VETNOTES
SHIVERS
Shivers, which tends to affect a horse’s hind legs, can impact an equine’s competitive career and make farrier visits challenging, but many sufferers go on to enjoy happy, fulfilled lives. Vet Sarah Smith delves into the condition that is only just starting to be understood by scientists
SHIVERS IS A neurological disease that is characterised by an abnormal hind limb gait that is seen predominantly when the horse is backing up. Such a horse may lift his hind limbs high in these situations, possibly in combination with his legs shaking or ‘shivering’, or his muscles may spasm.
The neurological abnormalities leading to shivers aren’t currently fully understood, but there have recently been exciting new developments in vets’ understanding of shivers (see page 64).
Telltale signs
Shivers appears in young horses before the age of seven, and those generally affected are the large breeds, particularly draughts, warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. Male horses are also at a higher risk of developing the disease.
The signs will begin gradually and will generally become progressively worse. The starting point is often that reluctance to back up or pick up the hind limbs (although there are other, more common causes of this, particularly lameness or orthopaedic pain). After this an affected horse may start to lift his hindlegs high while backing up, or he may hold his legs high in the air, plus a shaking of the leg may develop.
