Head shaking - bridle related?

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Lola43

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I have a mare that I purchased in September last year. Right from the beginning, she would shake her head the minute you put the bridle on in the stable, but then she would settle. I thought maybe the browband was too tight, so bought a new bridle, but that didn't make any difference. I ride her in a NS tranz angled lozenge universal and she has a plain cavesson noseband which I have quite loose.

So, what I have noticed lately is that in addition to the initial head shaking when putting the bridle on, about half way through a ride - she will start shaking her head. The kind of side to side shaking/flicking as if there were flies on her ears. I have only recently started to pay attention to this as when it first started it was mild and intermittent, but it does seem to be getting gradually worse. She does seem to be more irritated and head-shakey if I ask her to stop sticking her nose out and to go on the bit in an outline but maybe that's coincidental. I haven't seen her doing anything like this out in the field or in her stable.

Does this sound like it might be triggered by sunlight/wind/exercise/heat/pollen? Or could it be her bridle or bit - seeing as she always shakes her head the minute the bridle is put on?

She has been treated by an equine chiropractor, an equine massage therapist, had her teeth done and I have had the saddler out twice to fit and adjust her saddle. She did have ulcers, but has now scoped clear. She also developed urticaria but the lumps have gone and as far as I know she is OK physically.

Any suggestions?
 
Could be inflammation in the tetro mandibular joint (TMJ) although I would expect the chiro/massage people to have commented on that.

Headshaking can be a result of nerve pain in that area. If it is nerve damage it's very difficult to diagnose.

I personally think that the nerve becomes irritated as a result of a trigger - that could be pain/joint instability, or hormones. As you have a mare, if you notice it getting worse in the spring that can be due to an increase in hormone levels as they come into season. If your mare is producing too much lutein hormone, lutein can trigger a histamine response to pollen and even to UV. Once the nerve is irritated due to the trigger, a light stimulus (such as wind/rain) is enough to result in a headshaking response.

I treated my mare (who had an irritated nerve in her shoulder rather than headshaking) with cetirizine to suppress the histamine response. It was kind of a last ditch effort because getting a proper diagnosis was almost impossible. I had to give 40 cetirizine tablets a day at first, but it did work.
 
one of my horses is a mild head shaker although he does shake his head at times he often rubs it on things as well mainly when the bridle is put on, and I often see him rubbing his head on my other horse or on the fence when his in the field yet he oesnt really do it when ridden, he has had several guttural pouch infections and the vet thinks that he has some nerve damage or discomfort due to this I was recommended by the vet to get a cranial therapist to see him, and I believe this has really helped I use her now just like I would a physio, maybe you could try and see if it could help your horse.
 
I was a bit sceptical about it but because the lady also does shiatsu massage and laser acupuncture as well which she sort of combines all 3 to suit what your horse needs at that time, we had an accident in November he fell over while I was riding and he was quite sore all on his left side and she has made him feel and look much better, she also helped me as I broke my ankle and she does treatment for humans as well so she basically fixed us both.
 
I don't know in your case. I would try to narrow it down by changing things one at a time. So for example, change the bit but keep everything else the same. If you change multiple things at once then you won't be able to pinpoint what the trigger is.

Mine is a severe headshaker. He's fine after dusk or in a dark stable. I think the change of light in spring and autumn triggers it.

It's important to see a vet if it worsens.You could try riding him in a UV blocking facemask to see if it's light related. Brands with 70% uv block masks are Cashel Crusader and Premier Equine. There's lots of info out there. Good luck.:thumbup:
 
I had a horse that was a summer head shaker. I found that completely removing the browband eased his behaviour a lot. I dont know if it was the browband or that the crown piece was able to sit a bit further back that relieved him.
 
I also had one and removing noseband worked for him. A friend of mine had a headshaker and in the end it was to do with rapeseed pollen.
 
There are quite a few head shakers who respond to salt in the diet, so I would try that. And rent a Micklem bridle for a week and try that if the salt fails.
 
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