Need help with Dizzy - please

Haven't got many suggestions MrsM but like the person above suggested from what you wrote I wondered if sinus painful somewhere, or something up the nose.

My chap gets a bit bothered by pollen in the summer but doesn't misbehave - but will occasionally toss his head when we're out hacking in the summer and if he needs to itch his nose I get absolutely no choice in the matter, stops dead (has been known to come out of trot quite suddenly to do this!) and head snatched down and he gives his nose a really good hard rub down his legs. Coming in from the field he's like this at gate posts too or anywhere basically he knows will be a good nose rubbing area! As Dizzy is really sensitive type, both physically and mentally, I'm guessing any form of irritation for her is very magnified and does sound like an overreaction maybe histamine wise. I know how I feel on a bad hayfever day...itchy all over and incredibly bad tempered and frustrated. So something that vet suggests for that sort of irritation may help or there may be some supplements maybe. Can't remember how old she is but only other thought was whether she's got wolf teeth lurking though as you've had teeth checked recently I doubt it. Only other thought was if it's just general unhappiness from sore ovaries when she's in season? Does the behaviour correspond with any of those times?
 
Sounds similar to my boy. Having had him for 8 years, tried every bit under the sun, had numerous lessons etc., I tried the Dr Cooks bitless bridle. Totally refreshing change and one significantly less anxious and agitated little horse. He would literally drive himself, me and any other folks riding with us insane on longer hacks - shaking head violently up and down, twisting himself to avoid any contact, grinding to a sudden halt, throwing front leg out and vigorously rubbing his head against it. He has had serious dental problems and sinusitus and although now physically fine he just can't seem to mentally cope with a bit. He is a neurotic but very sweet arab, and I am sorry i didn't alleviate his general unhappiness with the bit earlier.
Swapping was very weird for me - did it in a lesson at first and felt I had no control/steering at all. Did a 25km Trec ride only a month or so later and had far more control on faster bits than ever before!
I hope your problems are alleviated soon. Can be so frustrating and disheartening.
 
They don't think that head shaking (if thats what Dizzy has) is an allergy.Its damage done at some point,usually by a virus, to the Trigeminal nerve.This is a nerve that runs to the eyes,nose and mouth.It is thought to cause irritation and sometimes pain.The most common thing is the nose thing, hence the nose net and it does work a lot of the time but no one knows why.Pollens are too small to be affected by it but it may reduce air turbulance when the horse is breathing, particularly at exercise.Sometimes its the eyes and the horse needs an eye shade, sometimes the mouth, and the answer to that is a bitless bridle.Professor Knotenbolt (sp?) a brilliant man at Leahursts has done quite a lot of research into this.
 
MD - ta hun :). No changes when in season. She's just six. Had one wolf tooth, but had that out last Spring. Will definately get her nose area scoped :). Hm, irritable and stroppy - that would cover it! :D

BT - thank you :). Tried a hackamore, but not tried a Dr. Cook. Given her reaction to the hackamore, I'll try different bits, then if that doesn't work will try the Dr. Cook :).

E - the Dizzy one didn't seem to be any different with the nose net, but I will try the net nose bag and see what that does :)
 
Last edited:
Maisie moo does this- never in feild just when ridden - I put it down to a pollen thing, it must drive them nuts having an itchy nose and not being able to scratch it! I use a nose net, this helps as she can rub her nose and lips of the material instead of chucking he head around, strangley enough she is better with her whiskas shaved off too!! I also have her on global herbs shakefree which has made a tremendous difference to her. - you just have to play around and see what works best for your horse. Good luck.
 
ummm, i'd definitely change bit material if you haven't already, worth a try.
if she's a headshaker she'll possibly do really typical nose-shaking, sort of judder her nose up and down an inch or two really fast, all the headshakers i've known have done that. if she is, it's a bit of a nightmare, it can only be managed not 'cured', i've had 2 headshakers, 1 was manageable, one wasn't.
have you had her back/neck checked by someone good, ideally McTimoney Chiro or similar? if she has say muscle problems at atlas/axis juncture this might be a contributory factor. she looks a bit too 'peacocky' in your siggy pics, and weak through trapezius, worth having her looked at imho.
you could try coating her nostril(s) with thick layer of vaseline before you go out, if it's an allergy to pollen, say, this might help.
 
Have got one in at the moment. She came with a real napping problem and attitude. This we have got her over, however she can shake her head madly when asked to achieve an outline or something she does not want to do.

The answer, lift your hands as high as you can with your leg on that way they naturally have to drop down onto the bit, dont pull but lift your hand up to your shoulders so that the shaking is actually only affecting them. Also get your saddle rechecked (I know you have said it had been done) however often a saddle that is tight in the shoulders can cause the head to shake to relieve the pressure.

Also from your signature photos, make sure she is not working overbent, as this puts huge strain on all her muscles which will ache and make her shake her head to relieve the pain. Try and get her to take her head and neck forward and down and teach her to stretch her muscles rather than curling back to you. Stretching down and rubbing her nose is a natural way for her to stretch her muscles and get rid of discomfort. Hence why the rest of the ride she is better.

