This
involves a 17.2hh Belgium Warmblood gelding, 11 years.
He is said to have stringhalt, but he has no exaggerated
lifting of the hind legs in walk, his walk is normal,
albeit rather stiff. However, when he is standing still
his leg will come up and out to the side - much like a
dog going to the toilet, which is an involuntary
movement. He will also carry a leg sometimes for a
stride. If you reverse him his leg will often come up as
well.
He is out of work at the moment, and has been for 2
years - for various unconnected reasons, and has
deteriorated. We have started pole work with him and
leading in hand and he seems better - more likely to
trot of his own volition rather than walk to canter. He
is out 24/7 and his back is treated every 6 months and
if fine (M Craib).
Reading in the green vet book (Hayes?) I'd have said it
was shivers rather than stringhalt - what do you guys
reckon? And thoughts on how best to improve him and
strengthen him from the ground (no school and dark
nights approaching!!)
I would do
anything very slowly - no work in trot or canter until
he is much stronger. I would do work in walk and
start off with simple work walk and halt on straight
lines - i.e. very short hacks. You will need to do some
massage type work - I don't have any recommendations on
the type but I am sure that there are plenty of good
books about. Keep work sessions short and give plenty of
rewards. I have helped a horse with stifle problems (due
to size and young age) and it has all been about short
amounts of slow work with no sharp turns, adding in some
simple walk pole work for interest. Make sure that you
boot him up well to protect his legs and feet from any
mishaps. Break him to long reins and take him for long rein walks when you can.
There's a
lot of research being done on Shivers in the USA by a
woman called Beth Valentine - check out this link.... http://home.earthlink.net/~brad9033/Draft_EPSM.html
The basic message is that it's a condition common in
large horses, usually with draught blood in them, caused
by an inability to process food properly. It can
be treated by a high fat diet, which is detailed on the
website.
I found the site a couple of weeks ago, when a beautiful
18hh 3 year old on our yard was suspected of having
shivers.... however, the vet's opinion now is that it's
a slipping stifle caused by growing too fast, and
hopefully it will correct with time and light exercise.
