Head Shaking: my new Horse

i got a new horse quite recently and hes a 14.3 cob piebald 4 years old. i hacked him out and all the way around he kept on shaking his head up & down none stop quite vigurously. i had the contact on the reins and thought that could be it but when i gave it him, he still carried on. it was quite scary as i thought he would rear up.

i dont know how to combat it so if anyone has any ideas, i would be so greatful as my hands are in pieces from the friction of the reins even though i had gloves on.

thanks
kate
xxx
 
We have one at my yard, have tried a few things that had a small affect, most sucessful has been a bitless bridle combined with a nose net. Allthough I would get a vet to have a look at your horse initially
 
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yes i had him vetted and hes on full loan. i got him on saturday.

xxx

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You had him vetted for loaning? Bizarre!

Have you spoken to the owners? Is this uncharacteristic for him?
Was it midges/flies do you think?

I'd send him back if you're not happy with this behaviour.
 
Ok, here goes;
Get his teeth checked in case they need rasped to remove sharp edges.
Check his bridle fitting (especially how high the bit is, how tight the browband is).
Check his saddle fits him and get his back checked by an appropriate person.
Try using a nose net on him whilst hacking - either a full muzzle one, or one that just covers the nostrils.
Try using a nasal spray which can help if hayfever (pollen allergy) - I use Beconase 2 sprays per nostril twice per day.
S
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Are you using the same tack as he wore at his previous yard? If not, perhaps there is a problem with it and you need to get it checked. Did she say it was unusual for him to headshake, or that he has NEVER done it before?
 
well, i rode on saturday with his normal daily tack and he did it then, and i rode today but with his other tack. he did it both times. she said that he doesnt do it with her and that it could just be a napping thing like he wants to go home.

xxxx
 
My section d shakes her head a lot, when i take up the contact. I try and ignore it and ride through it. Teeth checked and sorted now. She's only 5 and i just hope she grows out of it. It's not nice:(
 
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well, i rode on saturday with his normal daily tack and he did it then, and i rode today but with his other tack. he did it both times. she said that he doesnt do it with her and that it could just be a napping thing like he wants to go home.

xxxx

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Can she come and ride him at yours to see if he does it with her?
 
The nose net can help by stopping things entering the nostrils and annoying/irritating the nasal passages. For some horses nose nets work brilliantly. Didn't work very well for my headshaker, it depends on why he is head shaking.

Mine is much worse in sunny warm weather, absolutely fine in an indoor school. Try riding in different places. Maybe you are near woods or damp ground where there are more midges and little flies, or pollen? Seems strange that he didn't do it before.
 
Hi its not unusual for a change in environment/home to trigger head shaking. It also will appear suddenly (as far as you are concerned). Unfortunately once they have an allergy it won't go away. Def try a nose net. See if you can borrow one. It works fantastically on m,y horse. he started when he was 10 after moving house!!
 
Providing you have done all the usual checks...back/teeth/saddle/feed/bit etc etc it could like people have said above be a headshaker.

Mine didn't develop it until he was around 8 year old, each year it got a little bit worse, I'd had him since he was 15 month old so its not something he had when he was young but don't panic as it might not be the case.

Spring and sprung, which could be what has brought it on, pollens in certain trees/bushes will bring it on.
If your horse is now in a different surrounding, where the pollens are different this will effect your horse, you can ride them in a build up village but soon as you hit the tracks and fields then can suddenly start nodding, shaking there heads, sneezing, wanting to rub there noses on there legs or the horses bum that is in front etc etc.

Like someone said above, even the sun can start them off, why don't they do it in the field when grazing? people ask...because there hardly moving, soon as you start working your horse, he needs to take in more oxygen, more air in take, more pollen in take.

You might find that he will suffer from it for a few months, come mid summer he'll be fine, then come September it will start again for another month, they can all be different.

I could not compete mine at certain at times of the year because of the allergy, it was just impossible to do more than the odd trot because it was so unpleasant for him or ride in certain places.

Having a horse vetted would not necessarily detect the the condition I can tell you that for sure, certainly would of not of showed up on my horse whilst vetted at stables... or at a certain time of the year.

Definitely try a nose net, this made a huge difference to mine, line the nostril with Vaseline will also help.

Also check that you are not using a dusty school, some horses are allergic to dust from wood chippings.

Best having a chat with your vet (if it is a pollen allergy) they should advise you on what is available, antihistamines etc, I've known some people give there horses hay fever tablets from Tesco, one tablet in feed twice a day, they said it worked, however I personally am not recommending this and would not do this unless it was cleared by your vet.

My horse was fine last summer using his net and was ridden and competed without any problems what so ever so don't panic, I'm sure you will be able to get to the bottom of it and sort something out.
 
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