Major Fly Issues - Headshaking

cob1

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14 July 2008
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Bought my cob in April and he had no issues with the flys (obviously lol). He definately doesnt have sweet itch either.

He started putting head down and throwing it back up in My time. This has escalated to the point now where he starts out lovely on the hack, then especially coming home (once flys really start to bother him) he starts to throw his head up and down (nearly hitting floor then my head(!). Have got a standing martingale on him, to stop him hitting my head, have tried the strongest fly repellents and fly fringes and still no real improvement. He even lifts his front feet when bringing head up now and its really unnerving - he even threw some bucks in the other day. All this gets him upset and he is getting rather head strong as well!

Has anyone had these problems - and if so any tips - saddle, back and teeth just been checked to rule this out, although he is getting treated by dectomax for feather mites.
 
Our Irish TB started doing the same thing in about May. VERY violent headshaking. We thought it was flies or possibly pollen and, after advice from kind peeps on here, got him a nose net. Stopped it almost 100%. BTW the flies are a million times worse now and don't bother him in the slightest so it probably was pollen. Hope you manage to sort it out as it's really unnerving, not to say dangerous, when it happens, isn't it ?
 
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Our Irish TB started doing the same thing in about May. VERY violent headshaking. We thought it was flies or possibly pollen and, after advice from kind peeps on here, got him a nose net. Stopped it almost 100%. BTW the flies are a million times worse now and don't bother him in the slightest so it probably was pollen. Hope you manage to sort it out as it's really unnerving, not to say dangerous, when it happens, isn't it ?

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Thanks Itsmyparty - ive just been to the tack shop to get him a equilibrium one - hopefully that may help. Sometimes its very dangerous, because he does it when we are pulling in for cars and swings his bum in all places. Will let you know how i get on! Also going to try leovet taser fly gel - oooppps ive just been paid and ive bashed the plastic already haha!
 
My friends horse was exactly the same, now she rides in a equilibrium nose net and a fly vail. I rode the horse yesterday with flys swarming her head and she didn't even notice. Before getting the vale, she reared up and owner had to dismount because the horse was clearly distressed. You should definately get both
 
hay i have 1 who headshaks it all happend because she was fit and then she went lame and was not ridden and she started 2 headshack sahe has been for test 2 c if they could find why she dose it and they have not found why!!!! i ride her in a bitless bridle and that helps alot!!!!!!!!
 
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