headshaking - whack head with crop?

Oh and just to add I don't hit my mare round the head with my crop (!!!) I just ride her through it she has enough issues without adding being headshy to the mix!
 
A definite no! I'm no expect on head shaking but there is normally a reason to it, I understand a difficult reason to find most of the time but whacking them with a crop on the head is not the answer at all....
 
:eek::mad: Idiot woman suggesting that!

Head shaking is often medical, sometimes due to the nasal cavities drying up and therefore being extremely uncomfortable for the horse.

Man, smack the silly cow, not the horse!
 
Holly Hocks said:
Headshaking can be caused by a multitude of medical reasons - one of them being Trigeminal Neuralgia which is a very painful condition for the horse - known as "the suicide disease" in humans. I cannot believe that anyone has told you to do this! I suggest you pick up the whip this person suggested you should use to hit the horse stick it up said person's ar$e.
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just a thought that has nothing to do with this thread so sorry if its hijacked:o would trigeminal neuraligia be the cause of a star gazer?< horse that holds its head to one side in an odd position asif looking at the sky?
 
Strange as this sounds check your horses tongue and mouth for ulcers. My murphy suddenly started headshaking for no apparent reason in March. YO - who hasnt got a clue - said to put frontline in his ears. Well lets just say, their answer to everything is frontline so I avoid that at all costs. Well oneday I was putting on his bridle and he stuck out his tongue and he had a massive (2cmX2cm maybe) ulcer on his tongue. Vet had never seen anything like it. Antibiotics and bute, a week later all shaking was gone and has never come back.

P.s. Head shaking is a sign of discomfort. If a "professional" doesnt know this then they need to be made aware... can gladly provide you with a crop to hit this lady with when she shakes her head at you.
 
Tilda said:
Does he shake it up and down rather than side to side? My mare who I am currently reschooling does this when she realises her other evasion techniques aren't working she also does it on hacks when she is not either in front or second in line. My instructor tells me it's a baby thing like a bit of a tantrum it's definitely not physical as she has had all checks and these are the only 2 times she does it!
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yes up and down only, bu tbh hes getting much better than he was - as i said - now ive got to know him i find I can stop him with a verbal "no" l and holding his reins slightly higher than normal - even my instructor thinks its habit and when hes excitedx
 
Smack the idiot who told you this over the head - she'll be shaking her head after.

Chiro to check for trapped nerves in poll is a good idea - noticed one person mentioning that it can be a young horse problem - it does often happen when the horse is becoming tired - working in a frame - and muscles are becoming sore. Only hold youngster in a frame for a few minutes before giving an opportunity to free walk on a long rein.

Hope you can get to the bottom of the problem.
 
Dancing Queen said:
has he got mites in his ears?
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he is a very itchy horse - ive had ot have him hogged because he rubbed half his mane away and still he loves to rub his tail still.
I cant see anythng on him - but its a very good thought - when i untack he goes crazy to rub his head on me and he always goes straight down for a good roll
 
just to exclude this - what shampoo would you buy?
He does get sprayed with fly repellent daily but im thinking a good delouse shampoo wont do any harm
 
ty everyone - and the lady who sugested mouth ulcers. I hadnt thought of that but will have a feel tomorrow.
If i cant feel anything i think i will get my vet out a month early ie next week
and ask him to check everything - ty all so much

Though tbh from these replies and knowing how itchy he is im now thinking unseen mites - if anyojen knows a treatment i can buy to bathe him in, if not again i,ll ask my vet

You really dont know how much i appreciate these repiles - as a novice its good to have knowledgeable advice to tell this "proffessional lady" we can manage alone - ty so much x
 
NIzoral is a good shampoo for itchy horses - I use it on mine when they get obsessive about itching on things.

