Confussed re head shaking

[Kellyg]

I have had my Irish Cob Pony for 8 months - a few months back, before spring he started shaking his head on a hack only, it started of that he would only do it on the way home so I put it down to napping. He does not shake his head in the school at all, nor in the field. He has started shaking his head far more now and I was not sure if it could be pollen but as he never does it in the school I am unsure - also as soon as I approach the yard drive he stops, because of this I thought it was because he had a long rein and I have tried giving him more rein on hacks but he still shakes his head - I also wondered if it was his hair (he is quite hairy LOL) catching on his bridle, therefore I ensure all hair is not trapped before getting on, still shakes on hacks. I wonder if it is napping or poss could be worse due to pollen as it hs got far worse since spring.....just wondered if anyone had any advice? He is just turing 5 and is worked aprox 3/4 times a week...far more than he used to be before I got him - we have had some issues re bucking and napping but have ironed all that out with lessons and hard work - he has had his teeth checked but like I say, if he only does it on hacks is it going to be a tack or health issue (other than hayfever)?

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

If he is hairy, does any of his hair tickle his ears? sounds stupid but i know a mare that if her forlock touches her ears she head shakes like she is having a fit!! silly mare, but i guess it would tickle quite badly!!

Also, if its just out on hacks it might just be a certain type of pollen, in which case maybe using a nose net or something would help to minimise the access to the nasal cavity and aggrevating him....

OR it could just be he is getting "excited" as you are on your way home and so rather than being naughty and bolting, rearing, bucking etc he head shakes as he is like O YE GOING HOME LETS GO!!! then when u reach the bottom of the drive he chills out and is like ahh o ok back now

I don't know but htese are just some suggestions

Well done for getting the napping out btw!!

 

[teddyt]

Other than the obvious teeth, bit, tack, saddle, rider causing it, there are many other causes and unfortunately some are still unknown. You have to work through everything. Lots of info on here-

http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/dbs/research/headshaking/

 

[Barefoot4]

I have two headshakers - one from pollen allergy, one from photosensitivity. It took me 2 spring and summers to get to the root of both, and there are regrettably no cures, but it can be managed to a degree.

An immediate answer is to ride out with a nosenet and a field relief mask. My pollen chap needs the nosenet, the photosensivity chap just needs the mask. The difference in comfort levels for both was immediate and we've never looked back.

In winter with the flatter light and no pollens, both go out without any mask - as soon as we hit longer days and the pollens, masks go on as soon as the horses tell us they need them, i.e. start headshaking again.

 

[Kellyg]

Thanks for replies. I do have a nose net that seemed to help at first but the 2nd time did not seem to? I have today given his ears a trim to try stop anything getting caught - personally I dont think its saddle, teeth, bridle etc as he is more than happy in school, no shaking at all - I may also try platting his mane and forelock loosely to stop the tickling and if need be look at a mask....will have to try all sorts to eliminate - cheers ;-)

 

[Kellyg]

UPDATE: I hacked out today and had a nightmare of head shaking, he had his nose net on and I had platted his mane loose but he was worse than ever, I feel sorry for him as something is clealy bothering him, he still continued to shake when back near the yard. My friend suggested doing another mite treatement just in case but after some more research I think he could be photosensitive - therfore I wondered if anyone could reccomend a good mask to try???

 

[Barefoot4]

I find my photosensitive boy is better in a black net field relief mask, and preferably with ears. Can't remember the brand name but there are some really nice ones out there now - some with a half nose net coming right down over the nostrils. It may not be photosensitivity tho - pollens affect not just the nostrils but the eyes and sinuses too which a face net will help protect, so it may still be a pollen allergy.

My photosensitive boy doesn't shake at all with his face net. My pollen boy still shakes a bit but nothing like what he does without all the protection. Ride with a looser rein if you can, so the rein absorbs the shake and not your shoulders. If he's having a real shake fit, dismount a lead him for a bit. He buries his head in my back, I guess to stop the itchy air getting up his nose, and he calms immediately.

 

[stormybracken]

I've found "taking the time it takes" helps my head shaking pony... Certainly full face nets have worked, nose nets didn't for him, but nothing works better than slowing down when necessary, even sitting for 20 minutes in the saddle waiting for him to relax and breathe. Pollen, snow, even rain exagerate what is already going on mentally and emotionally for him, so waiting for that moment of relaxation and then proceeding at his pace mean he can be worked and ridden without the aid of a net. This is just my experience with my pony, it doesn't mean this is the case for everyone else!

 

[Birker2020]

It is my belief (although I stand to be corrected) that Headshakers lift their head up and down and not from side to side. Is this what he is doing? Fields of Rape (Oil Seed Rape) are a nightmare. Is there a farmer near you who has this crop? Has he always had this crop? Is this the first time your horse has had this reaction since you have been at this particular area?

 

[Tempi]

You say he is only doing it out hacking - if he was photosensitive then he would do it in the school aswell. I would say its more a particular type of pollen he is allergic too that you are coming accross out hacking that isnt around where you school him.

Do you use a flash with your nose net and is it an equilibrium one? If my mare dosent have her flash on with hers she head shakes all the time as it makes it flap up and down, they need something to secure them in place. I also feed my mare Pollen-X by global herbs which works really well. Takes about a month to start seeing any difference but its really good stuff.

 

[treacle_beastie]

Mine was like this - she was worse out hacking than in the school but it was always towards the end of a lesson that she started to become noticeable so I thought it was because she was tired, then I thought it was the bit she wasn't happy with, then one day out hacking she had a major bronk so I decided it was something else. I tried the nose net which worked for a bit but then she hated the nose net touching her nose and started refusing to have the bridle on.

I also noticed she headshakes all year but it gets worse when the flies are about. And she is awful in the woods where all the flies hang out.

Someone suggested i tried an ear veil - those bonnets that showjumpers have. I have only tried it twice but it does seem to have had an effect. She is very tetchy about me touching the inside of the ears maybe its the knats getting into her ears and irritating them that causes the headshaking?

Also check your horses browband is not pinching around the ears as that can cause it to.