Shivers - what is it? Is the horse technically unsound?

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SpruceRI

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Does it get worse with age?

Friend found her dream horse, but at vetting it was shown to suffer this disease. (Wasn't unsound until flexion tests done)

Friend gutted but the horse was up for a huge amount of money, so no consideration to say 'oh well, at a reasonable price I'd risk it'.

Friend wants to do Unaff dressage. Vet said not to touch it with a barge pole.
 
i wouldnt go there if she's buying for a purpose, as a happy hacker the horse would probably be fine for years but it does get worth with age and they need to be on a special diet, its to do with the muscles, look up EPSM on a the internet, thats the best way to find out about it. i had a horse with it who im now tryng to get back, once on his diet and getting regular exrecise he was perfect unfortuanetly the people who bought him neglected him!
 
Print out this for your mate... http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/shivers.html Prof Valberg is one of the leading researchers in the field. Also this... and anything else on Rural Heritage (that is Dr Valentine who believes that Shivers is part of teh EPSM spectrum) http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsm.htm

Prehaps the sellers woudl like this info too, so as they can manage the horse apropriately.

The condition is degenerative. It could go down hill next week or in 10 years time, no one knows. The prognosis is poor to disasterous.

Some horses respond to the diet AND exercise therapy, but few end up with no trace of a shiver and they must stay on the diet AND exercise therapy for life. It woudl be an act of insanity to breed from a shiverer because the condition is inherited.
 
my horse has shivers and competes dressage, does fun rides, XC, you name it he can turn his hoof to it


got pictorial proof that shivers is not the end of the world.

though i agree it can degenerate quickly, in our case it seems not to be the case *touch wood*

he's given us a lot to be proud about and a lot of laughs along the way

would be a poorer person to have missed out on him, despite his shiver
 
Interesting about the diet thing, a friend of mine had a shiverer and was fine until she was about 9, then went rapidly down hill.
 
Ive heard that before daisychain, altho i have to say mine is now 18 and quite strong. I did put him on the diet for 4 years until he refused to eat it again. He hasnt seemed any different off the diet either tho.
 
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