Question

I own a five-year-old Hanoverian gelding, and he was recently diagnosed with shivers. What are your recommendations for feeding him?

Answer

I would feed a horse with shivers the same way I would a horse diagnosed with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).

I would eliminate as much of the starch and sugar from the horse’s diet as is reasonably possible. The University of Minnesota has studied the disease extensively and has an excellent website with explanations on the disease and dietary recommendations. Check it out here.

In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, KER has developed a feed specifically for horses that suffer from muscle disorders. The feed is named Re-Leve. Many horses lead symptom-free lives when fed this feed and good-quality forage, and allowed as much turnout as possible.