SHIVERS

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StinkiPinki

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Hello everyone

can anyone help me with their experiences of "Shivers" in horses?

I need to know exactly what symptoms your horse shows?

Have you had your horse long and how old?

What breed/breeding is your horse?

Has the condition deteriorated or improved since you have had your horse?

What type of work does the horse do?

Has diet/management helped?

Thanks so much for your help

SP
 
My horse has and a previous horse (ex's) did too.

His horse was a belgian wb mare 16.3hh but she also had wobblers (think) and stringhalt, however she had a cracking jump helped by her brave/ boldness. Could sj or xc no prob and competed up to newcomers bsja- stopped there but due to other reasons- not her ability. She did get worse over the 8 years I had her, the last 2/3 were a struggle to get back shoes on.

My boy I have now I think is a shiverer- asked vets but they said no need to investigate unless I really want them too as (touch wood) no probs from it. He was 5 when I had him and showed no signs at all. He competed bsja up to discovery again stopped there but due to other reasons- not ability- he's better than the mare but nowhere near as brave. He also competed dressage and did v well as he moves beautifully.

For about 3 years- very rarely he used to hold a back leg up and out to the side- I thought this was a habit he picked up from the mare so thought nothing of it.
In Dec 2007 he had colic surgery which led to 4 months box rest, it was after this his leg seemed worse. He holds it up and out regularly and takes afew seconds to get it in a comfy place when being picked out/ shod. He has always struggled to rein back straight, even if asking him to move back off the ground.

As for workload he's the same as has been since I had him but no jumping- my choice! Hes schooled/ hacked mostly.

I've heard diet can help but have never tried it. I have noticed he shows less signs during summer when out 24/7
 
Thanks so much both, i am trying to get as much information as possible about as many different horses as possible, as so little seems to be known about this condition

Thanks again

SP
 
My boy has shivers.

I've had him about 18 months, he's a 14yo geldinf, ID x TB. Condition has actually improved, or symptoms have at least, since I've had him (possibly due to excellent farrier and lots of physio & osteo helping to sort out the associated muscular issues). He was diagnosed aged 4 and it has never got any worse according to his owners (have him on loan).

He does everything - all rounder. Dressage, hacks, XC, little bit of small SJ, hunted up to recently and will cub again next season.

Diet doesn't really help though there are some links with EPSM that you should read up on. I can't feed him any mixes, esp competition mixes, as they make it worse. I tried the oil diet but couldn't get enough oil into him and it didn't make a difference anyway, so he just gets adlib haylage, chaff and high fibre nuts.

Symptoms - struggles to pick up one back leg, needs to be propped against the wall for support. On a bad day, struggles to keep the other back leg up for farrier. Occasionally will kick out and shake it but that is v rare.
 
I have an old chap who's a shiverer, in the off hind. He's a 15hh welsh d x thoroughbred. I had him when he was 6 and he had the condition. He is now 25. He was used for all pony club activities, working hunter pony, be eventing, bsja. He's done everything and this hasn't stopped him. In fact, nothings stopped him, he's a bit nuts!
I don't think the condition has deteriated, he hasn't had shoes on for about 5 years so that is no longer a problem, but obviously still has them trimmed. Farrier just has to be understanding, give him a little time to try and relax, and let him lean against the stable wall. His other hind leg in vaguely affected too.
The big skill we learnt was to put studs in and pick out his feet - we just learnt to rest his leg instead of pick it up, otherwise putting studs in would have been quite hard and dangerous, it was all about trying to keep him relaxed.
We haven't done anything special to manage it.
 
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