Matafleur
Well-Known Member
I know this is probably more veterinary but I was hoping more people in here may have experience in managing a comp horse with shivers.
A bit of background:
I have a 7 yr old KWPN mare that I bought as a 3 yr old and had broken in the spring of her 4 yr old year. She has good movement and a very good hindleg - often commented on by judges, graders etc. Ever since I've had her she has been a bit of a pain to shoe/stud behind and is noticeably worse on the left hind.
I had her looked at by the vet at the end of the eventing season in her 5 yr old year (during which she was consistently DC at PN and went Novice at her last event, 1 stop XC because I bottled it but otherwise very good). I was worried that even though there was no loss of performance there may be some pain in the leg as she was so difficult with it. Vet said no lameness evident, gave her a very small amount of sedation at which point she picked leg up without any fuss.
6 yr old year was less successful, very good at PN and 4 flts SJ and clear xc at first novice, DC at next PN but the E SJ at next Novice. I then lost confidence in the SJ and she started stopping with me. Trainer rode her and she jumped fine - he said she was not in front of my leg enough and so I was getting found out a bit when the fences got bigger. Dropped her right back to small stuff and worked on her being more forward and things improved again. I then fell pregnant before we had got back to previous level and she went on loan to my dressage trainer.
She is showing loads of promise at proper dressage, very good ability to collect, superb canter blah blah blah. But, she now needs a tiny, tiny amount of sedalin to be shod behind.
So (after my epic rambling!), does anyone have any experience of shiverers and does her behaviour sound typical? I think I have a bit of a niggle in my head about my vet diagnosing shivering as farrier has said she doesn't shoe like a typical shiverer.
Is there anything I can do with regard to her diet/management that may improve things? I have read about Shivers being linked to EPSM and that high oil etc may help?
The only sign of any problems in her ridden work are that when new lateral work is introduced she finds it harder to cross to the right(?) I think. This only seems to be when she is first learning though as is fairly even both ways once the work is established. She reins back with no problems but can look stilted behind when you first lead her out of the stable.
Thanks for reading - I'm sure I have missed out some vital info but if anyone has any suggestions I'd be grateful
A bit of background:
I have a 7 yr old KWPN mare that I bought as a 3 yr old and had broken in the spring of her 4 yr old year. She has good movement and a very good hindleg - often commented on by judges, graders etc. Ever since I've had her she has been a bit of a pain to shoe/stud behind and is noticeably worse on the left hind.
I had her looked at by the vet at the end of the eventing season in her 5 yr old year (during which she was consistently DC at PN and went Novice at her last event, 1 stop XC because I bottled it but otherwise very good). I was worried that even though there was no loss of performance there may be some pain in the leg as she was so difficult with it. Vet said no lameness evident, gave her a very small amount of sedation at which point she picked leg up without any fuss.
6 yr old year was less successful, very good at PN and 4 flts SJ and clear xc at first novice, DC at next PN but the E SJ at next Novice. I then lost confidence in the SJ and she started stopping with me. Trainer rode her and she jumped fine - he said she was not in front of my leg enough and so I was getting found out a bit when the fences got bigger. Dropped her right back to small stuff and worked on her being more forward and things improved again. I then fell pregnant before we had got back to previous level and she went on loan to my dressage trainer.
She is showing loads of promise at proper dressage, very good ability to collect, superb canter blah blah blah. But, she now needs a tiny, tiny amount of sedalin to be shod behind.
So (after my epic rambling!), does anyone have any experience of shiverers and does her behaviour sound typical? I think I have a bit of a niggle in my head about my vet diagnosing shivering as farrier has said she doesn't shoe like a typical shiverer.
Is there anything I can do with regard to her diet/management that may improve things? I have read about Shivers being linked to EPSM and that high oil etc may help?
The only sign of any problems in her ridden work are that when new lateral work is introduced she finds it harder to cross to the right(?) I think. This only seems to be when she is first learning though as is fairly even both ways once the work is established. She reins back with no problems but can look stilted behind when you first lead her out of the stable.
Thanks for reading - I'm sure I have missed out some vital info but if anyone has any suggestions I'd be grateful