Dam headshaker

[sally2]

Any one dealt with a headshaker and what was the prognosis. Horse headshakes about 40 minutes into a hack only does it when you go into walk on the way back if you pick up the pace it stops. Does not rub nose on legs or rub head on things very settled in the field. Tried a nose mask to-day did not seem to make any difference. I have been giving magnesium for about a week to see if that helps but to soon to say. Schooled for about 30 minutes a few days ago dont remember her doing it then. Unsure about saddle as she can sometimes be awkward when mounting. Would be interested to hear if anyone else has had this and how they dealt with it have heard from a so called expert that it is the end of the road if you have a headshaker but that seems a bit extreme to me especially when it seems spasmodic and not there all the time.

 

[jenz87]

We have a head shaker, but its a bit more noticable than that, more when schooling, but will rub on you when given a chance.
We tried the net, and it didnt really do much but we use it anyway. We also tried airways suplements and helped a bit. Also was told to use sunscreen on the nose, and that also helped a bit.
But surprisingly, what has almost cured it for us anyway, is a mass dose of garlic every day, on about 4 scoops a day, and without a doubt its alomst completely stopped it after almost 3 years of it.

 

[Clava]

Head shaking has also been linked to certain types of grazing (clover and rye grasses), have a read of this yahoo list, there are some very interesting thoughts on there.http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/headshakers/?yguid=274822424

I know a couple of headshakers who totally stopped when their grazing diet was changed.

 

[speedycivic]

I would get a diagnosis from the vet in the first instance. Then you can get a confirmed diagnosis. From there, you can look at possible triggers and look at things that may help. Not all horses are triggered by the same things and many are triggered by a combination of things.
It is not the end of the road...Not necessarily. I had a headshaker for 9 years before she died ( of something else). She was diagnosed and graded at liverpool University. They grade headshakers 1-5. One being the least severe and 5 being the serverest. She was graded a 4. I tried about everything there is on her, but because she was triggered by multiple things, light, midges, pollen, no one treatment worked. The only thing that "cured" her was a nerve block affecting several of the trigeminal nerve branches.
I spent thousands on what turned out to be empty promises and I am afraid to no avail. But we learned to improve the condition using the Guardian face mask. Magnesium and Vit B tablets. Turn out at night and in during the day and other general management changes. Go with it, and when I realised there was no miracle cure. I just rode when she felt OK and when she didn't, I stopped. She had a happy and productive life.