Here are a question and an answer which in my humble opinion demonstrate very clearly the usage of the expression in question in living English.
Question:
Our 14 year old Tennessee Walking Horse stumbled yesterday and drew her right hind leg up like a chicken wing. My wife was on her, so I hopped off my horse, ran over and helped her dismount quickly without letting the horse move. I thought she had broken a leg or something. Anyway, I started going over the leg and found no sensitive spots and after a couple minutes of my rubbing the leg good, she had her weight back on the leg. I walked her around the arena for several minutes with no indication of favoring or limping. I mounted her and rode her around the arena for several minutes with no issues. Is it normal for a horse to cramp up? We had only been riding for about 15 minutes. If yes, what's the best way to prevent this?
Answer:
If I'm visualizing that "chicken wing" motion correctly, there are three possibilities that come to mind. One is the spastic movement called "string-halt." Somehow, I tend to doubt that, since string-halt is less frequent in warm weather and is more often seen while backing or turning. Certain toxic plants can trigger string-halt, but it's usually more than a one-time event.
The second possibility is a mild colic. When a horse gets a bellyache (aka colic), it will sometimes kick at the site of the pain. Again, I have doubts about that being the cause, because it also tends to be more than a one-time event.
The third -- and to my mind most likely -- cause is a painful insect bite. Just as we will slap at a mosquito or deer fly bite, even the most well-mannered horse will reflexively kick at an insect sting.