Pony shaking head :(

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zangels

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I am so upset and hoping it will be a simple reason. My daughter had a lesson on her pony today and we had to stop as she was shaking her head and then putting in a tiny buck. I have noticed her shaking her head before but it has gotalot worse over the last few weeks. It's not up and down shaking more like a quick shake like getting rid of a fly or something. She is such a well mannered, safe and patient pony usually and still is between the shaking. She has had a tooth taken out in the past and still has a gap so the dentist is booked to come out and check her teeth as my syringing attempts may not be clearing it. I'm hoping this is the reason and nothing more, also going to have the saddler out next week and if its not teeth or saddle I will get the vet to come and check her. Poor pony and poor daughter, they were hoping to go to there first show together on the 17th. Fingers crossed its a simply fixed issue. Is there anything else that could be a cause that I may not be thinking of? I have also tied putting a plait in her mane to see if it was hairs tickling but that made no difference.:(
 
As well as teeth, back, saddle etc, I'd be very tempted to look at what the riders hands are doing. Also, has is happened without a rider on too? As it could be an allergy to a plant/crop.
 
With the bucking as well, that would suggest to me a back/saddle issue and, quite possibly the saddle is pinching the shoulders/withers. My sister's horse did this as a youngster and it was due to the saddle mocing forward and pinching him. He didn't buck but he did head flick, swish his tail etc. Def worthwhile looking in to the saddle.
 
Thank you for the replies. She also does it on the lunge, without a saddle and just in a head collar with no rider on. She does it least in walk, more in trot and most when asked to canter both on lunge and also when ridden. If teeth, saddle and vet don't find a issue I will try a back specialist, would the vet pick up on issues with her back?
 
Has she always done it or has it just started recently? A vet could check the back and determine if they think there's an issue but it really depends on the vet I guess. They are not specialists in this area but some are better than others.

Think from the sounds of it you need to check/rule out the causes. She certainly sounds like she's uncomfortable somewhere!
 
In that case I'd get teeth checked first due to the issues re cleaning gap. Then ask vet for a check & recommendation to a physio if nothing else picked up by vet.
 
And could you try taking her away from home, preferably somewhere with a different environment entirely, to see if she also does it there to rule out a pollen allergy?
 
Definitely going to be a process of elimination I think. I am crossing my fingers it is her teeth and nothing more serious. I will also look into the pollen, is there anything to try if it helps with that? I haven't noticed her always doing it and defiantly not bucking, she has always been a bit of a fidget though but the instructor today said she has always shook her head ,and its just got a lot worse. We haven't done much with her through the winter just rode once a week really and the odd hack when the weather has allowed, we got her in September so I suppose I could of not really thought anything of it if I saw her shake her head say once when out riding once a week maybe? The last few weeks though I have certainly noticed it and if she has always done it it was nothing like it is now.
 
If it is an allergy type thing, you can get nose nets, but just like people it can just be certain plants that set it off, so sometimes its easier to just avoid them. But, the fact she's done it all winter makes me think its probably not a hayfever type allergy.
 
The dentist is booked for the 15th, it the soonest they could get us in. I will see what the results of that are and go from there. If it is food compacted in the gap causing the problem would you expect there to be a improvement fairly quickly once cleaned or should I then give a while before exploring other options? The saddler will be coming any way next week and the vet is due in April for Jabs. I don't want to be leaving her with a pain but want to give each thing a chance to see if there is a improvement.
 
You said you only got her in September - is it possible at all to contact the previous owners and ask if she did this previously?
 
That's a good idea, I was told she was basically a agreed livery debt, bless her so they didn't do a lot of riding with her due to her only being 12h. They did do work with her from the ground though so they may be able to tell me. I have recently searched out her owner previous to them also so I will ask them too.
 
Mmm the bucking as well is confusing, it is the right time of year for seasonal head shakers to start. Have u googled equine head shaking do any of the symptoms match? Having recently had to take lou on my eventer for neurological head shaking its not something i'd ever want to deal with again. I would try the ride in face masks and nose nets to help work out if it is likely to be from over stimulation of the face nerves.
 
Have you checked in the pony's ears? Not sure where you are but if anywhere near me the midges have been out in force this past week, and they make a beeline for our NF's ears, and they do bother him to the extent he starts shaking his head a bit.
 
