New horse headshaking

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Lottie9

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Is anyone able to share their experiences with headshaking? I recently bought my first horse who is unfortunately showing signs of it. I tried him twice before purchase, once at 11am, including hacking through woods where he was fine, then I tried him again with my instructor at midday in sunny hot weather. A few flies appeared at the end when he was obviously uncomfortable and put in a few head shakes. He had a 5 stage vetting this time last week and showed no signs then, again it was in the morning on a cloudy day with no flies around.

Since arriving with us on Saturday I have ridden him 4 times, the first at midday when he showed no signs, then 3 times in the evening, when he has been very bad, worse in canter when he tends to snort quite a bit. My instructor has ridden him and if pushed into a strong contact he seems to be able to ignore it but doesn't look happy or relaxed. The seller was quite a firm rider so may not have noticed, and also tended to ride more in the mornings, when I can only ride in the evenings after work. Last night he was also stomping and swishing quite a bit when being groomed and tacked up despite covering him in fly spray.

He's a 7 year old ex-racehorse so fairly thin skinned anyway, his racing trainer has confirmed that he never did it since they have known him and they have also followed him through his re-training with the seller and confirms that it was never an issue. He's competed very successfully in eventing and dressage in the last 3 years so I'm reasonably confident that this hasn't been a significant issue before coming to me.

He is in a new bit, bridle and saddle, I'm getting a Micklem at the weekend to see if that helps (I tried him in one although was told he was fine in a flash), and the saddle although not a perfect fit, lies flat and doesn't pinch.
I'm also going to get him a nose net asap to see if it is the flies and time of day.
Sorry for the long message, but has anyone heard of patterns like time of day for riding, or change in geographical area that might have different pollens/flies (bearing in mind we don't have a lot of either at this time of year?) that can cause such a sudden and significant change in a horse?

Given the snorting and stamping I hope that a fly nose net will solve the problem along with a check of all of his tack but if it doesn't I'm quite concerned! I hope to lunge him in a head collar tomorrow to see if it happens without his tack and will ride earlier in the day at the weekend, but if there are any other checks that I could do to try to isolate the problem, please let me know.

I'm a little bit terrified of googling the problem in case I only see the worst cast scenarios!

Thanks very much for your help.
 
Have you had his back and teeth checked by a professional? And also his saddle checked by a qualified saddler?? Just because it looks okay doesn't mean it is. I would get the dentist, the physio and a saddler out asap, and if no improvements I'd get the vet. He also may not like the new bit you have him in.
 
Can you box back to the sellers of an evening? I do think a lot of allergens are worse in the evening and am wondering if there is something in your air that isn't in theirs? Only if close enough but might prove allergen not something else.
 
Head shaking can be because a lot of reasons, the main ones being...

Sensitivity in the nostrils (pollen, flies etc)
No 'filter' reaction further up the nostrils (so pollen, dust etc goes further up nose then it should.)
UV Sensitivity (sunlight)
Nerves not working correctly in the face causes numbness patches.
Sodium/potassium levels in feed. (feeding salt helps.)

I think try the nosenet and feeding salt first for 2-3weeks and see if there is any difference. If not you may have to investigate the UV and filter reaction in the nostrils.
 
Lottie9 said:
Is anyone able to share their experiences with headshaking? I recently bought my first horse who is unfortunately showing signs of it. I tried him twice before purchase, once at 11am, including hacking through woods where he was fine, then I tried him again with my instructor at midday in sunny hot weather. A few flies appeared at the end when he was obviously uncomfortable and put in a few head shakes. He had a 5 stage vetting this time last week and showed no signs then, again it was in the morning on a cloudy day with no flies around.

Since arriving with us on Saturday I have ridden him 4 times, the first at midday when he showed no signs, then 3 times in the evening, when he has been very bad, worse in canter when he tends to snort quite a bit. My instructor has ridden him and if pushed into a strong contact he seems to be able to ignore it but doesn't look happy or relaxed. The seller was quite a firm rider so may not have noticed, and also tended to ride more in the mornings, when I can only ride in the evenings after work. Last night he was also stomping and swishing quite a bit when being groomed and tacked up despite covering him in fly spray.

He's a 7 year old ex-racehorse so fairly thin skinned anyway, his racing trainer has confirmed that he never did it since they have known him and they have also followed him through his re-training with the seller and confirms that it was never an issue. He's competed very successfully in eventing and dressage in the last 3 years so I'm reasonably confident that this hasn't been a significant issue before coming to me.

He is in a new bit, bridle and saddle, I'm getting a Micklem at the weekend to see if that helps (I tried him in one although was told he was fine in a flash), and the saddle although not a perfect fit, lies flat and doesn't pinch.
I'm also going to get him a nose net asap to see if it is the flies and time of day.
Sorry for the long message, but has anyone heard of patterns like time of day for riding, or change in geographical area that might have different pollens/flies (bearing in mind we don't have a lot of either at this time of year?) that can cause such a sudden and significant change in a horse?

Given the snorting and stamping I hope that a fly nose net will solve the problem along with a check of all of his tack but if it doesn't I'm quite concerned! I hope to lunge him in a head collar tomorrow to see if it happens without his tack and will ride earlier in the day at the weekend, but if there are any other checks that I could do to try to isolate the problem, please let me know.

I'm a little bit terrified of googling the problem in case I only see the worst cast scenarios!

Thanks very much for your help.
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Here is loads and loads of previous threads on headshaking click this link>>http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/h.html
 
Some people have had sucess in helping headshaking by feeding salt. Quite a big dose, 50gms I think, so more than most people would feed. It costs 15p for a big tub of salt, so got to be worth a try :)
 
I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE TO GET HIS TEETH CHECKED!!!! nose net fab idea i would certainly eliminate those 2 problems 1st and find out which bit he use to be ridden in and then go back to the original bit you tried him in think you will find this will put him right, i have had 2 head shakers in the past one was bad teeth and come right soon has she had then done, the other was a nose net that sorted that problem out. good luck and keep us posted how you get on!!! don't google head shakers it will only do your head in and confusse you more just eliminate one problem at a time and you will get your horses sorted. let us know how you get on!!!!!xxxx
 
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