Please help! Headshaking

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saddlesore

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Hey guys - help really needed here before our summer hacking is ruined!

Some of you may know that I've been havinf real confidence issues so this problem has never become apparent before, but as I'm feeling more confident and hacking further he has started to show headshaking symptoms. My last horse was a diagnosed headshaker (aren't I the lucky one!) so I'm fairly certain this is what this is as they sympoms are very similar. Basically a limited jerking of the head, but always wanting to scratch his nose along the ground/off his leg etc. :confused:

Have just started him on antihistamine tablets and was attempting to try nose net yesterday, but as soon as I put it on he started repeatedly 'sneezing' and trying to rub the net up and down my arm to remove it- he NEVER does this.

ANy other suggestions? Should I persevere with the net? Its pretty scary him being determined to rub his nose along roads in front of traffic etc! :eek: And its obviously really bothering him.

Antihistamines for anyone who made it this far ;)
 
My friend has a headshaking mare. She too didn't know about the headshaking - she bought her in the September and the headshaking became apparent the following April/May. She has tried everything from antihistamines, human neuralgia medication, nosenets to herbal treatments and unfortunately for her nothing has made any difference. It is extremely scary riding a headshaker because all they are thinking about is alleviating the discomfort, my friend's mare has almost fallen over and thrown herself down on occasion. She decided after the first year of trying different treatments and trying to keep riding which was extremely traumatic for both of them, to stop riding at the first sign of headshaking (generally April / early May) and not start again until July, sometimes late on.
I really feel for you, it is an awful condition. It makes you wonder how many horses must have been beaten to try and work them through this? You can try Prof Derek Knottenbelt at University of Liverpool for more advice and treatments. He is the leading authority on headshaking in this country if not further afield.
All the best, I hope you can find something that works for your horse.
 
Thanks for your sympathetic reply - so many people don't understand what it feels like to have a horse with this condition! Last horse was really bad with it, would stagger around like he couldn't control his limbs etc - VERY scary and obviously didn't ride him like this! New horse's symptoms are bad enough at the moment and I'm desperate to try and help him :(
 
My mare is a headshaker - she wears a nose net all year round as she is very severe. She also has to wear a full face fly mask (with nose bit) in her stable and in the field from about the beginning of April to the end of October as otherwise she gets herself quite upset.

When i put her nose net on she always trys to rub her face on me but i just dont let her, she also makes funny sneezing noises sometimes aswell. You just need to be firm as its something that wil help them and once your horse is used to it it will be much easier.

Mine is on global herbs pollen-x which is really good and much cheaper than antihistamine tablets.

ETA - As i manage her properly and am aware of the condition she leads a perfectly happy life and never headshakes when ridden anymore or out in the field.
 
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Hi,

My mare shakes her head but it's as though she's got a tickle somewhere. She only does it when we're riding out and sometimes not at all. I just thought it was something to do with her bridle or mane tickling her ear. What is the cause of this head shaking if it's not something as simple as I'd thought?
 
Head shaking can be caused by lots of things - bad teeth, problems in the neck/back, pollen allergies, bad fitting tack/bit etc. So without seeing your horse it would be hard to tell what the issue is. If you are concerned about it then get your vet out to have a look.
 
If it's purely down to flies and pollen, try the ladies tights over the nose, very cheap to do, so wouldn't cost you much to try, £1.50 for 5 from Asda.
It works for us, the mouth part is open so he can eat and drink when on a long hack :), but fits snug over the nostils so doesn't flap about and irritate when moving.

DSC00007.jpg
 
Just a little query - do those of you who have headshakers (and I mean the severe ones more really) are there certain crops, plants in the area or any sort of refineries or anything?

It just seems very strange, certainly in respect of the OP having had 2 headshakers - what environmental factors are possibly causing it?

My query is really because over 25+ years of horse ownership and having had various different horses over the years I have never had or come across one who headshakes. Neither do i know of anyone locally who has a headshaker so I am curious as to whether certain external environmental factors in particular areas are the cause.

OP - where abouts are you based and what is near to your fields/stables?

It would be interesting to know if there is any common factors in the cases of headshakers.
 
