Shiverers - your experiences

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Alfami

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Hi all,

My 16yo TB has been a shiverer (RH) all his life, but it does appear to be worsening slightly. I'm aware that the veterinary profession doesn't exactly know what causes it and feel that it's untreatable BUT I just wondered if any wise souls on here had had any success with 'alternatives' in easing the problem slightly?

If you'd watched him throwing himself round the paddock last night you'd swear it wasn't a problem at all :D, but it does appear to be ever-so-slightly altering the flight of that leg (slightly reduced hock flexion) - with resultant back pain. He therefore struggles with flatwork or any intensity of jumping exercise.

Any ideas gratefully received........
 
I have a 26yo wb x tb, he's a shiverer and has been for god knows how long. I've recently started feeding him linseed (for condition) but since he has been on this his shivers seemed to have lessoned slightly. I have also found he is better being turned out for as long as possible. I was told the less work he is in the less it would effect him but i've found that he is better being in slightly more work. My lad point blank refuses to lift his LH (his affected leg) but does a great job of self trimming it. He also has slightly reduced flexion in hock and I actually wondered if he was suffering with any back pain due to it. I also wondered if he had a touch of arthritis in this hock (due to his age) I now have him on 'NoBute' and he seems so much better, much happier and moving better as well :-)
 
I have to say, since my boy has been on linseed (a heaped mugful a day) his symptoms seem to have lessened... also, supplementing him with vitamin E and Selenium has helped too... obviously keeping him as fit as possible and givbing him regular massage (I invested in an equissage pad) has also helped... not sure that my boy is an actual shiverer but he has displayed classic symptoms at only 5 years old :(

pole work and stretches have also proven beneficial..
 
Thank you so much for your replies. Linseed it is then! (Although I'm a little concerned about feeding it as he's a ntural fatty ;)).

FWIW - he lives out 24/7 at the mo (& did all winter) so it's not stable restrictions that are causing the issues. I think perhaps he needs to be fitter!

Thanks guys. X
 
is shivers related to string halt? my horse has started to exhibit symptoms of lifting his back legs really high when he walks.once in he shivers and has slight muscle spasms in his neck? vet coming up to check him over. : (
 
My 17yo is a shiverer, diagnosed age 3 or 4 I believe. I've had him for 4 years and it has got a bit worse but not by a huge amount. Farrier has said to me he'll eventually be unable to shoe him but TBH he has enough other ailments that will see him off before the shivers becomes unmanageable.

I feed linseed meal which helps a lot. I couldn't get the huge amounts of oil into him required by the EPSM type diet, he won't eat it. He's a v good doer but I don't find the linseed puts weight on particularly (so he must be using it/need it). I also find that he benefits from regular work and as much TO as possible. My vet did say at Xmas that he's noticed some reduction in hock mobility on the affected side and increased stiffness but he's not concerned.
 
ooh interesting post I have a shiverer only had him a year and was straight away got fit for hunting it was very mild and didn't even show up on the vetting. I have his back done regularly and this plus being in work seemed to keep it under control.I roughed him off over the summer and it seems to have got worse!! He is currently on box rest after being tangled up in a fence which hasnt helped and is shivering quite badly I am going to get back man out when wounds settle down but was interested to read that lots of you seem to think the linseed helps , can you tell me how you feed this as in linseed oil or boiled linseed? I don't really want to faff about with boiling it so is the linseed oil just as effective??? Thanks
 
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