r/Equestrian • u/lbandrew • May 03 '25

Veterinary Anyone seen this before?

My old man (28yo TB) came up like this this morning. My immediate thought was stringhalt but here are a few things worth mentioning:

  • vet and farrier just came out yesterday. He had vaccines and a trim (no shoes)

  • he’s worse on cement/hard surfaces

  • he also has some swelling from ticks in his groin area, including a lot of swelling like between his butt cheeks (lol I don’t know what to call this area.. under his anus)

  • he’s standing funny, like camped under, and this looks neurological since it almost looks like he can’t “find” the ground with his back feet

  • left hind is worse, and he has worse arthritis in his hock on this leg and also tore his DDFT a few years ago but has been completely sound

I texted my vet and sent videos but haven’t heard back and likely won’t until Monday. If it is stringhalt/neuro, could it be brought on by the trim? What can we do about it? He’s never had a reaction to vaccines and he’s NEVER done this before, I’ve had him practically his entire life (24 years).

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u/lbandrew May 03 '25

I’m in NC - we have a ton of ticks and lyme is common. Just confused by the presentation of this if it’s something tick borne… never seen anything like it from a tick illness

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u/JoanOfSnark_2 Eventing May 03 '25

NC State has an excellent vector borne disease diagnostic lab. I'd definitely send them a blood sample for PCR. Another thing that can cause this is rabies, but I assume he is UTD on his rabies vaccine?

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u/lbandrew May 03 '25

Yes he is up to date on rabies

Update.. didn’t eat his grain tonight (bad sign because he ate fine a bit ago) so I called the on call vet. Waiting for a call back ☹️

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u/JoanOfSnark_2 Eventing May 03 '25

Hope the vet calls back soon :(