Stringhalt in Horses: Welfare and Management of a Gait Disorder

Stringhalt causes involuntary hindlimb hyperflexion that varies from mild to severely disabling — welfare management depends on identifying the underlying cause.

Key Facts

• Stringhalt causes exaggerated, involuntary upward jerking of one or both hindlimbs during walking
• Two main forms: classic stringhalt (often idiopathic) and Australian stringhalt (from plant toxin ingestion)
• Australian stringhalt affects multiple horses simultaneously from ingesting flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata)
• Vitamin B supplementation and removal from suspect pasture improves Australian stringhalt
• Severe classic stringhalt may require lateral digital extensor tendon resection

Welfare Considerations

Stringhalt welfare impacts range from cosmetic in mild cases to severely disabling in bilateral cases where horses cannot walk or stand normally. The involuntary hindlimb movement is startling and distressing for horses — behavioral signs of anxiety during the abnormal movements are common. Australian stringhalt, caused by flatweed ingestion in drought conditions, can affect entire yards simultaneously and progresses rapidly to severe disability without intervention. Welfare management requires prompt identification of the cause (dietary history, pasture assessment), removal from contaminated pasture, vitamin B supplementation, and in refractory classic cases, surgical tenectomy. The prognosis is good for many cases with appropriate management.

What You Can Do

• Remove horses from suspect pasture immediately if multiple horses develop stringhalt simultaneously
• Begin vitamin B supplementation for suspected Australian stringhalt cases
• Investigate pasture for flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata) particularly in drought conditions
• Seek veterinary neurological assessment for unilateral classic stringhalt
• Discuss lateral digital extensor tendon resection with a veterinary surgeon for severe refractory cases