Headshaking (not sure of cause) and nose nets

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Morgan123

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Hello,

my horse has started head shaking, and I'm not sure why. What can I try? To be honest, I think it's frustration and naughtiness but I'm not sure what to do. It started on sponsored rides when in a group, and it's got gradually worse over the past 2 years. He does it especially when schooling now, particularly at the start of a session, then settles later on. He does it in winter, but it's definitely got worse recently - the other day cantering through a field he was insisting on headshaking with his nose on the floor, which was somewhat disconceerting as he is also super-spooky and prone to sudden diving changes in direction, particularly in fields.....I'm a bit concerned and not sure what to do. Anyone any ideas/experience?

I have ruled out:
1. Back (done recently and I check him over every ride, I'm a sports masseur but had physio recently too)
2. saddle - being done today but fully up to date and everything, no reason to suspect it
3. teeth - recently done
4. anything else physical - had vet check him when she did his teeth, couldn't find any reason
5. My hands - I have regular lessons from different instructors, and have always been told my hands are TOO light, so although TBH I think it's contact related, I don't think it's specifically me. He is worse when I pick up the contact more, to begin with.
6. Bit. For a while I thought it was poll pressure, as he is worse with bridles that are a bit uncomfortable over his poll (prefers padding), but he does it in any bit regardless of the poll pressure/padding. I mostly school in a gentle neue schule loose ring french link wiht a lozenge.

He is generally quite honest, but does have his own pretty strong agenda (he's a welsh D, what can i say), and I think the headshaking is worse when he's not getting his own way. Having said that, because generally he's pretty honest, I am not sure if he should have the benefit of the doubt and that's only becuase he starts concentrating and ignoring whatever's bothering him....??

As he does it in winter, I don't reckon it's allergy related. However, I'd quite like to try a nose net anyway just in case - but am wondering what people's experiences are of these - are the expensive ones worth it, or do the cheap ones do the same thing? I'm a bit loathe to spend £30 without knowing if it will help, and can't think of anyone with one i can borrow!

Sorry for the long post....any ideas welcome.
 
You've missed out bridle comfort from your list :)

Check browband not too tight, noseband not pressing on any nerves, crownpeice not pressing against ears, buckles not pressing on any nerves...

you could try riding bareback with just a neck strap if you trust him and have control and start your process of elimination...

It could be nasal polyps, sinus irritation, ear mites, earwax, tight muscles in the neck or back...

It's annoyiing I know, I had one then I just took off the noseband and it stopped.
 
Hmm ok thank you.

Sorry - I did mention poll pressure and having his poll padded but I forgot the rest of the bridle - but anyway yes he does it in either his lovely well-fitting dressage bridle OR his completely different endurance bridle (also well padded, which he prefers). Occasionally in a headcollar too.

that's useful info about the nose net just breaking up the airflow - thanks. OK, maybe i'll try a cheap one for now and see how it goes, I can always invest in a better one if it makes a difference.....
 
I know a few people who have acheived great improvements by taking the horses off grass and adding salt to the diet. It is something to do with the health of a major nerve which passes close to the poll - check out Calm Healthy Horses website and/or Facebook page, especially comments by Becky Holden on FB
 
Brilliant thank you. Interesting about the salt - I guess it does make sense for salt to cause nerve problems. I've been meaning to assess his diet salt-wise anyway as he's doing endurance and does sweat a lot, but he's also a fatty so only eats happy hoof! so I'll have a good look at what sort of balancers would be best and how much salt he should have in addition. Thanks!

MrSpam - vet has alreayd checked him.

Any other ideas/thoughts welcome. Thank you!
 
I have the same problem, a cheaper net did not work so got the expensive one as wanted to cross it off the 'list'

Pony has worn it twice, first time hacking alone & was lots better, second time in lesson & was a bit better, just off to try hacking in company which as well as lesson is when she is worse.

Will report back :)
 
Do you use a flash?

Also whilst vets are great they are not "as good" as Equine Dentists

Some one on our yard had the exact same thing - vet didnt sort but dentist did and also advise to not wear the flash all the time as was causing jaw to rub against teeth

My Pony has had two bouts and we put in down to some thing getting in his ears.. you havnt mentioned it - so def worth a mooch around there - might be a problem lurking in there!!
 
Adding salt to the diet is good for all sorts of reasons. I add it to all the horses' feeds - a good tablespoon. Some people think magnesium can help too, but didn't have any effect on our pony.

