Stringhalt is a neurological condition causing dramatic involuntary hindlimb jerking in horses. Understanding its causes and management helps improve welfare for affected animals.
Horses with stringhalt experience visible difficulty moving and may be in genuine discomfort depending on severity. Australian stringhalt outbreaks affect multiple animals simultaneously and create welfare emergencies requiring prompt management changes. The welfare response includes removing affected horses from contaminated pasture, supportive nutrition, and monitoring for spontaneous improvement. Surgical intervention for classical stringhalt can restore near-normal gait and quality of life. Affected horses should not be worked during active symptoms.