Long term management of headshaking

[Ange02]

My horse is having equipens treatment for headshaking nerve syndrome. The vet has said it is only in 30% of horses that there is a long term improvement following this treatment. Dies anyone own or has owned a horse with this syndrome and what was their long term management?

 

[webble]

Not what you want to hear but mine got to the point where he was head shaking in the field so I made the decision to pts. I'm sorry you're going through this

 

[soloequestrian]

I have one who is very mild and it's controlled by nose nets while ridden. My other horse gets Nupafeed MAH to help her anxiety and I realised when browsing their site that they recommend it for headshaking too. It's been amazing for the anxiety - can't comment on headshaking but might be worth a look.

 

[Ange02]

I have one who is very mild and it's controlled by nose nets while ridden. My other horse gets Nupafeed MAH to help her anxiety and I realised when browsing their site that they recommend it for headshaking too. It's been amazing for the anxiety - can't comment on headshaking but might be worth a look.

Thank you, I've tried a nose net, there wasn't a notable difference. I'll look into Nupafeed MAH.

 

[Ange02]

Not what you want to hear but mine got to the point where he was head shaking in the field so I made the decision to pts. I'm sorry you're going through this

I'm sorry you went through it to. I know that there is a very strong possibility that if it worsens it will be kindest thing for him, I just hope that won't be the immediate outcome.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Not what you want to hear but mine got to the point where he was head shaking in the field so I made the decision to pts. I'm sorry you're going through this

Sadly I had to make this decision too. Mine had trigimenal nerve; think this is what you're talking about OP??

We did try acupuncture for mine, this was ordinary/needle acu; however were told by someone else that it needs to be Electro-Acupuncture to do any good, and for that they have to be sedated.

You will get a LOT of advice about try this & try that. My lovely vet (now retired) said that to even diagnose the problem for my lovely mare would cost at least £10,000 - and even presuming you got any sort of diagnosis to treat her about the same if not more.

We sent video footage of her being both ridden and resting up to Bristol vet college/uni. Did the bute trial too. Came back as Trigeminal. She'd got to the point where she couldn't even be led in hand as she'd just cannon into you, she had no control of her head, the poor old lass. The deciding factor was when she'd very nearly trampled a lovely friend of mine who'd got a very soft spot for her, this happened in the yard and she was such a lovely soft mare she'd never have done this deliberately, but it just showed the level of distress & pain she was in. I know people who've had Trigeminal Nerve problems and they've said it is truly AWFUL.

I made the call there and then. Because she'd developed a needle-phobia (the acupuncture did this, I would counsel anyone considering this for their horses to seriously think twice before doing it) we couldn't PTS by lethal injection, it just wouldn't have been kind. But in the event, the guy we did have has an excellent reputation locally and he certainly lived up to his reputation. Poor old gal. She was only 10. I miss her very much.

Sorry OP, this isn't what you wanted to hear is it. Am really sorry you're having to deal with this; it is a sh!t of a condition to have to deal with; the very worst thing out there IMO.

Hoping you can find something that helps yours. XX

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My Arabi is a mild head shaker we think its caused by repeated guttural pouch infections, he only really rubs his nose and head on things, putting a bridle, head collar or mask can trigger a reaction sometimes and when ridden he will rub his nose on his leg a few times.

I've used a sacro cranial therapist which I think does help it often gets worse straight after but then calms down regular physio can also help, I recently used a nerve release therapist there is only 1 trained person in the UK, not cheap but I think it has helped him and she has given me some things to do which you can do every week, I think after I have done the techniques it triggers it for a day or so then it definitely really calms down.

I find stress can trigger it so I try to keep him as calm as I can and I know what kind of situations not to put him in.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I had an Equibiome test for my old boy, for digestive issues, and received follow up emails offering various tests, one of which was aimed at headshakers. No personal experience, but there is maybe something on their website?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I *think I’m having good results with nostrilvet. I get it off Amazon as that’s the cheapest place I’ve found and give a double dose before I ride. I’m 99% sure it’s helping, it doesn’t stop it completely but helps.
My horse won’t tolorate a nose net. It makes him instantly annoyed!
He’s currently on nupafeed and I notice no difference.

 

[ihatework]

I suppose it depends on what the cause of the head shaking is.

A friend of mine had a 5* horse that headshook - it seemed environmentally linked to sun and pollen. Sideways and vertical twitch.

Nose net was reasonably effective but he couldn’t wear one for a test. We managed to have him rideable for a 10 min test using a combo of nostrilvet and smearing Vaseline around nose just as net came off and he went in ring.

Another friend had one that was much worse and would try and strike his head with a front foot. He got put down

 

[poiuytrewq]

I suppose it depends on what the cause of the head shaking is.

A friend of mine had a 5* horse that headshook - it seemed environmentally linked to sun and pollen. Sideways and vertical twitch.

Nose net was reasonably effective but he couldn’t wear one for a test. We managed to have him rideable for a 10 min test using a combo of nostrilvet and smearing Vaseline around nose just as net came off and he went in ring.

