Advice re. head tossing/sneezing. Also in Vet.

[AFlapjack]

Also posted in Veterinary.

Friend's mare started throwing her head up and down during this year's shows. We thought of it as a boredom/tired 'thing' as pony rarely does it at home and it's the first year we've been able to take her out and about (had her for a year at the end of April).

Fast forward a couple of months to today. I was schooling her and she was tossing her head up and down nearly every stride (trot) and sneezed quite a few times too. Called it quits after about 20 mins as there was obviously something annoying her.

Could she have an allergy? Hay fever? Could it be the flies bothering her? She is fine in the field and when standing (minus in the line up at shows). Lives out 24/7.

Any advice greatly appreciated

 

[Strawbz]

A couple of people on the IHDG have posted about their success with adding salt and magnesium to feeds. Might be worth a look.

 

[AFlapjack]

Thanks. She gets magox in her feed (pro balance) and has access to a salt lick.

 

[AFlapjack]

Bump.

 

[Strawbz]

Apparently horses cannot get their daily needs from a salt lick.

 

[TigerTail]

Have a read on here

http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com

A salt lick isnt enough for some horses, especially those with metabolic problems - which is where head shaking stems from, there are triggers like pollen/wind etc but these are a symptom rather than the cause.

 

[AFlapjack]

Ok brill. Will have a read. Thanks

 

[AFlapjack]

Very interesting, thanks for the link. They say sea salt is best. Where does everyone buy their salt from? X

 

[The wife]

Shall be watching this with interest. Have never had a problem before with head tossing (definitely not a shaker) and know of 2 friends who have horses like this.

 

[pennyturner]

If it's a pollen allergy or similar, you can treat by smearing vasaline in the nostrils. I did this for a pony with rape allergy, and it worked a treat. Also good for human hay fever!

 

[Maximoose]

If you find it is a pollen allergy try either a nose net or Global Herbs Pollen Ex. I find I need a combination of the two for my TB, the Pollen Ex keeps him happy in the field but need the net as well when I hack out. One without the other doesn’t work for me.

He is particularly bad when the oilseed rape or hawthorn is in flower.

On the other hand Vaseline is a much cheaper alternative to try – may have to give this one a go myself.

If you do decide to use Pollen Ex I feed full dose at first (so 50 mL a day for a 16.1) introducing as and when he starts sneezing (usually March/April). I then find I can drop the dose as low as 35 mL every other day once the pollen calms down a bit and it is still effective. It also comes in a powdered form. A 5L container lasts me the whole summer and works out cheaper than individual bottles.