Spotting gait problems in Shetland ponies: stringhalt and ataxia

A Shetland pony's compact build and willing temperament have made it a fixture at pony clubs from Brisbane to Bunbury. Yet that same conformation can mask the early signs of two neurological conditions that affect movement: stringhalt and ataxia. Buyers and owners who learn what healthy locomotion looks like will pick up on subtle changes long before a crisis point.

Whether you are evaluating a pony advertised on Shetland Pony Classifieds or watching one trot across the lawn at the Royal Launceston Show, the gait tells a story. This guide explains which patterns warrant a closer look, when to seek veterinary advice, and which environmental factors across Australia can influence recovery and management.

Understanding the conditions

Stringhalt shows up as an exaggerated, involuntary flexion of the hock during the swing phase of the stride. The pony may snap the foot up toward the belly before planting it back down, and the action often worsens when the animal turns, backs up, or is startled. Classic stringhalt has been linked to pasture toxicity in some international settings, while the Australian form tends to be associated with plants such as Hypochaeris radicata and certain flatweed species that flourish in temperate zones of Tasmania, parts of Victoria, and the Adelaide Hills.

Ataxia describes a lack of coordination where proprioception is compromised and the pony cannot place its limbs precisely. Unlike stringhalt, ataxia frequently affects all four limbs and can stem from trauma, cervical issues, infection, or congenital conditions. EPM is uncommon on this side of the world, so local vets lean toward cervical vertebral malformation, equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, or injury when building a diagnostic picture.

Watch the whole picture rather than a single limb. A pony that pulls its hind leg up sharply may simply be avoiding contact with the bit or reacting to an over-tight girth, while a wobbly, weaving pony on a level surface points toward something deeper.

What to watch during a visual assessment

A structured trot-up on a flat, hard surface gives the clearest read. Ask the seller to walk and then trot the pony away from you in a straight line, then back toward you, and finish with a small circle on each rein. Sound footing matters, so a quiet stretch of pavers at a property near Perth or a level yard in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales works far better than deep sand or wet grass.

From the side, look for hock action that looks mechanical rather than fluid, irregular stride length between the left and right hindlimb, or a stumble pattern that repeats. From the front, note whether the hooves track straight or whether one swings outward as it advances. From behind, watch for obvious hip hiking, loss of muscle symmetry, or that classic stringhalt flick that some owners describe as a hitch.

Soft tissue and joint noise also count. A short, choppy stride combined with an audible click can hint at meniscal or patellar issues that mimic stringhalt. A regularly handled prospect with a calm handler and consistent ground will expose gait quirks quickly rather than masking them through stress.

What the trot-up should reveal

• A clear four-beat walk with the hind feet landing in or just over the tracks left by the fronts.
• An even, two-beat trot with equal flexion through hock and stifle on both sides.
• A straight line of travel without crabbing, drifting, or repeated head bobbing.
• A smooth canter depart on each lead, without weight shifting heavily to the forehand.

Early warning signs in walk and trot

Healthy Shetland mares, geldings and stallions should track evenly on all four corners, with the hind hooves covering ground confidently. Any crabbing, dragging, or scuffing with the toe is worth flagging, especially in younger ponies under five who should still show elastic, free movement.

Specific red flags include a sudden inability to back up without knuckling over, an exaggerated upward arc of the hock that the pony cannot control, and a wide-based stance that develops while standing still. Cross-canter or disunited canter transitions also deserve attention, since these can precede more obvious incoordination under saddle.

If the pony has been clipped or trimmed unevenly, ask the seller to do another demonstration on a different surface. Many buyers attending events like Equitana Melbourne discover how much difference a level concrete strip makes compared with deep grass or wood shavings, and they learn to request a second viewing when needed.

Red flags to log for the vet

• A hock that snaps up sharply with each stride, even on the warm-up circle.
• Knuckling over at the fetlock when asked to back up.
• A wide-based stance, swaying hips, or repeated stumbling on level ground.
• Uneven hoof wear suggesting the pony has been loading one limb to spare another.

Australian conditions that influence these issues

Climate and pasture shape the picture in Australia as much as genetics do. Toxic plants that trigger stringhalt tend to dominate in regions with cool, wet springs, so parts of Victoria, Tasmania, and the Adelaide Hills often see cluster cases in late spring. Drought-degraded paddocks in western Queensland and northern New South Wales sometimes push ponies to graze unusual weeds or stressed pasture species that contain alkaloids harmful to the nervous system.

Agistment practices across the country also change how a gait presents. Ponies kept on small dry lots near suburban Brisbane or Perth often move stiffly until warmed up, while those running on large rural properties near Mudgee or Scone build muscle that disguises early incoordination. Hoof trimming intervals vary widely because farrier schedules stretch thin during busy show seasons such as the Royal Queensland Show or the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Local veterinary access matters too. Pony owners living two hours from the nearest equine practice in the Kimberley sometimes rely on a local cattle vet for an initial workup, then travel to a regional centre for nerve blocks, radiographs, or referral diagnostics. Mentioning this gap gives context for anyone weighing up whether to buy a pony in a remote area versus staying close to capital city clinics where equine specialists are within reach.

When to involve a vet and what to document

A single odd step is not a diagnosis, but a pattern repeated across two or three observation sessions usually is. Request a video of the pony trotting on a hard surface before purchase if you cannot attend in person, and keep the recording alongside any vet certificates. Australian buyers often combine this with a pre-purchase examination performed by an equine vet familiar with the Australian Veterinary Association standards and reporting protocols.

Document the diet the seller is feeding, recent changes in pasture access, and any history of injury. Stringhalt cases linked to flatweed or dandelion species often improve once the pony moves to a different paddock, though recovery can take months of careful management and supportive hoof care. Ataxia cases rarely resolve without identifying the underlying cause, so early intervention protects both the pony and the buyer's investment, particularly when a young pony is intended for showing or breeding.

Persist with questions rather than rushing a decision. A responsible seller will welcome a second opinion, share feed and farrier records, and invite a slow, repeated look. The gait changes discussed here become much easier to read once you know what you are looking for, and that knowledge protects you whether the pony you choose is destined for the show ring in Perth or a quiet life of companionship on a small acreage outside Melbourne.