Headshaking

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nato

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My mare has a tendency to headshake in Summer - last year she'd chuck her head the odd time when outside in warm weather, but nothing that couldn't be managed.

Now that the warm weather is coming, it's back again, and today it was worse as it was a headshake every few strides rather than every few minutes which was the case last year.

Some things I observed that I made note of are:

- It happens in warm weather only (no headshaking in winter)
- Doesn't happen in an indoor even if it's warm and dusty
- Doesn't happen on hacks (so far but this may change)
- It starts well into our schooling, usually doesn't happen at the start when we're warming up
- Happens in arena or field, but only when ridden (that I've seen)
- Less frequent in walk, most frequent in trot, happens less if I soften the contact and push her on.

Her teeth were done recently, as were her back. She's always hated flies, I'm wondering is this it, or could it be allergies?

I'm going to try a fly veil and fly spray to see if that improves things. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
I've heard a nosenet can help headshaking?
It sounds like it could be an allergy - a hayfever type thing? Horses can get this, and i think you just give them piriton for it - lots!
 
Thanks - I'll give the nosenet a try.

I've heard Magnesium can help - is this true?

If it helps, she's currently ridden in a loose ring French link snaffle with a Grackle noseband.
 
One of mine was head shaking, called vet as was quite severe just in the field and I wanted to rule out if he had something in his ears, mouth, nose. Sods law no head shaking when vet came, however we put in down to the rape field and pollen was very high. I bought some pollen x from global herbs and touch wood not had a problem since.
 
nato said:
My mare has a tendency to headshake in Summer - last year she'd chuck her head the odd time when outside in warm weather, but nothing that couldn't be managed.

Now that the warm weather is coming, it's back again, and today it was worse as it was a headshake every few strides rather than every few minutes which was the case last year.

Some things I observed that I made note of are:

- It happens in warm weather only (no headshaking in winter)
- Doesn't happen in an indoor even if it's warm and dusty
- Doesn't happen on hacks (so far but this may change)
- It starts well into our schooling, usually doesn't happen at the start when we're warming up
- Happens in arena or field, but only when ridden (that I've seen)
- Less frequent in walk, most frequent in trot, happens less if I soften the contact and push her on.

Her teeth were done recently, as were her back. She's always hated flies, I'm wondering is this it, or could it be allergies?

I'm going to try a fly veil and fly spray to see if that improves things. Any advice would be appreciated.
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have a look here >>> http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/h.html
 
Thanks all. I definitely feel like it's seasonal - however I didn't realise that rubbing the leg with face/nose after exercise was a symptom of headshaking, which is something she does all year round after exercise.

I'll keep a close eye on things for the next few sessions and give a nose net a go if no joy to start with. I'd prefer to not have to ride with a nose net if possible, so would be open to any suggestions of supplements that I could put her on to ease her discomfort, or any other workarounds.

It's worth noting that it's been dry around the area lately, and the arena was particularly dusty today. That may have contributed to it?
 
nato said:
Thanks all. I definitely feel like it's seasonal - however I didn't realise that rubbing the leg with face/nose after exercise was a symptom of headshaking, which is something she does all year round after exercise.

I'll keep a close eye on things for the next few sessions and give a nose net a go if no joy to start with. I'd prefer to not have to ride with a nose net if possible, so would be open to any suggestions of supplements that I could put her on to ease her discomfort, or any other workarounds.

It's worth noting that it's been dry around the area lately, and the arena was particularly dusty today. That may have contributed to it?
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I ride in a nose net for the same symptoms and it works great why would you not want to ride in one, mine is brown can't really tell you got one on?
 
PollyP99 said:
I ride in a nose net for the same symptoms and it works great why would you not want to ride in one, mine is brown can't really tell you got one on?
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Have no problem riding in one, but when it comes to competing it can be a lot of hassle to gain an exception to ride in dressage as they are not permitted under FEI rules - have to get a vet cert and cert of exception which must be granted for each comp! Not an issue aesthetically or anything, just thinking if there was a solution that would work for both home and comp use.

She's grey so you'd see a nosenet on her no matter what the colour, but that doesnt bother me!
 
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Quick update. Would appreciate any input.

On a hack there isn't a single sign of headshaking, she is really soft and will work long and low and up into a nice frame. The second we set foot in the arena it starts, and it's become worse to the point where I can't ride her in any contact in the trot without her throwing her head around. Walk is ok with the odd twitch, and canter is also semi ok with the odd twitch.

If I take her back on the road after the headshaking in the arena, she settles down again and has the odd twitch but nothing close to how it is in the arena. There were flies all over her on our hack and she paid no heed.

I took her out competing last week and it rained torrentially between bursts of sunshine, and she was perfect - no headshaking or tossing. We competed on both grass and sand.