I feel for you, I know just what you are going through, my hrse started headshaking out of the blue last summer, stopped in October and started again this March. He has been through all the Vet tests to eliminate any pain related problems all to no avail. He was dreadful the first time i put a nose net on and sneezed until he gave himself a nosebleed, he will now wear one, reluctantly but with him it makes no difference. At the moment the tree pollen is particularly bad and that seems to be the main issue in his case. On anti histamines he is better some days than others, but on bad days he does it even in his stable and the field. Warmth and sunshine makes it worse, cold wet days I can ride him, usually when its pouring down. I am disparing as to what to do next, I am currently working with a homeopath to see if that helps, if that doesn't help then I will probably take him to the REACT allergy clinic in surrey. Good luck in your quest for answers. Riding when they are shaking is very scary as they can't control it and can easily trip or stumble when distracted.
 
Thanks for all the replies - hadn't realised the nose net reaction was a common one as my last horse didn't bother so will persevere! Hopefully that will make a difference as at the moment it is not very severe but having had my last horse do it, i know how grim it can be. With regards to the pollen x is it very smelly? He had a swollen leg last year and I tried to give him one of the global herbs products for it as it had rave reviews but he simply wouldn't touch it :rolleyes:

Those that feed antihistamines, how many do you give your horse per day? I've only been giving mine one - should I increase the dose?

Can't remember who asked about me having two headshakers in a row, but the same thing has occured to me! The horses are not at the same yard but are in the same are, although cannot see anything obvious as an irritant. He has been at his worst riding on tracks past ploughed fields so I wonder if a chemical fertiliser has been used that could have caused irritiation? It only happens on certain hacks, and not at all in the school.

I've had 3 horses prior to these two with no symptoms so hopfully its not me lol
 
Meant to add - has anyone tried feeding local honey to build up a tolerance to pollen? Have heard of this but never known anyone that has done it. Also wouldn't know how much to feed?
 
I have two that head shake. My daughter's cob came with a whole wardrobe, and as I unpacked it I found a nosenet, and thought oh damn, I've bought a headshaker! But he never once had a problem in 5 years until last April, when we did the Bluebell ride. He set off, started to headshake (violently throwing head up and down) and continued for the whole 8 miles very distressing for daughter (and him).

He headshook for about 6 weeks, we couldn't ride him as he would almost get you in the face, and then as suddenly as it started, it stopped. I've been told that tree pollen is one cause and its quite strong, so I guess cob was irritated by the high pollen in the woods and presumably the bluebells, which then sensitised him for the next month. So far no sign of it this year (not going to attempt bluebell ride though!).

Other pony headshakes all year, same type as yours, tries to rub nose on left leg, so much so that new instructor thought the tendon boot was irritating him. He hates a nose net, makes him worse. I found removing the noseband made a slight improvement, swapped to a myler comfort snaffle, and a loose rein contact also helps on hacks. Let me know if you find a cure!
 
I spoke to my vet recently and I think you're talking more like 10 piriton a day! I'd have a word with your vet. One a day won't make any difference at all.
 
Thanks guys! Tried to reply earlier but forum was being soooooooo slow and I kept getting an error with my reply!

llwelyn, I feel your pain. Having had one I vowed i would never knowingly buy another headshaker - turns out I've bloody got one! :rolleyes: Did your horse never adjust to the nosenet?

Thanks for the advice re piriton dose - guess I'll need to up it! Think I'll contact global herbs too about pollen x to see if they'll send me a sample to see if fussy boy will eat it. Its just such a nightmare, can't beleive I'm here again :(
 
Hi my horse is 19yrs old and has been a headshaker since he was around six yrs old.

He also doesn't like the different nose nets available but is quite happy with a simple velcro fastening fly fringe that is attached to his noseband and dangles over his nose. He also has to wear a full face fly mask in the field and a fly rug as he is also hyper sensitive to flies.

I have also had alot of success with NAF Shake Relief, amazingly able to ride him one summer without a fly fringe!!!!!!!!! Contact the NAF helpline for dosage instructions and I'm sure you'll see a difference.

Generally he doesn't headshake in the winter only if I'm riding him when it's snowing!

Good luck :)
 
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