Gutted & worried, headshaking

Janah

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To give you the full story,

My boy, 2 yrs ago started headshaking in the spring. I kept him in in the day and that seemed to stop him doing it. I thought a pollen allergy.

Last spring he became worse, repeated keeping him in by day, sorted.

The other day he started headshaking again, very mild. Today he is headshaking violently. He is turned out and he was throwing his feed all over the place. He seems stressed in himself and tense.

If he is still doing it as badly tomorrow I will get the vet out. I just don't know what can be causing it this time of year. I did think maybe something in his hay? I don't soak for long, just to dampen it, say 1/2 hour.

Any suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Jane
 

MrsMozart

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I did some reading up on this last year, when I thought Dizz might be a head shaker (turns out she's not, she's just a twit).

Trying to remember it all, but as LB says, light seems a trigger, as do the allergens.

The Cashel riding mask seems effective for some, or just the nose net (we tried the nose net, but Dizz just played with it :rolleyes:). Also Piriton type medication.

Don't fret yourself into a state m'duck, wait 'till the vet has been and go from there.
 

welshcobmad

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Weeds like stingy nettles & trees dropping leaves still release pollen at this time of year - found this out as currently going through similar except my boys pollen allergy makes his breathless to the point of being unrideable. Only developed this year so trying all kinds of things.
 

mik

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Hell I am so glad with my lad it isn't light, as we are in Andalucia, I don't think I'd have a chance in ever riding him. My lad is just hypersensitive of anything that might fly past his eyes, nose etc, from dust, flies, even to his hair when I am clipping, Nose net on and he realises it won't go up his nose and relaxes.
 

mystiandsunny

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My headshaker is worst in November/early December - worse than she is in the spring/summer. It's allergy related for her and actually affects her breathing at this time of year. I feed Global Herbs Airways Plus (works better for us than their actual headshaking supp) and it helps hugely - so much so I hardly notice any symptoms. So don't despair, you could still be fighting allergies.
 
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