String halt the Effect of Imitation.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 201, 30 April 1887, Page 8

String halt the Effect of Imitation.

A correspondent of the Agricultural Gazette assigns a curious cause aa that which in his opinion produces that little understood complaint of horses, stringhalt. He writes : —My impression is that this peculiarity in horses is not the result of any inherent disease or contagion, but of imitation of another horse afflicted with the weakness. My impression is fouuded on the following evidence : Some years ago I was using a six years-old gelding for riding and driving. A friend from a distance came to see me, driving a etrioghalt mare. My horae and his mare were used together a good deal for two or three weeks, and from that time my horse was stringhalt. Subsequently 1 rode my horse a long day's journey with a friend who was riding a wellbred chestnut gelding, and from that day his horse was stringhalfc. On several occasions, in the course of one summer, I rode my horse in company with a neighbour who rode a thoroughbred mare, and she became strinehalt. And there were two or three instances where the imitation was not as complete and distinct. All these horses and mares were well bred, and very quick and intelligent animals. Upon' one occasion I met a very eminent veterinary surgeon who told me that the cause of the peculiarity was unknown to professional men ; and, he added, that horses so afflicted were al ways of the best class, and he never knew one cured or in any degree benefited by treatment or rest. Surely, if stringhalt was occasioned by indigestion it would occasion depression and other weakenesses. But all these horses I have mentioned were remarkable for their cheerfulness and endurance in their work, and for their good condition. My horae was never ill after he became stringhalt ; and I used him constantly until he was 20 years old.