Waiting for a sunny day to do my gelding as he is obviously nibbling himself - looks like he's been dragged through a hedge backwards - though he is losing his winter coat right now. He is scurfy though so will enjoy his Nizoral bath.
 
darkhorse123 said:
he is a very itchy horse - ive had ot have him hogged because he rubbed half his mane away and still he loves to rub his tail still.
I cant see anythng on him - but its a very good thought - when i untack he goes crazy to rub his head on me and he always goes straight down for a good roll
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Itching can have numerous causes. Feeding brewers yeast might help.My feeling is head shaking is due to some form of irritation and is most often due to a physical cause. I'd check everything as has been suggested including fit of the bridle and saddle. I often wonder if the head piece on a hogged mane (or shaved bridle path) causes irritation from the head piece sitting on stubble. Check where the head piece sits and the fit of the brow band especially. Teeth are a must and use a different EDT if necessary.
Also check your riding and your aids... for example, are you holding him back with the reins at the same time as asking him to go forward etc. etc?
I don't believe we can assume a horse isn't in pain/discomfort or confused just because we don't understand the behaviour, so hitting for me isn't an option and especially never over the head with a crop. :(

In fact review everything you can think of... lol Good luck.
 
darkhorse123 said:
Im so sorry if i have upset anyonje with this post - i just needed ot share.
My ex instructor is bhs trained and works in bhs welfare - im going ot text her now to tell her
I just wasnt sure if i was over reacting - again ty all - im ashamed ot admot i was startign to think if she was right

His teeth are done every 6 months, his back is fine - hes ridden treeless with no noseband.
Ive tried full riding nosenet, piriton, standing martingale - no difference

I think he does it when hes excited - he does it when forst goign out, when he recognises his route home and also when he gets a rub when hes beign good

Hes 8 - a happy hacker and tbh it worries other people more than me - i can handle it with a sharp "ah aha ah" and raising his reins a bit, hes not in pain - hes not evil and it really doesnt bother me!
Its just what he does and as i said i can stop it when needed ie on roads xxx
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Actually from this post, and given that the person who advise you to whack him has probably seen the horse in action, which none of the rest of us have, I'd suspect that she meant "He's taking the mickey, tell him not to". You have taken steps to check out and alleviate any physical problems and are prepared to keep going down that route, which is a good thing for you and the horse, however, in the situations described above the horse IS being rude, it may not matter to you but it would to others who, say, wanted to compete him or, like me, had a disabled person on the yard who can't keep their balance easily given a big head rubbing on them.

IF she actually used the words "whack him over the head" then that is very wrong and not something one would expect a professional to say to a first horse owner.
 
ty for all your replies - all his tack - treeless saddle and bridle has been checked by my very experienced instructor who knows him very well - she helped to break him in and althugh i do think he could have unweanted visitors i cant see so am going to try the shampoo you suggested peopel who have seen him do it and ridden inc my instructor think its when hes excited or tired or bored. Her actual words weretn whack him over head - cant remember exact words - but thats what i took her to mean.
Anyway ty everyone - im going to discuss it with my vet and get him to do a thorough check esp inside his ears

Further on from teh last post - you could be right. A sharp "no" when he starts does stop him doing it. Many people think its a habit . Anyway lots ot consider so ty all xxx
 
jemima_too said:
Actually from this post, and given that the person who advise you to whack him has probably seen the horse in action, which none of the rest of us have, I'd suspect that she meant "He's taking the mickey, tell him not to". You have taken steps to check out and alleviate any physical problems and are prepared to keep going down that route, which is a good thing for you and the horse, however, in the situations described above the horse IS being rude, it may not matter to you but it would to others who, say, wanted to compete him or, like me, had a disabled person on the yard who can't keep their balance easily given a big head rubbing on them.

IF she actually used the words "whack him over the head" then that is very wrong and not something one would expect a professional to say to a first horse owner.
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Regardless of the cause of the headshaking there is no instance where the horse should be whacked over the head (unless it is coming at you teeth bared, in that scenario the gloves are off and anything goes!!!), horses that rub when they finish work can always be asked to stop and IME never by being "whacked" about the head (this is just a manners thing!). :)
 
I think you need to clarify if who ever gave you the advice meant:

1.whack yourself over the head
2.whack your horse over the head
3.whack the person who gave you the advice over the head

Personally of the above options number 3 is likly to give the best results but probably wont stop the horse's head shaking!
 
i second the "give her a wack round the head with your crop" idea, see how she likes it! who told you that?!!

a word of advice which everyone i know agrees with, ever since i was about 6 my old instructor always said to me a whip is a 3rd leg and shouldnt be used for anything else only to back up your other two legs, you can call it your third leg if you want.

:eek: enough said
 
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