Head shakers........

[jess2353]

just looking to see what people have done to cure/lesson the problem with things like nose nets ect.....
Vets due soon to determine wether my mare is a head shaker.

 

[Keenjean]

One thing that has made a MASSIVE difference for me is putting the forelock in a plait and having a bridle path cut in. The horse gets hugely irritated if her forelock/mane touches her ears so starts head tossing then obviously this causes it to touch her ears loads where she's tossing her head around. I think it must be due to the increase nerve sensitivity but the improvement has been huge. She still very mildly head shakes due to other factors -wind, pollen etc etc but this has really really helped us.

 

[ossy]

I have a horse diagnosed as a true head shaker, just randomly started doing it this time last year and got worse through the year. the nerve on her face and around her eye was constantly being over stimulated for no apparent reason it would look. She had nerve blocks ect on the face to pin point which nerve tried all the medication that vet perscribed nothing worked. Vet at liverpool said she would be a good operation case but i wouldnt put her through that. The only thing that helped her was a full face mask, ride in 1 and 1 for field, is was my BE horse and had to be retired. Good luck, i have head picking its a horrible thing

 

[DuckToller]

Have a pony that head shook from the day he arrived and we tried all the usual - nose net, herbs, back check, teeth, different bits, etc.

He used to pull his head down and rub his face on his leg, so one instructor took his boots off in case they were irritating him - but he carried on.

One winter I noticed he had a very slightly runny eye that came and went, sometimes with a tear drop in the corner, and a bit gunky, but other times clear.

One day as the vet was waiting for a nerve block to take on another horse, I asked if she could flush out his tear duct and sort his eye. She did, the resulting fluid came out like glue, so she did it again to thoroughly clear the duct, and he stopped headshaking.

I wish it was this easy for everyone, but it's another avenue to try at least.