She doesn't toss when jumping - the odd twitch but no snatching the rein from my hands.

I've also noticed that her left eye weeps/waters (not excessive but her right eye doesn't at all). Not sure if that's tied into it.

I am going to start working through a checklist of all the usuals - teeth, back, saddle, etc, but I'd appreciate any advice or recommendations you might have.
 
nato said:
Have no problem riding in one, but when it comes to competing it can be a lot of hassle to gain an exception to ride in dressage as they are not permitted under FEI rules - have to get a vet cert and cert of exception which must be granted for each comp! Not an issue aesthetically or anything, just thinking if there was a solution that would work for both home and comp use.

She's grey so you'd see a nosenet on her no matter what the colour, but that doesnt bother me!
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Unless you are going to be competing under FEI rules in the near future then trying a nosenet which may resolve her problems makes sense, my horse is a mild headshaker very similar to yours and he wears one at all times.
 
be positive said:
Unless you are going to be competing under FEI rules in the near future then trying a nosenet which may resolve her problems makes sense, my horse is a mild headshaker very similar to yours and he wears one at all times.
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Thanks. I've already ordered one so will give it a try. I just found it strange that she doesn't headshake on hacks.
 
Hiya,

Just thought i'd comment and say i'm having a similar issue to you... my horse headshakes in the field and rubs her nose on things. A couple of weeks ago (on the day that it was reeeally hot) she was so bothered by it that she was bombing around and practically towed me back to her stable... She is fine when you bring her indoors. It has never really been an issue when ridden until recently. She has started throwing her head around a bit, but only seems to do it in the school! I too am going to try a nosenet... does anyone know if they are BD legal?
 
You can definitely do BD with a nose net and I think now you don't need to get an exemption cert but please do check the rule book. Years ago I had a horse who presented nearly exactly the same as the OP's horse. Definitely seasonal, fine in field and ridden in indoor school. Head shook if ridden near a hedge either hacking or schooling. A nose net made him so much more comfortable and it was straight forward to get an exemption cert for BD.
 
Just posting another update, as I go through my 'checklist' to find out what's going on! Headshaking is still present but not as bad as it was before, here are my observations:

- Had her back checked - tightness found through her left side which has been worked out. She's riding much softer and through her back as a result. Regardless of headshaking I think this has been beneficial for her, so glad I had it done either way.
- Have tried the nosenet on her - found that there has been little to no headshaking with this, bar the odd twitch here and there when standing still. However have only ridden twice with it on.
- Lunged her with nosenet, roller and bridle - she went super. No headshaking.

- Rode her in a Micklem to see if that improved things (have heard that this works) but neglected to put on the nosenet as I had borrowed the bridle and didnt want to adjust the net to fit it. On a totally separate note she rode super in the Micklem so it's worth looking into! The headshaking started again about 30 minutes into the session - it was when I started asking for lateral work, which she finds difficult, and she started tossing her head up and down and kept trying to run through the bridle. I took a step back and just rode her on a big circle in sitting trot, pushing her up into the bridle, and she settled down into a contact again. She seemed to be tossing her head more on the left rein when I took a contact on my inside rein, or when leg yielding to the right (so asking for flexion to the left).

I'm starting to wonder if it's either 1) an issue with her teeth (dentist coming on Wednesday) or 2) a resistance to the contact? The only thing that contradicts this is the fact that she will twitch randomly, and also has a tendency to rub her face off her legs or her stable door after exercise.

Dentist coming on Wednesday to rule out teeth problems and I'm putting the nosenet back on to see if that improves things. It's so frustrating as I've had her over a year and this has never been a problem (I had her summer of last year and she twitched a little bit but it was bearable). The only other thing I can think of is that we moved to a new yard about 6 weeks ago.

Appreciate your thoughts and input.
 
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Would also appreciate opinions on whether you would buy a headshaker? I have her on loan but will be looking to buy a horse within next 3-6 months - up until the headshaking started she was, in my mind, my 'forever horse' - she is honest, willing, brave and extremely forgiving. She has her quirks, can be spooky, and has very little done for her age (12) but is safe as houses and has bucketloads of potential left in her.

I would just be worried that the headshaking will continue to get worse. I had her last summer and there was very little headshaking (more twitching than anything), it seems to have escalated so quickly.
 
I too would worry that the headshaking may gets worse as she gets older.

I wouldn't actively go and view a horse that was a known headshaker, however if I were in your position having had her on loan, and was going to keep her forever (within reason, ykwim) then I definitely would consider.

I really hope you can pinpoint the problem and it is manageable, she sounds lovely :)
 
Nato, I bought my loan mare who is a 24yo headshaker (violent with it at her worst). As soon as I owned her, I started implementing changes to try and help her (harder to do when they're not yours). Moved yards so she's on mixed wild grass grazing instead of dairy pasture, less dusty environment and she is a million times better. Regular massages seem to help, riding with a nose net and vaseline round her nostrils. So if I knew the horse and had things to put in place, then no it wouldn't put me off buying.

