Headshaking

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gillrossini

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18 mths ago, my Horse Charlie was diagnosed with headshaking syndrome. He was similar to a puppet on a string,head was everywhere, violently tossing his head in every direction. and Losing direction. After absolute thorough research I have tried everything, ( the vet has told me to do). Last week I had one more try, and rode him in a full mask. I ended up walking home with him.He is only 8 yrs old. The vet said there is NO cure. I know causes and treatments can be hit and miss.
What do I do? I cannot sell him.:(
 
Has he had his facial nerves blocked to prove this is where the problem is? there are so many causes that some can be over looked as the focus is on the head, one of mine was diagnosed as a headshaker and turned away by his owner, it proved to be a nerve in his withers and when treated by my physio he stopped shaking and went on to be a normal competition horse, nose nets had not worked on him as it was unrelated to his head.
Another horse on livery had dental problems that caused it, his outcome was less successful but at least the owner knew why it was happening even if it could not be cured by then.
It is worth thinking outside the box, getting a physio or osteo involved may help if you have not done so already, feeding salt daily works for some but the key is finding out why he does it before you can successfully treat.
 
be positive said:
Has he had his facial nerves blocked to prove this is where the problem is? there are so many causes that some can be over looked as the focus is on the head, one of mine was diagnosed as a headshaker and turned away by his owner, it proved to be a nerve in his withers and when treated by my physio he stopped shaking and went on to be a normal competition horse, nose nets had not worked on him as it was unrelated to his head.
Another horse on livery had dental problems that caused it, his outcome was less successful but at least the owner knew why it was happening even if it could not be cured by then.
It is worth thinking outside the box, getting a physio or osteo involved may help if you have not done so already, feeding salt daily works for some but the key is finding out why he does it before you can successfully treat.
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Thank you for your response, Charlie has been seen by the vet a few times and like you, he said it could be anything at all as the cause. It is definitely not a nerve in the withers and all the usual - teeth, back etc have been explored. The vet is reluctant to conduct any procedures as the outcome is so uncertain and I don't want to put him through it if it may make him worse. I have to think about his long term future - do horses with incurable headshaking become companion horses, are they put down? I don't know what direction to take.
 
Hi there,
I have a Shire who last year developed all the signs of headshaking syndrome, With him it was seasonal, started around June and ended in september, his main trigger factor was the rain and wind.In these conditions he was unrideable, He even seemed to sense when it was about to rain. He was turned away for the winter and i researched online reading different theories { liverpool equine hospital has done lots of research} i spoke to my vet who like your vet wasnt very optomistic. Did talk about op to put coils on facial nerves which sounded quite drastic and no guaranteed result. I decided to leave him until this year and rethink . I had even considered pts if the vet thought he was in so much distress and pain. Anyway in the Spring of this year i waited for the headshaking to start and it hasnt. Have even rode him in rain. The horse is 6 now and the headshaking started the spring after i bought him as a 4 year old. Has your horse done it before or did it just start 18 months ago ? I really thought my horse was a hopeless case and am amazed that this year we have not had any problems. Hope you get Charlie sorted , I know how distressing it can be.
 
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Mollie is a headshaker. It starts in about April and goes on till about September.

After much trial and error I found that a nosenet helps, but discovered the browband is the main trigger. I tried different sizes and fabrics but every time the bridle went on, the shaking and distress started. :( Removing the browband caused the bridle to slip down the neck.

