Is Your Horse a Shiverer?

Shivers is straightforward to diagnose when signs are clear, however, milder cases are more difficult to diagnose. If your horse exhibits muscle quivering, difficulty in backing up, discomfort while being shod on hind hooves, or other signs of Shivers, have your horse evaluated by your veterinarian.

Why would a horse be shivering?

Shivering is usually a response to cold or wet conditions. ... However, horses will also sometimes shiver if they have a fever, are stressed, are experiencing abdominal pain (colic), or are recovering from anesthesia. Any severe body-wide illness, pain, shock or exhaustion may also cause a horse to shiver or tremble.

Is Equine shivers genetic?

Researchers suspect a genetic component, considering shivers most commonly occurs in draft horses, Warmbloods, and occasionally light breeds, such as Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Shivers can be similar to other musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders, especially during the early stages of the disease.