Has the vet done any investigations? A friend of a friend's pony had a gutteral pouch infection, which caused it to head shake.

Our pony is being tried on a drug, but if that doesn't work he will be off to hospital.
 
What do you do when he starts doing it when you are riding?

Just that discription of him cantering across the field with his head right down shaking his head is a lot further on, two years down the line, from what you described when it started.

So it could be either a physical cause or he's doing it more and more because he gets away with it.
 
Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
What do you do when he starts doing it when you are riding?

Just that discription of him cantering across the field with his head right down shaking his head is a lot further on, two years down the line, from what you described when it started.

So it could be either a physical cause or he's doing it more and more because he gets away with it.
Click to expand...

My mare will put her head straight down at speed to rub her nose, but it is because she is in pain not an evasion, headshaking is not a vice.
 
Thank you everyone! Ok to answer questions:

1) no he doesn't wear a flash, just a well-fitting cavesson noseband

2) I do usually have a very well-regarded EDT, but got the vet this time as he needed sedating and a vet was coming anyway. However, the vet commented that she could tell how well he was usually done and commended the work of the EDT, saying there wasn't even too much for her to do. I may get my EDT back out for a check up, but from this do feel it's probably not a teeth thing.

3) Usually I completely ignore the headshaking and he settles eventually. the cantering in the field with his head down was a one-off - usually his head is normal height, but it feels more like he's evading my hands. A few times when I've felt like he's doing it to be naughty (e.g. if his friends have been calling in the field and he's been being nappy and doing it badly) I do admit (cringe) to getting frustrated and telling him off, but that just makes him worse. Having said that, that doesn't prove it is pain related as he is the sort of horse who does get stressier and make a bigger issue of things the more you tell him off.

I'll definitely try the salt thing and the nose net! This has been v helpful thank you. Any other opinions/thoughts much appreciated, since I don't really know a lot about head shaking and it has been getting worse, not better....
 
JillA said:
"Gets away with it"? Are you suggesting it is something that should be punished or in some other way deterred?
Click to expand...

The OP themselves suggested that they thought it was an attempt at evasion. And they have had the vet out.

It's surely a process of elimination to get to the bottom of it?
Everybody here has jumped on the "it must be physical" in spite of the OP giving her thoughts that it's not.

Not every horse that has developed a bad habit is groaning in agony.
 
This is an interesting thread, as my horse just started doing it last week. I think it must be the rape as it is just coming into flower. Last week it wasn't too bad, yesterday by the time we came home from our hack he was really distressed and trying to stop and rub his nose at every step. This morning I got him in and rode about 100m before taking him home, it was dangerous.
The person who suggested it was a vice, I suspect this horse was owned by someone that thought the same way as he is very head shy, terrified of whips, and if he sees your hands while you are riding - if you pat him for instance - he is off. (Not saying you recommended beating them).
It sounds like the vet is the best bet for me then? He does have slight aural plaque (I think thats what it is, grey scaley stuff in his ears?) so could that be linked?
Off to read all the links posted now.
 
Hi
Just dropped across this i think i have a head shaker........my boy is 4 and been with me since weaning, backed him last year with no issues, just returned him back to work and he is flicking his head in a jerky involuntary movement,and holds his head as low as possible !! he does it long reining, lungeing and riding, he is currently under going physio for issues linked to locking stifle, he got sun burnt on his muzzle last year and was jerking everytime a snow flake touched him over winter?? He hates anything on his nose so debating if to try a nose net? I have added salt to his diet 6 weeks ago, his teeth and saddle has been checked ...............Just wondered how you are getting on with yours
 
Try having his tear ducts flushed next time the vet comes - my pony rubs his nose on his foreleg, always the same side of the face on the same leg, and it's impossible to stop him.

When the vet flushes his tear duct, glue-like stuff comes out into his eye, when it should be clear. After a flush he stops headshaking for about 6 months, then it gradually builds up again and he starts rubbing.

It might not help yours, but it is fairly simple and cheap to do and eliminates another cause.
 
My pony started head shaking last year. He was lame and my vet said it was arthritis in his hocks and I should carry on walking him out. The head shaking got to a point where it was getting dangerous to ride so I stopped, changed my vet and did more investigations. It turned out he was very sore in both front feet and it was this making him lame and the back leg problem was secondary. In my pony's case he was trying to tell me he hurt and obviously felt he had to shout to make himself heard
 
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