Horse suddenly become incredibly headshy??

Snowysadude

Snowysadude

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Hey I'm wondering if any of you knowledagble people can help me here. I have my boy on a complete DIY yard, hes only out with two other horses and the owners and I do help each other out with turn out/bring in but all are very calm etc so I can say now he deff hasnt been beaten/slapped round the head at the gates etc!!

Basically I cannot touch his ears at all now, he used to love them being scratched etc but now he leaps away from me in the stable/breaks free when tied up if I try (not helpful being a grey prone to flies in his ears!). Its like its painful and I know him well enough to know its not just him being silly/fear. Has anyone had any experience of this at all? I dont know if something like water went in his ears or if his is sore around his poll for some reason (in loose ring french link snaffle at all times and mainly hacked as Im too lazy on a long rein so shouldnt be too sore). Could do with helping him as feel mean riding him at the moment and really at a loss!

I would get the chiro out but hes had steroids into his back for closeness and the vet has advised not to have anything manipulative to the spine just make sure hes in a well fitted saddle and to be fair his back is 99% better! Can you get someone out just to work on the poll/neck area (not that they could touch anywhere near)? I know it all sounds a bit silly but it is worrying me
 
I think it could possibly be biting flies as I have the same problem with my NF mare. When she came to us three years ago she didn't like having her ears touched (no problem putting on bridle tho') but gradually we have got her more used to us stroking them by touching them whilst giving her a mint, especially in the winter when she's not so bad. I also use a fly mask with ears and when she's not getting it off, it does seem to help. I try to wipe Coopers Fly Lotion as near to her ears as possible or actually inside the top part as this kills insects and I sometimes find evidence inside the ear part of the mask when I check, even though I don't see live flies near her ears. Mine also seems to have aural plaques, which are a sort of scabby surface. All in all, my mare is stil not delighted at having her ears touched but it's certainly worse in the summer unless I take the measures mentioned above. Hope some of this might help but perhaps your vet could help (mine found black fly & bites whilst my mare was sedated for teeth whwn we first got her so I know for certain she has had problems with things in her ears)
 
I have just had a similar problem with my TB, within a couple of days I couldnt get near him with his flyveil, bridle or headcollar and he refused to let me brush his face or ears. Had the vet out as like you I know him well enough to know it wasnt naughtiness. Turned out to be an infection in both ears, one worse than the other, one bottle of antibiotics later and hes almost OK to touch again, taking it very slowly with the bridle as he has a good memory! Getting the drops in his ears was a whole other story!!
 
Yes i can well imagine your difficulties with ear-drops - any tips? I can hardly manage to reach my 14.1 NF's ears when she's not co-operating, never mind a TB! Your post highlights the need to consult your vet if the problem arises suddenly.
 
Thank you very much for your replies I might just stick the twich on to see if I can get closer (not all that receptive to the twich though!) and see if they are badly bitten or have any plaques etc and give them a good clean/de flying :). I dont think it will be an infection as he has had 4 lots of antibiotics recently for a really bad infection in both front legs which should have cleared any ear infection up! Will update later after having a look - hope your boy gets better soon MyBoyChe and goes back to being ok with the bridle etc :)
 
I would get the vet out to check he doesn't have any warts, mites etc in his ears.
Especially you are so sure noone has given him a smack around the head!
 
hey my mare does same atm, it is the flies that get in their ears, use a fly mask with ear covers definately, without it she can hardly stand having her bridle put on, it can be very painful ....
 
One of mine injured his poll (unknown to us at the time) and became suddenly headshy, only when we mentioned it did his sharer remembep that he had caught himself up in the horsebox. But he had physio and is back to normal now.
 
Hi, how long have you had him ie did you have him at this time last year? And what is he like when you ride him? Just wonder if there could a chance he's a headshaker, I do hope for your sake he's not, but that can well start with the horse being very sensitive around his face and ears.
I find McTimoney therapy fantastic for my horse's physiology, and if you discussed with the therapist about the steroid injections and your vet's advice, I am sure they would work alongside that advice for the treatment of your horse. Good luck with him
 
This time of year my horse gets yeast infections in his ears, which the flies bite and make very sore and infected. He goes from being fine with head & ears being touched, to completely headshy. I just keep a fly mask on him all the time. The vet told me not to try touch or clean inside, because you make them even more headshy. Stop the flies biting - and leave the ears alone.
 
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