Headshaking....avoidance technique??!!

ncarter

ncarter

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Hi All,

Ozzy has recently started shaking his head when being ridden. It is not all the time, just occasionally, but it seems like he is doing it to get out of working properly. Is this likely to be the case??!!

We have checked his ears etc there does not appear to be anything obviously wrong with him.

Any ideas why he may have started doing this?

Thanks.
 
hi
I have a mare that suddenly started headshaking after I'd owned her for 2yrs. She kept suddenly snatching the reins, head tossing and desperately wanted to rub her nose on her knee.

No idea what causes it. I had her checked by vet. Only suggestion is that there are so many more chemicals around (sprayed on fields, in yards etc). It would take foreever and costly to know which one causes the irritation.

Overall, the pattern of headshaking is like that of someone who suffers from hayfever. I've found it worse on days when its warm and slightly breezy which brings out pollen (like now as we're heading into spring) and they seem more sensative.

I have solved it with a nose net (the half one by Equilibrum) and she is perfectly happy in it and you can compete in it too. Without the net, its like she feels things bumping her nose, but there is clearly nothing there.

If it is headshaking, then no amount of telling off will stop them. Best find something like a nose net that works. I've tried herbal remedies but not found one that works.

Of course, its worth checking /eliminating other things too like teeth
 
Agree with all maresRus has said.

I have a seasonal HSr and work with her. I have found traditional chinese medice helps. PM me if you are interested and I'll send details of the lady I use. It hasn't stopped it but it has help make the symptoms easier for my girl.
 
What exactly does he do? The only kind of 'headshaking' I've come across that's about work avoidance is a kind of head down and snaking move. My part loan-mare in particular does this from time to time - it means 'ask me again and I'll buck!' I tend to take it as a signal that I've been too pushy or asked too much and do something simple until she settles down - though she'll do it when denied a canter on hacks too.

However, if he is flinging his head around and /or seems unhappy and tense then it's unlikely to be an avoidance technique. Does he do it when you take up a contact? If so, you could have his teeth checked and maybe rethink your bitting.

Nose nets - as above - are often the answer if the problem is allergy related. As a hayfever sufferer, I know that mine are just starting to kick in at this time of year, so it's well worth considering. There are also supplements on the market you might try.

Alternatively some horses prefer to have nothing on the lower part of their faces. Could you try taking his noseband off altogether? If you ride in a cavesson then they are mostly comsetic anyway.

I hope you find a solution!
 
Thanks all.

I am so dim. He did have a bit of a pollen reaction last year and I did ride him with a nose net as well as give him anti histamines. The net was more for his breathing than headshaking though.

As I have been riding at night I did not even consider the fact that it might be due to the pollen :rolleyes:

I will dig out the net and start on the tablets!

Thanks again.
 
Our boy started headshaking after we had him for 12 months or so.

Clearly not happy and definitely not avoidance as he would do it standing in the field.

His seems to be caused by pollen. A nose net helped and for him a supplement called Pollenex has done the trick.

Good luck.
 
ncarter said:
Thanks all.

I am so dim. He did have a bit of a pollen reaction last year and I did ride him with a nose net as well as give him anti histamines. The net was more for his breathing than headshaking though.

As I have been riding at night I did not even consider the fact that it might be due to the pollen :rolleyes:

I will dig out the net and start on the tablets!

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Hiya, just wondering what anti histamines you use? Are they human ones?
My boy headshakes - it has definately kicked in now. He is also very over dramatic with flys, they drive him nuts. A combination of a nose net and fly veil with dangly tassles makes him rideable, but I would dearly love to just make him a feel a bit better.
 
Hiya,

Yes I use human hay fever tablets, they are very cheap from this website (they have been as low as 14p per pack of 30 tablets) even though you can only buy 8 packs at a time, so most of the cost is P+P!:

http://www.pharmacyfirst.co.uk/medi...-30-tablets-zirtek-substitute-/prod_2352.html

I just put a few (usually 5 - I figured if we use 1 for a human then a pony is about 5 times the weight of a large adult) in with his feed. This was advised to me by my previous YO - if anyone disagrees with this please shout up!
 
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