My horse needs cheering up!!! Do horses get headaches?

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Becki1802

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So, for a few weeks I've been having problems with my youngster being bargey, rude and a bugger to load!

So I had a natural horsemanship woman out and she was great - horse now moves back by just pointing your fingers at him in a flicking motion! Previously he wouldn't move back even when you pushed him and has crushed me and hubby against the door in recent weeks & YO was getting scared of him! We have lots more work to do and keep the consistency to teach him about personal space and basically reschool him in his halter breaking.

One thing she has said though is that he isn't happy in himself, he has a constant look of worry and that he doesn't actually like being patted or having his face rubbed!!!! So I need to cheer him up!!!! I'm wondering if maybe he has a headache!!

He does seem sore around his poll the last few days - gone sort of head shy all of a sudden! I think maybe he has banged his head recently or a pull back injury, so thinking maybe getting someone out for some Equine CranioSacral‏ as maybe he has a headache? Thoughts anyone?!
 
Could be a number of things e.g. sharp teeth, pain related issues. A lady at the livery yard I am on had issues with her youngster (6 at the time) being naughty with the equine dentist an he was also reluctant to have his face and poll area stroked or brushed. The equine dentist though that he had an issue with his TMJ joint which was confirmed and then resolved by a specialist. Since he had his TMJ put back, he is a much happier horse.

Hope you get the issues with your horse resolved.
 
Sorry dumb question... TMJ Joint?

I am just shocked... Friday he was fine, Saturday completely head shy!!! & then for the NH lady to say he seems miserable in himself...!
 
Taken from a website:- Temporal Mandible Joint. "The mandible (lower jaw bone) of the horse is the largest bone in the face. When seen from the side, it is shaped like a boomerang, one end at the mouth, the other in the area of the cranium. Here it articulates with the temporal bone, at a joint formed by the temporal fossa and the coranoid process." It is located behind and just above the eye on both sides of the face.

How do I know if my horse's TMJ is sore?
-If you look where the brow band would meet the cheek piece if a bridle was on, you will find two bumps. These are the two bones of the TMJ. Just below these two bones, as you run your fingers toward the mouth, you can feel two nerves that run down the side of the horse's face. This is where you can check if your horse has a sore TMJ. If you press on these two nerves, just below the two bumps, there should not be any reaction. This would mean the TMJ is normal. However if you press here and your horse slowly moves away or tilts it's poll away from the pressure, your horse could have a sore TMJ.
 
Horses do get headaches and can suffer with them for years if not treated, they are usually caused by a poll injury. I'm not sure if they are the sort of headache we get or more because of something being 'out' or injured and it being injury related pain.
 
How old is he??? Only asking as my youngster (3 this May) has had couple of weeks of teething problems and has just deposited a big baby molar in his food bucket.
 
Dolcé;10499387 said:
Horses do get headaches and can suffer with them for years if not treated, they are usually caused by a poll injury. I'm not sure if they are the sort of headache we get or more because of something being 'out' or injured and it being injury related pain.
Click to expand...

Do you know if ECS would help? & how you tell what is causing your poll soreness?!
 
He is 4.5 years old & it is all of a sudden he was off & now sore up top! Can't 100% say poll or ears! He whips it away as soon as I touch!
 
Well... I started this thread a few weeks back...

Once he finally let me near his head and ears I found a cut on it so I think maybe he had smashed it.

Anyway I had an Equine CranioSacrial guy out to take a look and see if he'd done any damage... I thought I'd share my before and after pics!

Before
picture.php


After just one session
picture.php


The therapists comments were: Note the change in Rios’ posture, how alert he is, the change in his top line and his overall balance! He has relaxed his mandible and generally appears happier in himself.


I thought I'd share as I'm v impressed but damn it I now need to find the money for more!!!
 
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