Re: Shivering Horses
Joyce Kellenberger (joyce@homer.ca.boeing.com)
Mon, 18 Nov 96 22:10:22 PST
>
> Question - sorry if it sounds stupid - when a horse is shivering
> visibly, does it indicate that the horse is cold?? or does it indicate
> another problem??
>
> Feeling guilty -
>
> Stacy
>
>
The November/December issue of Trailblazer that just came out has a couple
of paragraphs regarding shivering in the article written by Nancy Loving, DVM,
Winterize Your Horse. Nancy says that on a short term basis, shivering puts
your horse's muscles to work to generate internal heat to warm the body. If
allowed to shiver for more than a few hours, it can be exhausting to your horse.
She suggests feeding more hay during cold, wet spells. Heat is generated by
the fermentation process that takes place by digesting hay in the large
intestine. This confirms some recent study I've been doing along the lines
of nutrition - hay vs. grain/ roughage vs. fat for specific needs.
Anyway, the Trailblazer magazine is excellent this month, as usual.
Joyce
PS. Yes, your horse is cold.