headshaking

[Lauren1234]

I have an 8 year old black irish gelding and he has never suffered from it before but he's just started headshaking. I've tried the nose nets and this has had very little effect. He doesn't do it in the field but starts as i bring him in and it gets worse when I ride, especially in canter. He seems very frustrated with this but when he's not doing it he acts normally. I've also tried cleaning out his ears, had the dentist and put vaseline round his nose to stop any pollen or dust, if thats the problem.
can anyone help???

 

[bellaM]

Head shaking can be quite a can of worms!!!!!!
There are so many different reasons, My mare done it becasue she was in pain, so get the usual checked by qualified people. Have you had your saddle checked lately by a qualified saddle fitter?
Also are there any different crops about this year especially is there any oil seed rape around you?
Make a diary of weather etc, things like trapped nerves in the face can also cause head shaking. I would get your vet to look, also you can get a supplement for it but can't remember the name sorry!!!

 

[kevH]

When did the dentist come out last and do you know what he did?

 

[kcgibson]

my horse does this every summer. Last year my vet suggested trying a steroid injection as this will alleviate a pollen allergy. Some vets are not keen to give a steroid injection as it can bring on laminitis. However, this is usually only a problem if horse has had laminitis in the past. There is one steroid injection called colvasone that lasts just a very short period (cant remember how long exactly) so its effects would wear off quickly and not hve an effect on laminitis. (my vet gave my horse this injection to ensure there was no prob with laminitis). Once we realised he was ok with the steroid, we gave him a longer acting injection (voren 14 lasts for a fortnight). There is also a steroid that lasts around 4-6 weeks. These injections did not work for my horse and i now ride in a cashel crusader mask which is fantastic and i would recommend to anyone with a headshaker. I have realised that both flies and pollen affect him during the warmer months and a nose net will not prevent the flies from bothering him, so i decided to go for a ears to nose cover and he is 99.9% better in it. Riding in summer in fun again!!

 

[Lauren1234]

The dentist came out about a 2-3 weeks ago and just said that he was really ready to have his teeth done.




i'm hoping to have the vet out today or tommorow, thanks for the advice!

 

[Tempi]

so im assuming your dentist sorted his teeth out then?

My mare is a headshaker, she didnt start until she was 10yrs old. She now wears a nose net at all times, and a full face fly mask in the field and in the stable if she is stabled for the day.

Does your horse try to rub his head on you, or on his leg when you are riding him? This is a typical sign of a pollen allergy - my mare loves having her nose gently rubbed at the sides, and before she was diagnosed when used to be constantly shaking her head up and down and rubbing her nose on her forelegs.

i feed her two suppliments by Global Herbs - Skratch and Zephry - they work well on her to help her to be a bit more comfortable.

Maybe try giving Global Herbs a call, they are really knowledgeable and might be able to suggest something - just google them.

 

[eventing_kid]

Hi

Head shaking is somthing that is still very much a mystery to people. There millions of reasons why a horse may feel that they need to shake there head, it could be from pain or somthing a silly as they niticed that the horse in the box next door is doing it, and wanted to give it a go. Being an owner of a head shaker i can tell you that there are several paths you can go down.

* Prepare to ride your horse and before you get on coat the inside of your horses nose with some local anaesthetic, which will num the nose for a short amount of time. if the horse stops head shaking you know its a nose problem and you need to get him scoped.

* Ride him with a fly mask on, flys or sun light can also make horses shake there heads.

* You can also try and give him a small dose of calmer to see if it is strees related.

hope this helps.

 

[spaniel]

More to it than that too.

friends horse has had scope and xrays and its been discovered he has a growth in his sinus that is pressing on a facial nerve.

To be honest I would involve your vet rather than faffing about trying to alleviate the symptoms.

 

[CASSIS]

I would give Crossgates Bioenergetics a call... I used a Headshaking remedy from them and the effects have been dramatic. I do not need to use a nose net anymore. I think they have a website, maybe worth a try as I know others which have also had great success, thats a how I got to hear about them... they are so helpful!

 

[Lauren1234]

The vet is coming out tommorow and they've warned me that its a very unknown ilness so could be expensive with all that tests that may need to be done.

thanks to everyone for the advice

 

[Lauren1234]

just thought i'd put a picture up of him headshaking at the last show I went to in a ridden class, he was very distracted and chucked himself allover needless to say I came last! sorry if its a bit big!