Shivers help!!

clairemassey1

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20 August 2014
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Just wondering about how people who have horses with shivers manage getting their hoofs done.
My boy is. 6yo draft x, farrier can do fronts fine, 1 hind easier than the other and the other is almost impossible! Really want them sorted so thinking about sedation, does anyone use this with good results? Hopefully in future we'll work on it loads more and he'll do it himself but at the moment I'm desperate to get it trimmed!
Also what do you feed them?

Thanks
 
My warmblood is a shiverer.
I've had him nearly 3 months and never managed to pick up his left hind!
He's shod on the fronts and barefoot behind. The farrier just leaves the backs to trim naturally and said we'll have to sedate if needs be.
Sorry that's not more helpful!

He's fed 1 scoop of Alfafa oil and a scoop of baileys no.17 topline mix twice a day. Plenty of haylage and out on grass overnight.
Haven't seen enough evidence to say diet effects shivers.
 
My warm blood also has shivers and like yours, one hind is much worse than the other. He's been barefoot all round for almost a year which certainly makes things easier, but when he was shod, the farrier just had to be really patient with him, allowing him to spasm when he needed to and also giving him a break for a few mins if he was struggling. Sometimes a quick walk round the yard would help, and then we'd get back to it. Fortunately he could hold it still for long enough for the nails to go in, but I hated seeing him flinch so that was one reason I decided to take him barefoot.

I find that propping him up and supporting him when he's having his bad foot done helps him hold it up for longer without loosing his balance.

Could u not look at taking him bare at the back? It would certainly be much easier for u both.

I feed mine Fast fibre, linseed, minerals, molasses free chaff. It's a barefoot friendly diet, but I started him on a low sugar/starch diet when I found out he had shivers. It's a beneficial diet to be on even if it doesn't help the shivers! Lots and lots of movement/exercise are also said to be effective in managing it.

Sorry for the essay!
 
The sedations looking a good option I was just wondering if it would have an affect but I've seen lots of people saying it does work. Haven't seen much on diet apart from high oil low starch being beneficial, I've had mine about 3 months too and haven't even able to ever pick out one hind hoof, they're in better condition than when I got him though and since being trimmed (on 3 anyway) they're looking better!
 
Mine is oddly a shiverer in front, he is a lot better to be shod if he is ridden/lunged just before the farrier arrives, he is a lot more supple once he has warmed up his muscles and moved around.
 
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