NSD
Member
Hi all could you give me your thoughts on what I'm experiencing with my mare please. Bit of background - I've had her since a 2 year old and she was in the same home since birth prior to me so know her full history. Hs no problem with ears or face being touched, has had full work up by very highly regarded equine physio and no pain/ discomfort or abnormality found and the vet has carried out a neuro workup on her and says everything is as it should be. Saddle has been checked firs well and is lightweight.
Was always completely normal having a headcollar put on and off but disliked from the start having a bridle put on over her ears (threw head about a bit nothing spectacular).
She is now rising 5 and we are simply hacking out for a couple of hours in walk and a tiny bit of trot a couple of times a week. Around 6 months post being backed she started headshaking slightly when ridden, not the normal head up and down shake, it is like a dog shakes its head when it gets wet. Its not constant, once every couple of minutes or so but will start the moment the bridle is put on, until it is taken off. I have tried various different types of anatomical headpiece which haven't helped at all and am now riding in simply a headpiece (no noseband or browband) with a comfort poll guard on the headpiece that I have to undo to put on and take off over her neck rather than putting it over her ears. She doesn't even like the reins being put over her head, I have to take those apart too. By the end of the ride she is so irritated by the bridle that she is rubbing her head all over me while I'm trying to untack her. The minute her bridle is off, she is absolutely fine and doesn't shake again.
While I am riding she has also started doing full body shakes (again like a dog when it gets wet) and twitching her neck/wither area as it she has a fly on it. Again she doesn't do this at all when not being ridden.
She is a very thin skinned mare and very sensitive and all of this only occurs when ridden. (I have ridden her in a headcollar too but she still does it). She just doesn't like anything around the back of her ears although she is fine to have her ears touched like I said before.
I have just started her on magnesium as I thought it could be nerve related what with the twitching and shaking. I have done a bute test to rule out pain but she still did it. I have tried her on antihistamines but they made no difference and she doesn't this in all seasons and all weather. I cant put an ear bonnett on her in case she is being bothered by anything as she wont have it near her ears. She does have a very thick mane and forelock that could possible tickle her ears so I have taken that really short to rule that out. I did previously tried plaiting her forelock and the first 3 inches of mane to stop if toughing her ears but she didn't like the plaits either and shock her head until the bands and plaits fell out!.
I really don't know what to think of next - any one have any ideas or throughs of what is irritating her?
Thanks in advance
Was always completely normal having a headcollar put on and off but disliked from the start having a bridle put on over her ears (threw head about a bit nothing spectacular).
She is now rising 5 and we are simply hacking out for a couple of hours in walk and a tiny bit of trot a couple of times a week. Around 6 months post being backed she started headshaking slightly when ridden, not the normal head up and down shake, it is like a dog shakes its head when it gets wet. Its not constant, once every couple of minutes or so but will start the moment the bridle is put on, until it is taken off. I have tried various different types of anatomical headpiece which haven't helped at all and am now riding in simply a headpiece (no noseband or browband) with a comfort poll guard on the headpiece that I have to undo to put on and take off over her neck rather than putting it over her ears. She doesn't even like the reins being put over her head, I have to take those apart too. By the end of the ride she is so irritated by the bridle that she is rubbing her head all over me while I'm trying to untack her. The minute her bridle is off, she is absolutely fine and doesn't shake again.
While I am riding she has also started doing full body shakes (again like a dog when it gets wet) and twitching her neck/wither area as it she has a fly on it. Again she doesn't do this at all when not being ridden.
She is a very thin skinned mare and very sensitive and all of this only occurs when ridden. (I have ridden her in a headcollar too but she still does it). She just doesn't like anything around the back of her ears although she is fine to have her ears touched like I said before.
I have just started her on magnesium as I thought it could be nerve related what with the twitching and shaking. I have done a bute test to rule out pain but she still did it. I have tried her on antihistamines but they made no difference and she doesn't this in all seasons and all weather. I cant put an ear bonnett on her in case she is being bothered by anything as she wont have it near her ears. She does have a very thick mane and forelock that could possible tickle her ears so I have taken that really short to rule that out. I did previously tried plaiting her forelock and the first 3 inches of mane to stop if toughing her ears but she didn't like the plaits either and shock her head until the bands and plaits fell out!.
I really don't know what to think of next - any one have any ideas or throughs of what is irritating her?
Thanks in advance