On another note, does anyone have experience of headshakers that seem to be dust related? Would it be possible that blocked sinuses cause it? When mine is worse, her nose gets really snotty.

To the OP, if you're on dairy pasture, I'd recommend trying to restrict grass intake to see if it helps at all. I couldn't believe the difference in mine after doing this.
 
Almost like a sneeze reflex, Have a look at her nose band is it irritating her. Head tossing is annoying and an obvious sign of distress If you fix it please post the cure
 
Headshaking is such a heartbreaking condition. It happened to a horse of ours -began when he was 5 - we d had him since he was three.
Yes, they are worse when schooling - just imagine you had a painful face and then had to wear straps on it ,held in tension! The horse will feel nerve pain , down the sides of the face , rather like neuralgia in humans.
Some 80% of horses do not make a recovery, sadly,according to veterinary stats.
We and our vet tried everything . Ours managed affiliated dressage, with nosenet. We sold our horse to an area of flat land without trees, and his life improved immeasurably.Tree pollen in spring and summer was especially bad for him , and our farm , and the outdoor school, was ringed by trees.
Also, over years they often come to tolerate the pollen[or whatever sets off the allergic/nerve pain reaction - varies with each individual horse] so that by their teens they are more ridable. Wish I could be more positive - hope you re in the 20% that get better.
 
Almost sounds like a sneeze reflex, check nose band might be too tight or rubbing. Sorry already said that may be i should go back to bed lol
 
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Thanks all. Something that is standing out quite clearly to me, after those couple of extra posts from you all, is the move to the new yard. She did twitch a little last year when riding in the field, however I was in a different yard and usually rode in an indoor. We also didn't compete very much.

We have since moved to a new yard which only has an outdoor, is up high in the mountains (is very windy there), and the arena is surrounded by bushes/trees. She also is on grazing every day, whereas in the last yard she would not have had access to very much grazing - only when she was turned out for a week+ for holidays, or once a week as the field turnout was limited. I find she comes in from the field with runny eyes and a runny nose too (clear not coloured), if it was a human I would say it was hayfever!

I just find it so strange that she was fine until I took that stronger contact, and settled back down again when I rode her forward into the bridle with a more elastic contact. She has never had a sensitive mouth (was used in a riding school) and was always a forgiving horse, so I don't think I could say that out of nowhere she has developed a sensitive mouth.

As much as I know logically it's probably not the case, I really am hoping that the dentist will find something that will resolve the problem on Wednesday. She has to have her teeth done at least every 6 months, and her left side gets the worst of it (too many teeth, too small a mouth!) - at the moment she doesn't want to take a contact on the left side so I guess I'm just looking at all reasons now!

It's reassuring that others have bought and been able to manage it. Tbh owning or loaning her makes no real difference to how I manage it - her owners are fantastic and let me get on with things as they know I always have her best interests at heart. The big thing for me is that I adore dressage and want to event - my biggest worry is having a horse that headshakes and is only potentially manageable (in that I don't know if she will headshake or not on a given day).

We're scoring in the mid-60s percentile in dressage with the headshaking - imagine how we'd be without it, which is the most disappointing :(
 
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Almost like a sneeze reflex, Have a look at her nose band is it irritating her. Head tossing is annoying and an obvious sign of distress If you fix it please post the cure
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Quite some time ago there was a thread HEAD SHAKER SORTED the pony also used to rub its head on its legs ,the pony was found to have blocked tear ducts and once the tear ducts were flushed the head shaking stopped.
 
NATO I just read your post again and you said your horse has one eye that waters and one that does not so the above may be useful ,probably the last place any one would think of the tear ducts .
 
First of all I want to point out that if you are trying to shake your head when someone has contact with your mouth, it's probably rather uncomfortable... Often headshakers look like they are resisting contact simply because of this.

A number of different things can cause headshaking. The worst of these is trigeminal neuralgia which can appear seasonal (at first anyway). Allergies, flies, teeth, ear issues and back/foot problems can also cause headshaking. And of course the occasional freak cases like the tear duct example above!

You need to use a process of elimination to figure out what is to blame.

Obviously, firstly, get teeth checked. Also worth having a vet check the ears. And make sure the feet look ok... Sounds like you have these under control.

The first thing to do after that is put the horse in a school and free lunge without tack. With almost all the causes, exercise will exacerbate them (as will warm weather or wind movement). Walk, trot, canter and then trot consistently for about 20 minutes. If the horse shakes, you know instantly that you are not dealing with something behavioural or a ridden issue. You can also rule out tack as the cause. You have to get the horse moving and sustaining the movement for a fair amount of time. People often think a horse doesn't shake when not ridden because it never has to move as much so the problem is never triggered until someone's schooling.

