This paper deals with the study of the transverse wave propagation in a string resting on an elastic-inertial foundation. A self-consistent dynamic problem is herein considered for a system composed of a one-dimensional flexible guide (string) and an elastic-inertial foundation. As a foundation model the Vesnitsky’s model was chosen. The set of equations is reduced to one fourth-order cubic-nonlinear equation relative to transverse displacements of the string. Depending on the string and the elastic-inertial foundation mass ratio, the evolutionary equation has the following three extreme events: the modified Ostrovsky equation, the Riemann equation with a cubic nonlinearity, the equation for an anharmonic oscillator with a cubic nonlinearity.