Question

My 10-year-old draft horse weighs about 1,800 lb (820 kg). He’s in average body weight, as I can feel but not see his ribs. He’s never stalled and is ridden twice a week on trails. He is fed three-quarters of a scoop of ration balancer a day in addition to pasture or hay. Because he has shivers, I would like to know the best way to feed him. The vet tested his vitamin E level this summer, and it was normal to slightly elevated. Any help is appreciated.

Answer

Shivers is a chronic neuromuscular syndrome in horses. According to experts, horses with shivers benefit from turnout and a consistent exercise regime, so this part of your management plan is ideal. Having your horse’s vitamin E status checked was a prudent step on the part of your veterinarian. Though vitamin E supplementation will not reduce clinical signs, it is thought that supplementation to correct or prevent deficiencies may help slow the progression, as vitamin E is an important antioxidant for muscle and nerve health.

Having access to fresh grass is key to maintaining vitamin E levels. During the winter, when hay is the primary forage, you may want to consider adding a natural-source vitamin E product to maintain your gelding’s vitamin E status. For example adding 4-8 ml of Nano-E will meet his vitamin E requirement (1,000-2,000 IU/day) when fresh grass is unavailable.

The primary goal in feeding horses is to offer a nutritionally well-balanced diet. In addition to vitamin E supplementation, I would make sure you are feeding the balancer pellet at the manufacturer’s recommended level based on his weight to ensure he is receiving optimal nutrition.