Then you need to try fly spray/fly mask. Again, free lunge for a good amount of time. If the horse headshakes, it's not flies.

A full face fly mask that covers the nose and ears can sometimes help with neuralgia as well as allergies. So that is the next thing to try if all you want to do is eliminate the behaviour but you need to make sure you don't get complacent. If it's neuralgia, the horse could deteriorate and it's better to catch it early.

You can also try a bute trial to eliminate any milder back/foot issues. This won't affect neuralgia usually so if bute works, you at least are likely to not be dealing with that!

If none of this works, antihistamines, followed by anti-inflammatories, followed by steroids. You'll have to consult your vet obviously. There are also surgeries being trialed now.

A lot of headshakers are assumed to have allergies when in fact they have trigeminal neuralgia that is simply exacerbated by pollen. Trigeminal neuralgia typically develops between the ages of 5 and 12, is most common in geldings, is most obvious in the trot and canter, often takes a fair amount of exercise to get going and will occur whether ridden or not as long as the horse is exercising enough to trigger it. Also, it is likely to be less obvious if the air is still so it may be less noticeable indoors. It's also fairly typical for a horse to snort both with trigeminal neuralgia and flies/allergies... Face rubbing is also a bad sign - trigeminal neuralgia, as it gets worse, can have a horse pawing at its own face in pain.

It's extremely painful for the horse and if left unchecked gets worse and can eventually lead to the horse having to be put down. Hopefully this is not what is going on, but it's something people should know about. There's a tendency to try and 'manage' things like this by masking them or pushing the horse through... But in humans this condition is considered one of the most painful things you can experience, and it's unfortunately fairly common in horses.

I would never buy a headshaker if I wasn't sure of the cause. It's not just a financial drain - it's also heartbreaking.
 
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Thank you Barnacle - this is really helpful!

I've loose schooled her before but she just gets really excited and gallops around and snorts - there is no headshaking but the max I have done it for is 15 minutes.

I've tried fly spray and a fly veil when I ride her and she still headshakes. It usually starts between 15-30 minutes in and gets progressively worse until I have to stop asking her to work. The last time this happened I took her out for a stroll down the road on a loose rein to end it on a good note and there was no headshaking during the stroll.

She has naturally weak feat which I keep on top of by getting her shod every 6 weeks, supplementing with Biotin and using plenty of Cornucrescine. She is prone to cracks in her feet but there's never any heat from them and she's never been lame.

The face rubbing is what concerns me the most, along with the runny eyes and nose when it's sunny/windy. It's usually her left eye that waters but her right eye can water, it just doesn't as much.

Dentist will be out Wednesday and my next step from there will be a vet if no issue is found. In particular because I don't own her I think it's important that I try to find an answer as soon as possible - for her, mine and her owner's sake. I would hate to think she is in any pain as she is just the kindest horse.
 
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I've just gone back and watched all of our jumping videos from the last 15 months and noticed that she was headshaking between every fence in all outdoor courses on a warm day. Indoor courses no matter what weather, or outdoor courses on cold or wet days showed no symptoms of headshaking. We didn't do any dressage until this year.

I think I didn't notice it because I only competed a few times last year outdoors, and I don't notice it as much when jumping as I don't need her to be riding in a consistent contact I suppose. I also had an indoor arena at my last yard which I rode in most of the time, hence why I am probably starting to only find it unmanageable now that I ride only outdoors.

Based on this it seems like it's definitely not a recent issue.
 
Just a quick update - teeth back etc all checked and headshaking persists. Have lunged without tack, just a bridle, free schooled etc and it happens regardless of any of the above. The nosenet improves it considerably but still not 100% there.

I feel like it's partially related to stress/pressure as she seems better on hacks than in the school, and it tends to start when I ask her to really focus and push herself a bit. Has anyone had success with Magnesium in this case? I also thought about something like NAF Oestress or similiar as she can be touchy with me when in season and read that headshaking can be linked to reproductive cycles (something to do with lack of hormones causing misfire to the trigeminal nerve) - Don't fully understand it!

Thanks in advance :)
 
I don't think anyone fully understands it, certainly with the many variations it can be hard to find the cause therefore even harder to cure or treat, I think it is nearly always worse when they are under pressure, many show no signs except when ridden, my horse is one that never does it in the field or stable, it is seasonal and improved but not completely gone with a nosenet yet is very minor, generally getting worse if schooled hard or hacked in certain areas.
Magnesium seemed to make mine worse, salt helps, whether you will get your horse 100% is unlikely, it will be trial an error with supplements/ diet etc trying to manage rather than totally "cure".
 
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