Eventually I discovered that a Dr Cooke style cross-under bitless works perfectly well without a browband. :) It doesn't slip and she's a happy bunny in it. She's had about 2 or 3 "off" days this summer, when the sun was shining and a strong wind was blowing but other than that is fine to ride. :)
 
Thank you Old Nag..for your time, and Iwill certainly ask the vet about 'facial nerve blocks'
Yes, you have certainly helped.. thankyou so much.x
 
Hi ParryJames, Thank you for your help!...my Uncle went to Liverpool Uni to do his vets exams, and he said it was a brilliant University!, so,I will most certainly go on their website and do some more research. Really pleased your equine has overcome this troublesome problem. No, I had him a full year + then I changed yards...took him out one nice afternoon - I am lucky I am still here!! I will get the vet out again and see what he says about facial blocking of the (Trigemanil ) nerve. Yes, I do think it is enviromental. I have ridden him in bleak mid-winter, and he was fine and happy. thankyou very much for your time..x
 
Hi Old Nag, once again, thank you for your help...yes, I too have a Dr Cooke, and find metal mechanics in his mouth make him shake his head even more!..I will try anything, as he is telling me he is in pain. He is upto date with teeth..and will try taking brow band from his Dr C.....Thank you.. Every one has been so kind.. Gx
 
My horse starting head shaking march last year, having showed no sign of it before. It was sudden and sever from the on set. We are lucky enough to be based not to far from Liverpool vet centre and I took her there for assessment. She had the nerve blocks of her face and was diagnosed with headshaking through facial nerve pain as the nerve blocks stopped it completly. I spend the next 10 months trialing everything I and the vet could think of, and hoping she was magically stop over winter and not restart again but she kept doing it. The only thing that worked was the full face mask, but even then on really bad days she would shake slightly with that one. She was an eventer too a dn didn't fancy jumping big fences with this mask on either. I tried feeding salt, equi winner patches, various homeopathic remeadies and all the drugs perscribed by the vet. I refused to put her through an opertation to have coils put in her face nerves given there was such a low % of previous success rates. In the end I claimed LOU on my insurance who did not even question it and her breeder/my friend has semi retired her for me on her land. We might breed from her but not without more research into it. Sorry I can't be more hopefull for your horse, but I would not wish headshaking on anyone.
 
ossy said:
My horse starting head shaking march last year, having showed no sign of it before. It was sudden and sever from the on set. We are lucky enough to be based not to far from Liverpool vet centre and I took her there for assessment. She had the nerve blocks of her face and was diagnosed with headshaking through facial nerve pain as the nerve blocks stopped it completly. I spend the next 10 months trialing everything I and the vet could think of, and hoping she was magically stop over winter and not restart again but she kept doing it. The only thing that worked was the full face mask, but even then on really bad days she would shake slightly with that one. She was an eventer too a dn didn't fancy jumping big fences with this mask on either. I tried feeding salt, equi winner patches, various homeopathic remeadies and all the drugs perscribed by the vet. I refused to put her through an opertation to have coils put in her face nerves given there was such a low % of previous success rates. In the end I claimed LOU on my insurance who did not even question it and her breeder/my friend has semi retired her for me on her land. We might breed from her but not without more research into it. Sorry I can't be more hopefull for your horse, but I would not wish headshaking on anyone.
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;)Hi Ossy, oh dear,..poor you and your poor mare..it is an awful thing to happen..thank you for helping me...yes, the vet said operations were not succesful, and he told me mjuch research needs doing on this problem..I could be paying out at Leahurst, all for nothing. I have been told that equines can have ictus after the ops as it is so close to the brain. Your horse sounds very similar to Charlie..I am taking in all these ideas, and hope to expel them on charlie, and just hope something works. xx:o
 
OP have you spoken to a holistic vet at all? I ask as the holistic vet I use treats by assessing back to the root cause. I know conventional vets tend to stop at a certain point. My vet is also qualified in acupuncture and osteopathy. It may be worth giving someone like her a call just to see if she has had any success with headshaking.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/

There was also a post with this link in it which links to both Donna and Chris Day another holistic vet who also specialises in homeopathy.

http://www.troton.com/editorial/showfeature/43/VETS-LESS-ORDINARY-by-Issy-Clarke

Definatley worth the phone calls OP. Good luck.

LOU = loss of use - you can insure against your horse being unable to be ridden in any discipline you intended it for, but it's an expensive option often not taken up.
 
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