Another friend had one that was much worse and would try and strike his head with a front foot. He got put down

That’s interesting. I keep meaning to try Vaseline.

 

[ycbm]

I had one triggered by wind and by sun. My vet told me we could spend thousands but it was unlikely we would find a solution for him. A double dose of human anti eplilepsy drug did nothing. I had him PTS when he started to grab his nose between his fetlocks and groan.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I hope you find a way to help your horse.
.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I had one triggered by wind and by sun. My vet told me we could spend thousands but it was unlikely we would find a solution for him. A double dose of human anti eplilepsy drug did nothing. I had him PTS when he started to grab his nose between his fetlocks and groan.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I hope you find a way to help your horse.
.

Under saddle or in the field?

 

[ycbm]

Under saddle or in the field?

In the field, actually in a barn, he was unridable by that stage. I booked a knackerman a week ahead in anticipation of the decision and two days before he was due the horse did this heartbreaking thing of squeezing his face between his fetlocks and groaning. I swear he was begging to be put out of his misery, it was awful to watch.
.

 

[DressageCob]

I rode a horse that we put a Shakeaze on (https://www.shakeaze.com) It made a massive difference. We had the solid neoprene one but the design has moved on to include different thickness mesh. It's developed and sold by a vet too.

 

[webble]

I rode a horse that we put a Shakeaze on (https://www.shakeaze.com) It made a massive difference. We had the solid neoprene one but the design has moved on to include different thickness mesh. It's developed and sold by a vet too.

The marketing around this net really winds me up. The wording makes it sound like a miracle cure and it really isn't

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Nose nets made no difference to Arabi that's why we think its trigeminal nerve damage rather than seasonal but I manage it as its not severe, I also find a field safe headcollar with fly fringe suits him rather than a full mask it doesn't irritate his face hardly at all.

 

[Ange02]

Sadly I had to make this decision too. Mine had trigimenal nerve; think this is what you're talking about OP??

We did try acupuncture for mine, this was ordinary/needle acu; however were told by someone else that it needs to be Electro-Acupuncture to do any good, and for that they have to be sedated.

You will get a LOT of advice about try this & try that. My lovely vet (now retired) said that to even diagnose the problem for my lovely mare would cost at least £10,000 - and even presuming you got any sort of diagnosis to treat her about the same if not more.

We sent video footage of her being both ridden and resting up to Bristol vet college/uni. Did the bute trial too. Came back as Trigeminal. She'd got to the point where she couldn't even be led in hand as she'd just cannon into you, she had no control of her head, the poor old lass. The deciding factor was when she'd very nearly trampled a lovely friend of mine who'd got a very soft spot for her, this happened in the yard and she was such a lovely soft mare she'd never have done this deliberately, but it just showed the level of distress & pain she was in. I know people who've had Trigeminal Nerve problems and they've said it is truly AWFUL.

I made the call there and then. Because she'd developed a needle-phobia (the acupuncture did this, I would counsel anyone considering this for their horses to seriously think twice before doing it) we couldn't PTS by lethal injection, it just wouldn't have been kind. But in the event, the guy we did have has an excellent reputation locally and he certainly lived up to his reputation. Poor old gal. She was only 10. I miss her very much.

Sorry OP, this isn't what you wanted to hear is it. Am really sorry you're having to deal with this; it is a sh!t of a condition to have to deal with; the very worst thing out there IMO.

Hoping you can find something that helps yours. XX

Thank you, I hope there is a response to
the equipens.

 

[Ange02]

I rode a horse that we put a Shakeaze on (https://www.shakeaze.com) It made a massive difference. We had the solid neoprene one but the design has moved on to include different thickness mesh. It's developed and sold by a vet too.

Thank you I'll look into that.

 

[pastit]

I had a headshaker. I bought him as a four year old 14hh pony, he started headshaking at 5, was diagnosed with arthritis at C6/C7 at 6, and was never completely sound to the left on a 10 m circle on concrete, so I was highly suspicious of left fore too. I believe that the neck and foreleg caused his headshaking which could be severe. He was one of the most intelligent and athletic horses I have ever owned. He was born knowing about steps, banks and ditches, but as soon as the arthritis was confirmed we stopped the jumping and switched to dressage, where he competed up to Advanced, and did other sports, so he was pretty successful. Here comes the But! It took us a while to understand him, and for him to trust us. On the physios advice we made him as strong as possible to support the joints. We fed magnesium, never exercised on hard ground, always turned out with a fly net in the summer to protect his eyes for bright sunlight - I swear it gave him a migraine! - , was aware that he would spook more on one rein and his spooks were spectacular! In return he tried his hardest at every competition, and the days that if he couldn't hold it together and his behaviour became extreme then that was fine too - no horse should have to work in pain. We tried acupuncture, but that addresses the symptoms not the cause, and it only worked the first time, and lasted about a month. At 15, coffin joint arthritis was found in that left fore, and at 17 I had him pts as the arthritis was everywhere. We all miss him terribly. So its definitely not all doom and gloom with a headshaker, in fact the triumphs become sweeter and there is a reason for the bad days. PM me if you want to talk further.

