causes of headshaking

[lisa111]

I have just bought a 6 year old mare who headshakes however it isnt constant as she will work in an outline for a period of time then start again and she is worse indoor than outdoor. she has had her teeth done what other causes could there be?

 

[maletto]

Have you had her back checked as well as her teeth? It's often a sign of discomfort.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

This may help:
http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/dbs/research/headshaking/
http://www.equiwinner.com/headshaking.htm

 

[Emmak12]

My mare head shakes. She had really bad teeth when i got her, but the headshaking continued. My instructor also thinks she does it sometimes as a stroppy response. We managed to get her to come onto the bit and it seemed to work really well!

However, she head shakes all year round, there are some horses who are only seasonal head shakers. This could be due to oil seed rape (the yellow stuff you see in all the farmers fields). Some horses also suffer from hayfever, which could cause this. There are supplements you can get for this such as global herbs pollenex.

Some horses have very sensitive noses, which react to dust and cause them irritation, there are nets you get get to put over the nose, which have been proven very effective from many owners.

You say you have had your horses teeth checked? have you had the vet look at him/her. I know someone whose horse had a tumor in the nose. Dont mean to scare you but best to check it out, if you think it fairly severe.

Hope that helps

XxEmmaxX

 

[timmyhorse]

I had a horse who head shook, only in the summer, I never got to the bottom of why but a nose net from equilibrium solved the problem. I've recommended this to a couple of people since and its worked.

If you think it is respiratory based which i always thought was the case with my horse NAF Respiraze supplement is also good.