Headshaking, but not during pollen months...

dressager

dressager

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 March 2007
Messages
914
Location
Kent
Visit site
My horse started head shaking between December and March, was very reluctant to work to the point of some days refusing to canter and generally being grumpy, which is very unlike him as he's usually very straightforwards and willing. We had teeth, back, everything checked, full vet investigation at Liphhook and nothing was found (although they were going along the lines of the reluctance to move being a lameness/ back issue, therefore he had full body bone scans, nerve blocks, you name it! Didn't check respiratory system as funnily enough he didn't headshake whilst at Liphook! Bizarre!)

So thinking it might environmental I moved him to another yard with a new trainer. He was fine from March, working very well, getting turned out in the day and not head shaking once, but he has now started to head shake in September! I tried a nose net to no avail. He does not suffer from any photo sensitivity, ears have been checked. He does try to rub his nose sometimes during exercise and when I untack him, but no snotty nose, no sneezing, no coughing, so I put that down to being sweaty/itchy. I tried him with no noseband, no bit, in just a headcollar, but he still wants to throw his head up at random times. I really don't know what route to go down... thinking of getting different vets opinions, but if anyone has a horse with mysterious conditions like these I would like to know what you tried
confused.gif
 
My TB started to headshake in the winter at the age of 9, he had his skull xrayed, thermography scans and scintigraphy to no avail. He was then referred to Professor Knottebelt at Leahurst Teaching hospital on The Wirrall. He underwent a series of tests including treadmill test where pollens etc were blasted at him, no difference was shown. They suspected and I say only suspected the Trigeminal nerve in the face was receiving electrical impulse shocks similar to people with MS. The option was to operate and sever the nerve which we opted against as was a risky op at the time. So he came home on an anwful lot of drugs ie steroids to try and settle things down. Must say wasn't very successful but at least we tried, he was still able to work to some degree. Have a look at the De Montfort website, they have done a lot of reasearch on headshaking, good luck
 
My horse did exactly the same and I have on-line videos of it if anyone wants to see how severe it got. Nothing worked and the horse was so so distressed if worked, even loose in the school or running in the field. So, I gave him away and he lives his life as a companion with lovely people who adore him.

Horse cost me £10k with probably that much again spent trying to get to the bottom of it.

Big hugs xx
 
Thanks for your replies. Yes I have come across the trigeminal neuralgia theory, and another horse at my yard has been diagnosed with this. She becomes incredible scary when she starts headshaking, trying to bolt and then suddenly rearing up.

Cluedo sorry to hear about your horse
frown.gif
At least you've found him a nice home
smile.gif
I would be interested to see the videos to see if it is similar to what my horse does. When my horse does it at the moment its strange because he doesn't seem noticably distressed by anything, he will just be trotting along and will suddenly want to hold his head in the air, no ears back or grumpiness (although it did get to this stage in the past, but I was wondering if due to the head shaking he may have tweaked something else and the distress could have been down to a strained muscle or something?)
 
Have you tried a respiratory suppliment such as naf Jst wondering if the head up is him trying to breath better. My horse had mild ROA used to raise his head to breath better.
he never got a cough of runny nose until after I used this, then it cleared up completely. worth at try tho
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top