 

[Reacher]

There seem to be so many causes of headshaking. Apparently a cyst in the eye can cause headshaking and I think it can be cured by laser treatment. (My mare has one but it doesn’t cause symptoms).

 

[Ange02]

I had a headshaker. I bought him as a four year old 14hh pony, he started headshaking at 5, was diagnosed with arthritis at C6/C7 at 6, and was never completely sound to the left on a 10 m circle on concrete, so I was highly suspicious of left fore too. I believe that the neck and foreleg caused his headshaking which could be severe. He was one of the most intelligent and athletic horses I have ever owned. He was born knowing about steps, banks and ditches, but as soon as the arthritis was confirmed we stopped the jumping and switched to dressage, where he competed up to Advanced, and did other sports, so he was pretty successful. Here comes the But! It took us a while to understand him, and for him to trust us. On the physios advice we made him as strong as possible to support the joints. We fed magnesium, never exercised on hard ground, always turned out with a fly net in the summer to protect his eyes for bright sunlight - I swear it gave him a migraine! - , was aware that he would spook more on one rein and his spooks were spectacular! In return he tried his hardest at every competition, and the days that if he couldn't hold it together and his behaviour became extreme then that was fine too - no horse should have to work in pain. We tried acupuncture, but that addresses the symptoms not the cause, and it only worked the first time, and lasted about a month. At 15, coffin joint arthritis was found in that left fore, and at 17 I had him pts as the arthritis was everywhere. We all miss him terribly. So its definitely not all doom and gloom with a headshaker, in fact the triumphs become sweeter and there is a reason for the bad days. PM me if you want to talk further.

Thank you was the headshaking due to Trigeminal Nerve syndrome or because of the arthritis?

 

[pastit]

Thank you was the headshaking due to Trigeminal Nerve syndrome or because of the arthritis?

I never had a label for it. He twitched his head vertically almost constantly, and would bury his nose in a bucket of water and scissor kick when he was bad, so I believe he had TNS, but I also believe that the nerve was fired by some impingement in his body. The vets weren't particularly interested, it wasn't something they could cure or even effectively diagnose. The physio always found a tight TMJ and a jaw that was locked to the left. She said that a locked jaw was typical of youngsters bashing heads, but unusual in adult horses. Infrared camera had his poll and TMJ as white hot, but I didn't find this surprising as he twitched a lot. I'm sure he got lots of headaches ( I was laughed at by one trainer, who said I couldn't possibly know that, and she was right, but when you see your horse screw up his eyes when walking into bright sunlight, and hold himself still, that's what it looked like). You might ask how on earth did we compete him? He got strong and fit, and went from being slightly ewe necked when we bought him to training in a low frame. For every one day in the school, he did two hacking days. We kept a calendar of weather conditions per month, wind, sun, pollen. Although he wasn't pollen sensitive, I felt that it was an extra burden on an already compromised nose. Over time it was clear that August to October were his best months. Hard ground was his nemesis; although he was never lame, I did wonder about concussion going through his head. We has some small success with magnets, but after he lost 2 in the field I gave up. I hoarded bute, so I could give him some relief on the bad days, but luckily these subsided until he got near retirement. Apologies for the long posts, I can rabbit on about this for ages, as you can see! But he was such an interesting horse with a big personality.

 

[Ange02]

I never had a label for it. He twitched his head vertically almost constantly, and would bury his nose in a bucket of water and scissor kick when he was bad, so I believe he had TNS, but I also believe that the nerve was fired by some impingement in his body. The vets weren't particularly interested, it wasn't something they could cure or even effectively diagnose. The physio always found a tight TMJ and a jaw that was locked to the left. She said that a locked jaw was typical of youngsters bashing heads, but unusual in adult horses. Infrared camera had his poll and TMJ as white hot, but I didn't find this surprising as he twitched a lot. I'm sure he got lots of headaches ( I was laughed at by one trainer, who said I couldn't possibly know that, and she was right, but when you see your horse screw up his eyes when walking into bright sunlight, and hold himself still, that's what it looked like). You might ask how on earth did we compete him? He got strong and fit, and went from being slightly ewe necked when we bought him to training in a low frame. For every one day in the school, he did two hacking days. We kept a calendar of weather conditions per month, wind, sun, pollen. Although he wasn't pollen sensitive, I felt that it was an extra burden on an already compromised nose. Over time it was clear that August to October were his best months. Hard ground was his nemesis; although he was never lame, I did wonder about concussion going through his head. We has some small success with magnets, but after he lost 2 in the field I gave up. I hoarded bute, so I could give him some relief on the bad days, but luckily these subsided until he got near retirement. Apologies for the long posts, I can rabbit on about this for ages, as you can see! But he was such an interesting horse with a big personality.

Thank you for your reply, you clearly did very well managing the condition I hope I'm able to too.