Head shaking, who has a horse that does this?

[WishfulThinker]

Boyo has started shaking/rubbing his head when ridden. The vet was out as though it was his ear and it doesn't appear to be. Teeth have been checked and rasped as some sharp and so there were some ulcers at back of his mouth.
Vet saw him ridden and lunged and he was still doing it, so they said that they will leave it and if its still happening then they will investigate and check up his nose etc.

He is 14 years old, and other than head shaking through excitement, or a nipping nose band (he hates them!) he hasn't done this before. He is currently being kept in a group barn, so hasn't been out at the field since mid Feb.
They have said he is sneezing as well. I haven't been able to get up to see him since about 20th Feb, so just going on what I get told.

I haven't spoken to the vet yet as she wasn't back when I phoned, so I will speak to her tomorrow morning. But do you think the head shaking might be from his being in? He is ridden in the lessons and on hacks by the school pupils.

 

[LaurenM]

my boy head shakes due to habit. It developed as previous owner didn't have his teeth done enough so his teeth were stabbing his gums effectively.

He only does it with me towards the end of a hack when he's full of adrenalin.

If you lunged without tack does he still head shake? As if he does it with tack on I would have his saddle and back checked.

Doubt staying in is helping the shaking too. Has he been kept in for so long before? might be anxiety if not.

To be honest i wouldn't feel comfortable riding my horse if I thought for one second that he was uncomfortable.

 

[sykokat]

I have put many replies/posts on here about headshaking as Beanie does this every year. Last year was worse than ever. There are alot of factors with headshaking. Beanies is pollen, sunlight and flies. We use NAF shake relief and in fly season we add marmite tea to her feed. One thing that has helped is having a padded head piece on the bridle. The common thought at the moment is that it has something to do with a nerve that runs down the horses face. It pays to look on the good old internet and do a bit of research. There are loads of suspected causes but it will be getting to know when/ where the horse reacts. For example, when Beanie is HS she will avoid walking near grass verges, react really badly near hedges and is worse on sunny days. We use the NAF shake relief and it does help her. Before we tried it, she was nearly unridable. Plus a loose nose band (cavesson) and a nose net. Has anything changed where you keep him such as bedding, hay etc??? Hope this is useful.

 

[WishfulThinker]

I am not sure as it was one of the instructors that lunged/rode him. I haven't actually seen him since 20/02!

I know he is full of go though as someone came off on a hack and he legged it back to the stables. He is only that flighty if he is full of beans. He doesn't do being in very well if he isn't being worked a lot.

I have suggested to them that if the shaking calms down that someone take him out fora good blast, as I think that is what he really needs.

 

[WishfulThinker]

I have put many replies/posts on here about headshaking as Beanie does this every year. Last year was worse than ever. There are alot of factors with headshaking. Beanies is pollen, sunlight and flies. We use NAF shake relief and in fly season we add marmite tea to her feed. One thing that has helped is having a padded head piece on the bridle. The common thought at the moment is that it has something to do with a nerve that runs down the horses face. It pays to look on the good old internet and do a bit of research. There are loads of suspected causes but it will be getting to know when/ where the horse reacts. For example, when Beanie is HS she will avoid walking near grass verges, react really badly near hedges and is worse on sunny days. We use the NAF shake relief and it does help her. Before we tried it, she was nearly unridable. Plus a loose nose band (cavesson) and a nose net. Has anything changed where you keep him such as bedding, hay etc??? Hope this is useful.

Ah, see they are in a barn in a group 24/7 at the moment that is the MAJOR change - he was out 24/7 from July 2008 till feb 2010, and it was in the indoor school in the evening that he started the shaking/rubbing. He doesn't have a nose band, and the once he shook before was when the noseband head bit was pressing into him - so if hew has one on i put it over the headpeice.