Researchers at the University of Minnesota's (UM) College of Veterinary Medicine are conducting vital research on the equine neurologic disorder shivers, and they are seeking horse owners who have animals with shivers to assist them with this effort. This disorder is characterized by excessive hind-limb flexion or extension (commonly seen after a horse backs up), muscle tremors, tail elevation, and/or difficulty in raising each hind limb (which can make shoeing challenging).

Very little is known about the disorder, and the researchers' at UM are hoping to learn as much as possible about the different faces of shivers with the study. They hope to make strides in characterizing the breeds affected, their ages, genders, family histories, locations, and how the disease progresses in these animals.

The team's preliminary research indicates there are many more clinical signs that seem to affect different populations of shivers horses, such as the forelimb and facial muscle tremors noted in some horses. Parallels are being drawn with a human movement disorder called paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD). PKD is characterized by the induction of abnormal movements stimulated when the sufferer changes direction or position.

In order to take a look at the clinical signs present in a larger population, the team is currently searching for horses with, or suspected of having, shivers. The researchers are asking owners of these animals to complete an online questionnaire and upload a simple video of their horse performing a short series of movements (including walking, circling, having their feet picked up, and backing up)