Curious someone educate me, seasonal headshaker?

Yes it can be really bad, if not worse than you can imagine, if they are very stressed it can mean constant pain for the horse for the entire summer, possibly longer depending on what causes the reaction and how distressed they get by it, some cannot lead a normal life and certainly cannot be ridden without risk to themselves and the rider.
If mild symptoms are less serious, my horse shows no sign in the field apart from needing a fly mask to help reduce the pollen, he is ok ridden in a school, on the roads if not too many trees but is a nightmare on the bridleways with overhanging branches hedges attracting insects which contributes to his reaction if they touch his face.

People have had horses pts rather than keep going with the distress it causes so I would consider the price irrelevant, he could be very expensive if he cannot cope with life wherever he ends up. Someone on here had one pts not long ago with the same condition, another Irish import that was not seen before purchase.
 
be positive said:
Yes it can be really bad, if not worse than you can imagine, if they are very stressed it can mean constant pain for the horse for the entire summer, possibly longer depending on what causes the reaction and how distressed they get by it, some cannot lead a normal life and certainly cannot be ridden without risk to themselves and the rider.
If mild symptoms are less serious, my horse shows no sign in the field apart from needing a fly mask to help reduce the pollen, he is ok ridden in a school, on the roads if not too many trees but is a nightmare on the bridleways with overhanging branches hedges attracting insects which contributes to his reaction if they touch his face.

People have had horses pts rather than keep going with the distress it causes so I would consider the price irrelevant, he could be very expensive if he cannot cope with life wherever he ends up. Someone on here had one pts not long ago with the same condition, another Irish import that was not seen before purchase.
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Thank you, how horrendous! What causes it is it allergy related or trauma?
 
Yes, a friend ended up having to have her horse of a lifetime PTS because his headshaking was so bad. She tried absolutely everything, including surgery, but it was still so bad that he'd sometimes shake himself right off his feet. Having seen how much suffering it can cause, it's one of those things that I'd never knowingly take on.
 
One of mine started to head shake a few years ago after moving fields next to rape, it was awful to watch.
Vet suggested steroids but I tried global x and fortunately it eased and we moved him away.
I found it really stressful and helpless watching him as it was relentless in the field and riding. I would never want to purposely buy a head shaker
 
Depending on the severity it can make the horse worthless. Even a mild heasshaker can mean it’s unrideable for the summer months. It’s one of those things that there’s no one cause and no treatment that is guaranteed to work, so its frustrating and potentially expensive.
 
My mare's been a bit of a headshaker; she'd apparently passed a vetting (in Ireland!!) before I had her, then she'd been used in a RS set up, they didn't say she had this problem...........

It got noticeably more pronounced during the spring/summer; I went to a horsey car boot sale and saw a little nose-net for sale for two quid! Brought it home, put it on her, problem improved by at least 95% I'd say, yes she was a bit stressy as the dang flies were around, but she was no worse than any other horse riding through a very bad summer for flies would have been.

Recently she's started not wanting her bridle on; she's a very honest mare and if there's a problem she'll say. Vet out and found a problem with her teeth which was sorted, plus we've changed her bit as she has a cobby mouth in that she's got a large tongue and we think the ported pelham she was in was catching her in the roof of her mouth. Vet did say though that sometimes there's a neurological problem with headshakers i.e. trigeminal neuralgia, which can cause it.

Touch wood, she's not headshaking at the moment. Hoping that we have indeed sorted it, fingers X'd.

But I would however not consider purchasing something which has a headshaking problem. Someone in my area had a horse which headshaked and it had to be PTS as there was nothing anyone could do. This was after extensive behavioural and veterinary investigations.

Sometimes with a "headshaker" it can be something as simple as changing the bridle, putting on a larger browband, taking off the noseband, or indeed changing the bit, plus getting a thorough teeth, back & saddle check. Or trying something as simple and as cheap as a nose-net!

However sometimes there can be something more going on, and without investigating (and spending a LOT of money) you're not going to know.

Personally I'd be inclined to pass this one by.
 
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