HELP - unhappy itchy horse :(

[Batgirl]

Mr Arnie is not happy, his face itches terribly. I have checked for lice, mites etc. I have changed his noseband, tried no noseband. He has to have his head clipped in winter for it and it gets worse in the summer.

He scratches his face on his stable door frame, his leg (anything but me actually!). I need some ideas to try to make him more comfortable or ideas of what it could be other than sweat and being sensitive.

 

[SadKen]

Is it definitely itching? Not pain? Could be teeth or TMJ, the mandibular joint. If it is itching you could try an anti itch formula (human, but patch test first of course) and see if that helps. if it does it's time to start looking at what he's in contact with, have you washed headcollars/bridle in something different? If he's itchy on just his face that suggests a contact issue rather than an allergy to food to me, or it would be all over.

 

[tankgirl1]

I would suggest dentist if it's only localised to his face

 

[Batgirl]

hmm, he had the dentist 2 months ago and no issues detected but not necessarily looking for them, might be worth checking his jaw out specifically.

Not washing with anything different, though that could be the issue as he has been itchy since I got him and have always used the same tack cleaner/conditioner, could try a different one.

thank you both for the ideas