Damaged or Painful Poll?

[Coblover63]

We are always told to be mindful of foals and not to yank then around as they can damage their polls. However, how might that damage present? I have just bought a 10-month old cob who is very sweet, wary but curious. When I put his headcollar on or take it off he bends his head away from me as I fasten the headstrap and he is "headshy" around his ears and poll. I thought it was just a lack of handling but today I'm wondering if he is sore. He was a bit of a rescue case by his previous mum, riddled in lice and worms so needed urgent veterinary treatment which I understand necessitated an element of force - I don't know how much though. This hasn't made him wary of humans as he is very friendly, he is just protective of the top of his head. If I lay my hand on his poll he will try to get away, but I can use my finger tips to give him a good scritch there and he will stand stock still and make the parrot nose! However, it might just be that he can overcome his discomfort because it is so enjoyable.

How would I determine poll damage and how would it be treated in such a young pony, please?

 

[be positive]

I had a pony come in for schooling that reacted violently to being touched around the poll, I spent the week while waiting for the physio to come taking time to gain his trust by regularly massaging the area, at first I could barely touch it but over the week he responded well and began to enjoy the mild pressure, physio was very pleased I had taken the time to do this as it made her job easier, he required a couple of treatments but fully recovered.
We think he had pulled back violently at some point, the area is very sensitive and in a youngster probably easily damaged, I would continue as you are by getting him to enjoy being handled in the area and if he still seems sensitive after a week or two get a physio in to assess him.