Hi and headshaking...

C

Charlie-Brown

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Ok, so approaching my very first post on HH with caution.......(wondering if anyone will think i'm a troll)........! :) Just wanted to introduce myself, say hi and ask a qu if that's ok.

So, I'm a nearly 30 (eeek!) mum of a gorgeous one year old baby girl of the human variety, and the proud new owner of my 15.1hh, 7yo hunk of irish loveliness (ISH) - Charlie! He's my first horse since being preggy and having my baby and he's proving to be the most genuine, confidence-giving chap ever - love him. The only thing is he's a seasonal headshaker :( Knew this when I bought him and lady informed me that it was just mild. I agree with this - he's out 24/7 and you can barely tell he headshakes. He has a nose net when ridden, which does help, but still has 'fits' of headshaking when out. I just wondered really if anyone had ay experience of this and had maybe tried any of the supplements or other methods to try and alleviate the symptoms??

Sorry if this has been posted on a million times before and thanks if anyone replies :)
 
Hi
I'll be interested in the replies. My horse started headshaking three years ago and I'm sad to say its got worse every year and he even does it in the winter occasionally now! And when standing in the field.
Today he burst my OHs lip open while he was grooming him.
He wears a fly fringe on his nose band which helps a little and I put Vaseline around his nostrils when I ride. I'm currently trying global herbs pollen eze but it's really expensive and I'm supposed to be using their headshaking supplement at the same time! I didn't know this when I bought it but it would end up ridiculously expensive to do this.
there is no way I can compete him, hacking is hard enough with all the contact troubles that go with the shaking.
I am suspicious that my chap could have neuralgia causing it as he is very sensitive around his ear and poll. Am planning to get the vet out soon before he causes any more accidents.
 
Sorry to hear that it's getting worse. I think my chap just developed it too according to his previous owner - at least she was honest. One of my previous horses had it too, although he was a lot worse to the point where he had to be stabled unless it was virtually dark, as the sunlight affected him badly. Unfortunately we found him dead one morning in his box, although no sign of a struggle or anything. The vet said it had been a brain tumour and I wonder whether that may have been the cause.

Perhaps I was mental buying another one?! He is so lovely though.....:)
 
I own a headshaker. He is particularly bad with rape pollen, but is also affected by other pollens and dust.

I have tried nearly everything available on the market, herbal supplements, straight herbs, pollenex nasal spray, hay fever tablets, carl Hester Vapour rub, Carl Hester Air Power......... I have wasted a fortune on it.

This year I bought an inhaler from my vet and it has been miraculous, my horse has always needed 24/7 turn out from April to October, he has just survived 6 weeks box rest with no cough or head shaking! He has his inhaler twice a day and has coped so well. Whilst the inhaler is not cheap it is really effective and I regret all the money I have wasted over the years on all the other stuff, none of which worked!
 
Hello! I read that your horse is a seasonal head shaker,but only under saddle. My mare used to toss her head while riding, not the full on shaking, and i solved the problem by changing her bit. Im pretty sure she was uncomfortable in the traditional "gentle" thick snaffle because of her small mouth and fat tongue. I know this might just be my odd horse,but I tried lots of bits and since swapping to a thin loose ring snaffle she hasn't tossed her head much at all. Might not work for everyone(or anybody else) but it could help someone.
 
juliette said:
This year I bought an inhaler from my vet and it has been miraculous, my horse has always needed 24/7 turn out from April to October, he has just survived 6 weeks box rest with no cough or head shaking! He has his inhaler twice a day and has coped so well. Whilst the inhaler is not cheap it is really effective and I regret all the money I have wasted over the years on all the other stuff, none of which worked!
Click to expand...

What does the inhaler have in it juliette??
 
hippo-horse said:
Hello! I read that your horse is a seasonal head shaker,but only under saddle. My mare used to toss her head while riding, not the full on shaking, and i solved the problem by changing her bit. Im pretty sure she was uncomfortable in the traditional "gentle" thick snaffle because of her small mouth and fat tongue. I know this might just be my odd horse,but I tried lots of bits and since swapping to a thin loose ring snaffle she hasn't tossed her head much at all. Might not work for everyone(or anybody else) but it could help someone.
Click to expand...

That is something to think about as he is alot worse under saddle, although you do see him occasionally snorting and tossing his head in the field. He's not bothered by it - keeps on scoffing anyway!! Wonder if the flash off too might help??
 
As Juliette has said one of the most common causes of headshaking and largely overlooked is the browband being too short.
It has the effect of pulling the headpiece up onto the back of the horse's ears, irritating them.
To eliminate the browband see if you can get 2 adult sized fingers under it with ease when on the horse,
if so then you can cross it off the list, Oz
 
Mollie's a seasonal headshaker. She doesn't do it in the field but from mid-April, the moment her bridle went on, the headshaking started before even leaving the stable. :(

Through trial and error with various tack, bits, different sized browbands, fly-fringe etc I seem to have found what works for her. She wears a cross-under bitless bridle with (this seems to be very important) NO browband and a nosenet. Result = almost no head shaking. :)
 
My mare will headshake with pollen and flies but only under saddle, never in the field. I tried everything, supplements, changing tack, etc.

I found out for her she needs a nose net and fly mask when ridden and it totally stops. I tried each seperately but to no avail but the combination really works for her. It has the added bonus of slowing traffic down too as they stop and stare!!
 
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