Hayfever or just babyish???

[PeggyPatch]

I have a pony who has recently been backed. She's never been a massive fan of anything on her head or people touching it particularly so a bridle is of huge annoyance. She also got diagnosed as having a slight allergy to something last year (vet thought it was dust but ventrapulman didn't seem to help so was inconclusive).

I've been riding her out and she gets rather annoyed with her bridle, shakes her head, rubs on her leg etc. I'm wondering if this is hayfever or her just being annoyed with the bridle.

She occasionally has a dry cough (isn't every time she's worked and is only usually the first time we trot after that it stops) and her nose sometimes runs clear when working. I'm obviously keen to help her out but haven't had a horse with hayfever before so wanted to find out if this was sounding like the symptoms or if it sounds like something else?

When I get home from a ride she's usually got a very itchy head (all over) and wants to rub so I'm not sure if it's just her being agitated or an allergy. Any help would be great.

 

[wish upon a star]

Not sure whether it's any help but my youngster is the same, funny with her bridle and touching or brushing her head but then wants to rub like yours. It randomly came on at Christmas so had her teeth done and there were a couple of sharp hooks which had nicked her cheeks so that was obviously uncomfortable. After they were rasped she started to accept the bridle and bit and was more relaxed with it. Not had a problem until last week where she was funny again with the bridle so took the noseband off and she's loads better but will get the dentist again just in case.

 

[PeggyPatch]

I had her teeth done because I was worried and hers were similar to yours accept she carried on. I do occasionally ride her in a bridle with no nose band and she is possibly better actually thinking about it. It's hard to tell though because I use that in the school I'm not in there very long so she doesn't seem to get as annoyed. Maybe I'll try hacking out with no nose band and see if it's that.