I hope she gets easier soon.
 
M06 - thank you :). I'll have a look at the herbs :) She has all her whiskers, it might be worth trying her without though :).

K - just asked D1, in case I'd missed something, but we don't think there has been anything that matches that description. She will sometimes snatch at the bit, but other than that, it's mainly arguing, as though she wants to do something and I'm stopping her - as soon as she is allowed to stop and rub her (usually right only) nostril she's fine for a while (minutes). Which/where are the muscles you refer to? What does 'peacocky' mean? I have a physiotherapist out every two months or so; when she puts something out she is quite sensitive to it. He comes well recommended and the horses are always happier after he's seen them :). I'll call him tomorrow. I'll also call the saddler in case something is going on there (she's coming out frequently as Dizz is changing shape rapidly and does not put up with a saddle that doesn't fit!). Will try the vaseline tomorrow morning :).
 
S - thank you! I'll try the hands in the morning (before the vaseline test!). She does tend to overbend, but not usually as bad now as in the photos. She's been hard to get condition, weight and muscle on, but we are getting there (slowly!). Saddler is due out again this week - she last saw her three weeks ago. It's been hard to get her to stretch down at all! She suddenly started doing it about two weeks ago, and since then has been much better at it. I try and encourage her to stretch and we take breaks in all sessions to allow her to relax and stretch. I'll keep working on trying to get her to work forwards :)
 
Meant to also say, keep the hands there until she drops down, whether one or a hundred laps of the school, dont be tempted at all to move them, just keep your legs on to push her into it.

Saddler great to, our one had had her saddle checked three weeks prior to coming in, yet with a rider on board it put a huge amount of pressure behind her shoulder and drove her mad.

Best of luck, and hope it works out soon for you. They can be so fruastrating when not going right, but believe me, once you crack it it really is the best feeling in the world, and you forget all the tears and heartache.
 
Thank you S :D. I will do that in the morning. I'll also get D1 to hop on and try it so's I can see it from the ground :). Saddler always sees me on when she checks Dizz's saddle - we're between saddles at the moment, though hopefully, if she has not changed shape again this time, we can get a more 'permanent' fit (at least permanent until next fitting lol).

When she is going well.... she feels incredible and amazing and I count my blessings a thousandfold :D.
 
I haven't read all the replies, just those on the first page, I think it may be the copper inserts on the Myler bit that are causing the problem (I am Pearlsasingers sister and can corroberate the issues with allergies! and have a few of my own!) My mare goes well in mylers, but I can imagine that it may be a combination of taste and possibly odd feeling in the mouth for the Dizzy one. I would give a different material a try and see what happens :)
 
Thank you :). I think I have a Happy Mouth in here somewhere. It's a three ring gag, but if I put the reins on the softest ring at least I should be able to get an idea. Will pick up a Happy Mouth during the week and see how she goes. Have fingers all crossed for the Sprenger..., but have also heard good things about the NS bits. At this rate I'll be able to start my own bit bank lol.
 
By 'peacocky' i mean the way she has her head & neck in a couple of your siggy pics, for the stage/age she's at i think her poll should be highest point, she should be stretching her neck forwards not upwards, kind of thing. I hate to say it, but has she been worked in a gadget such as draw reins in the past? That sort of outline makes me think she might have been...
 
MrsMozart said:
T - What breed is your lass? Dizz is a Dutch Warmblood, six years old; I've owned her for about a year and a half. I'm wondering about the work bit... She was being worked six days a week, but was getting too fit for her braincell (and me!) to cope with (four days ridden, two days Pessoa'd).
Click to expand...

ahhh... now you've said that... I used to have a dutch WB, and he was soo much better if he was kept fit and in work. Even one day off would set us back a week. Took us 3 years to work out the best routine for him.

we ended up with alternate days walking and working. In the winter I would use the wet boggy field that we refer to as the school for 20 mins walking round in the dark/floodlights too keep him ticking over.

I hope you sort it out soon, she sounds like a bit of a madam! :D
 
On iPhone, so please forgive brevity!

As far as I know no draw reins. Backed Spring two years ago. Sent away for schooling over that Summer. Not ridden mire than once a week from Summer to December when I got her. Pelvis problem manifested, then a couple of falls, so not ridden much at all last year, certainly not consistently. This year is better so far. Haven't used any gadgets other than running martingale and I try not to use that.

No, come to think of it, she doesn't do it when lunged! A couple a 'arguments' then that's it, works well (same when Pessoa'd). Well there's food for thought...
 
Maybe it's an allergic reaction to fly repellent or saddle soap or something? Just a thought! Maybe talk to your vet about it again, and have her teeth and tack looked at! Hope it gets better soon though, sorry if my advice is a bit pants compared to everyone else's! :D xx
 
TT - very interesting reading! Thank you... a lot of food for thought there. I'm tempted to get the webbing one just to see what she thinks to it :). See my update today! :D

VS - ta hun, thank you for the ideas :). Teeth done two months ago, but dentist going to come out again :). Saddler out on Tuesday (she comes out every few weeks because Dizz is changing shape so much at the moment!). See the update.... :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top