headshaking

[mustardsmum]

So after a huge amount of time horse hunting, finally found one... BUT.... When I tried him, he head shook. Not a lot, more snatching at the reins every now and then. In the field on the first visit, he looked absolutely fine, and I never noticed anything untoward. Only when I rode him, I noticed the grabbing at the bit. I asked the owner who said everything had been checked and their vet thinks its just a habit. Went back and tried him again, this time from a different location and the head shaking was noticed in the yard as a small tic every now and then - not throwing head around, just suddenly twitching his head. I noticed this but it did not register with me as anything - I though it was just twitching at flies. However, on vetting, my vet said this tic is a classic headshaker action. I had a pony with ROAR so I am naturally a bit risk adverse but this pony is so lovely and he ticks all my boxes. In all other respects he's sound, early teens and there is no evidence of breathing issues such as asthma. I am aware of the cost of dealing with asthama having done inhalers. Am I mad to even consider him? I can have him on trial (not because of the headshaking, just the owner wants the right home for him). Just wondered what others thought about mild headshaking - should I just keep looking or should I proceed? Owners want 7k. He's a nice riding club type - done a little bit of everything and I want him for hacking and riding club.

 

[meleeka]

Have him on trial if he’s perfect in all other ways. They sometimes only do it in certain places so your set up might be totally different.

If the vet has said they think it’s classic head shaking, the purchase price should be lowered to reflect that. I certainly wouldn’t be paying current market price for him.

 

[Rowreach]

I wouldn’t.

 

[Burnttoast]

I wouldn't either. It's almost always worse when exercising and can progress with age. My boy (retired mainly for other reasons but the headshaking was a part of it) is a seasonal headshaker and it made him unrideable at some times of the year. It's clearly also pretty distressing for them.

 

[Bradsmum]

I wouldn't either as I have a head shaker. It can be quite upsetting watching them when they have an episode in the field - it looks like just a tic but is in fact a nerve spasm similar to neuralgia in humans which for some people is excruciating. He is pollen and light sensitive and luckily we manage it reasonably well but there are times I wonder if it would be kinder to PTS.

 

[Parksmum3]

I have a seasonal headshaker, he suffers with the tree pollen and starts to headshake end of March until normally mid may. I wouldn’t be put off by buying another headshaker but I’d definitely do reaserch first. If the pollen count is extremely high I just don’t ride. im lucky enough to have lots of hacking options so this time of year I stick to the routes where I go through built up villages and more residential areas. If I go the other way it’s fields and trees and he struggles. I cannot school or lunge him during his head shaking season as it causes him distress. However from June to February he is absolutely fine and will turn his hoof to most things.

 

[MrRoo]

I wouldn’t. My old boy was a head shaker and it is heart breaking to watch when they are having an episode

 

[BBP]

Mine only has the odd flick if I manage it with antihistamines, nose nets and fly masks. But it is so much more than the visual head flick. Often through the summer he looks like he has a massive migraine, his eyes are half closed, his facial muscles are pulled back right and he has a lot of tension all over and sometimes I wonder how fair it is on him. I don’t work him at all on days or weeks like that. I’m lucky at the moment that none of the farmers round me have planted rape for the last few years due to beetle infestations, so he has been better in summers, but in bad years he is affected badly from April to September.

 

[nutjob]

I've had one. I wouldn't knowingly buy another. It's difficult and expensive to treat and treatments don't have a very high success rate. Many look OK until they are ridden and most do get worse rather than better. At this time of year it's only the start of the seasonal headshaking season so things could be worse in a couple of months, especially if it was overcast when you saw the horse.

If you decide to proceed then try the horse in all weather conditions if poss including wind, rain and bright sunlight and at different times of the day. Mine was worse in the evening than early morning. Also if you are planning to insure check what else would be excluded in addition to headshaking investigations and treatment.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Just from personal experience, I wouldn't buy it, sorry.

 

[webble]

I'm another no sorry, I had my last one PTS because of it last year and wouldn't go through it again

 

[ycbm]

Sorry no, I've put one down for trigeminal neuralgia. He looked, as BBP said, as if he had a permanent migraine.
.

 

[Ossy2]

From personal experience no way sorry. I had a head shaker, not seasonal, not allergy related, faulty firing nerves apparently. Started as a bit of a tic progressed over 18 months to much worse, it was the most heartbreaking thing. She was my heart horse and had to be retired.
If this one is already showing signs of it at rest and in work and it’s noted on the vetting then it’s a nope nope and doubley nope from me.

 

[Winters100]

Sorry, but I would also not buy. It is one thing to own a horse with a problem, but quite another to buy one.

 

[LegOn]

I'm afraid it would be a no from me aswell, some that have mild can be managed but the episodes where its bad are so distressing to watch and also there is very little that can be done for some horses when they do have a bad episode. It would break my heart to see them in pain & not able to help so on top of the horse being unwell, I dont think I'd cope with it very well!

 

[Kaylum]

Was he headshaking when being lunged? Did you take his bridle off and was he headshaking? When was his teeth done? Was his bridle fitted properly did he have a noseband on his bridle? There are lots of reasons why they headshake apart from internal ones.

 

[mustardsmum]

Didn't headshake in field, head shook after exercise after his bridle came off and head collar put on. Teeth have been checked by owner who said its just something he does Although he passed vetting, vet recommends I don't buy because of head shaking. I have been looking for so long, have had three failed vettings. I cant tell say how gutted I am

 

[Goldenstar]

Don’t buy him .

 

[Widgeon]

I'm really sorry, but at least you've got a clear recommendation from the vet. I don't know what to say other than just stick at it and keep looking, and very best of luck.

 

[Breagha]

My mare has just been retired at the age of 10 due to trigeminal neuralgia. She only head shakes when being ridden.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Horse I bought in December turns out to be a headshaker and have lots of allergies. I am gutted.
Now have don't buy a mare on winter as #522 of horse buying don'ts. Sadly I only knew about the the first 521.
Walk sadly away but feel relieved that you are not taking on the nightmare that this can become.
My horse may end up only ridden in deepest winter...

 

[Flowerofthefen]

If he is a headshaker it would be a definite no from me. I have one and it's one of the most distressing things I have seen a horse try and cope with.

 

[kathantoinette]

It’s a no from me, sorry.

 

[mustardsmum]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. I have pulled out and I am not going to lie, tears were shed

 

[scats]

I have a trigeminal head shaker and a seasonal head shaker, both mild, but do cause their problems. Millie’s has really kicked off this week under saddle and she’s doing massive tics.
You’ve done the right thing.