I had a look in her ears as the shaking does resemble when they shake a fly away so I thought ear mites/flies but I couldn't see anything. She does have fluffy ears though so could of missed something maybe. I will have a check again tomorrow.
I looked at head shaking syndrome info but read its usually up and down movement and this is more of a shake like something is irritating. I really hope it isn't that.
What kind of mask would be good to see if pollen is the problem?
 
I have today got in touch withe the ponies previous owner. Not who we purchased her from but the one before that. They told me she had always shook her head but not bucked and it sounds like it is now worse :( they also told me they purchased her from a riding school and she was fantastic to jump and great in traffic, so also some nice news. They told me after they had passed her to the lady who we got her from they found out she had a access on her tooth and the tooth had to be removed (we knew this) and she then thought that the abcess was the reason for the head shaking during the time she had her.
So I am still going to explore that it may be down to teeth and also have the vet to check her over but think I may have to also consider its equine head shaking syndrome. This would also fit in with why I haven't picked up on it before as we got her in September and it is just starting to become more apparent now it's warming up. She has had the odd shake before but nothing you would question as more than any other pony.
If any one has any experience with this syndrome and can offer any advice I would really be great full.
My daughters adore this little pony and we will all be hear broken if it turns out to be this, they have ridden her though winter when possible and bonded with the pony to get ready for a fun summer together and I fear this will now not be possible.
 
Mine always shook her head, and after all the usual saddle/back/teeth checks etc and even some new bits, but nothing worked. We then tried a padded normal bridle but that didn't help either, then we bought a Micklem bridle which took pressure off the sensitive parts of her head and no joke she hasn't shook her head since, so could be the bridle if nothing else works!
 
It could be, I will have a look at that one. The saddler came and fitted a new saddle and checked bridle, bit etc and said the fit was fine with it. I think that is te problem with Head Shaking syndrome it has a different trigger for different horses. I'm hoping its not this and it s her teeth. I'm not sure what to do next if it is Head Shaking Syndrome.
 
zangels said:
It could be, I will have a look at that one. The saddler came and fitted a new saddle and checked bridle, bit etc and said the fit was fine with it. I think that is te problem with Head Shaking syndrome it has a different trigger for different horses. I'm hoping its not this and it s her teeth. I'm not sure what to do next if it is Head Shaking Syndrome.
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Yeah it was a pain! We had her 2nd bridle checked and it fit her but guess she is just sensitive on her face! worth trying though as we had everything checked too! :) http://www.williammicklem.com/multibridle-insideout.html
 
Thank you. It's making things difficult as she's my children's pony and my daughter is just not confident enough to ride through it if it turns out to be mild enough head shaking to continue with ridden work. I hope I am worrying without cause and a visit from the dentist and she will be cured.
 
Hi
Sounds just like our old lady , she wear's a nose net all year round and can leep in the air for no reason (like someone has flicked her on the nose) and is also funny about her ears , she has had teeth ,back ect done and has been like this for a long time .
Please don't be put off by your ponies odd behaviour as our quirky old girl jumps JA and is a pony club member and also shows at county level in veterans .
 
Thank you that's good to know. The current problem is that she is also putting in a buck when whatever it is really bothers her and as my children are only 4 and 9 its just not safe for them to continue riding her at the moment. I have actually just purchased a equilibrium muzzle relief net that shoud be here by Monday to try her with. It seems that she is obviously in pain or severely irritated when she shakes her head so if we can't ease the symptoms for her I don't think she can continue with being a ridden pony as it just wouldn't ge fair to her.
I am such a worrier and it may turn out to be her teeth yet but I couldn't get the dentist to come until the 15th and thought I may as well try the muzzle relief while we're waiting.
 
Hi
we use the Equilibrium muzzle net and have found it very good so fingers crossed , and my daughter is 10 and has learnt to go with the pony (she's not being bad just special) also pony was really bad when we got her which i think was a change in location .
 
Haven't got time to read all replies so sorry if already suggested. ... but is her brow band too tight? I had similar issues with a Fell pony on loan. She was wearing a cob size bridle but needed full brow band. It took her 1 lesson to realise it wasn't tight any more. And the symptoms you describe stopped. Just a thought x
 
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