalt, but nothing to date answers my basic questions regarding whether or not I will purchase this mare. Those questions are:

1) Is this a disease that can be passed on genetically or have a propensity to be passed on?
2) A couple of articles mentioned that it gets worse with age. Is this true?
3) It is classified as muscoskeletal by some and neurological by others. Which is it - or is it a combination of both?
4) What is the likelyhood of recurrance if it's not plant related?
5) Opinion question: If you had the opportunity to buy a horse that fit perfectly your "family riding program", had great confirmation and good bloodlines, was a proven producer and was very reasonably priced, would this condition (stringhalt) deter you from buying this horse? (Just looking for other opinions here).

Thanks for any help.
Patti

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 20, 2001 - 8:43 am:

Hello Patti,
I suspect the medication you describe is Azium, a common name brand for the corticosteroid, dexamethasone.

Taking your questions in order:
1) Is this a disease that can be passed on genetically or have a propensity to be passed on?

A genetic cause has not been hypothesized and I have not seen reports of families with this disease, but this question is unanswered at this time.

2) A couple of articles mentioned that it gets worse with age. Is this true?

See the article associated with this forum.

3) It is classified as muscoskeletal by some and neurological by others. Which is it - or is it a combination of both?

See the article associated with this forum.

4) What is the likelyhood of recurrance if it's not plant related?

Fair

5) Opinion question: If you had the opportunity to buy a horse that fit perfectly your "family riding program", had great confirmation and good bloodlines, was a proven producer and was very reasonably priced, would this condition (stringhalt) deter you from buying this horse? (Just looking for other opinions here).

The answer depends on your risk aversion and finanaces. If you can you afford both emotionally and monetarily to take this increased risk, yes I believe I would, if very reasonsably priced.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 20, 2001 - 6:09 pm:

Patti,

I leased a 21 year old warmblood for 2 years who had Stringhalt. He had had surgery a few years before which helped it for a while but the symptoms were back when I had him.

I showed him lightly in the Hunter/Jumper ring and the only time the symptoms were a problem was when we had to back him (particularly in tight spaces, e.g., into the trailer). We learned to manage it and it seemed to help him if we soothed him when it was happening.

Another issue I had was shoeing him. It was very difficult and hard on the farrier. My first farrier had known him for years and knew how to deal with him; but when I had to change farriers because mine moved out of state I started to have some issues. The solution that we ended up with was to leave him barefoot behind. Because we only rode him in the arena that was not a problem for him and everybody was happy.

This did not in any way affect his jumping and he was not in any pain. It seemed to be better when he was fit. He has moved on as a school horse and has a great life teaching new riders. You would never know he is 21 years old.

I would not let Stringhalt keep me from buying a horse that suited my purposes.

Hope this gives you another perspective.

Dawn
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