Still headshaking, what could be cause?

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WishfulThinker

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Vet has checked ears and says they are clear, has checked and rasped teeth and he had some ulcers from sharp teeth. They have tried turning him out - although it only seems to be for a few hours, and they have switched from Haylege to hay - but that was about a week before the headshaking started - and they took him for a blast, just in case it was him getting antsy.

But he is getting worse. He is fine tied up and inside, but when he is ridden or lunged - in a bridle or headcollar - he still does it. It is like he is distracted and joggy and throwing his head about.

He does this without a saddle to.

Again I have only ever seen him do it when he is bored/frustrated with being in, as he really really dislikes it.
They are currently all in in a big group in a barn- like an old cow barn.

Other than the frustration from being in I was thining that maybe there has been a spore from the hay get into his ear, but as he is not doing it when he is just standing still then I don't think it would be.

He was being used regularly, but of course now that he is messing about they cant use him, and so he is getting no exercise. I am trying to get up to see him but I cant get a lift from anyone :(. I really need to see exactly what it is he is doing - as its not helping that I have to try and phone the vet and relay 3rd hand info to them.
 
So many things can cause headshaking.
At this time of year, it could be a pollen allergy (tree pollen starts about now, and finishes about the beginning of June).
It could also be due to an incorrectly fitting bridle, or saddle.
It could be due to back pain from an injury or an incorrectly fitting saddle.
It could be a problem with the eyes becoming over-sensitive to light.
So, there are a number of things you could try, in no particular order;
1. Check fitting of tack
2. Get vet to check horse to exclude any physical injuries.
3. Get a physio to give your horses muscles the once over.
4. Try using a nose net when ridden, and a face mask when turned out.
5. Soak hay to reduce dust (and pollen in the hay).
6. Try nasal sprays; Nostrilvet (cellulose coating on nostrils) or Beconase (corticosteroid *I think* nasal spray) twice a day.
7. Try using antihistamines such as Zirtek or Piriton.
S :D
 
1 and 2 have been done.

Just normal human piriteze is it?

I am off up to see him - finally got a lift. So will give him a super groom and close inspection.

Not sure they can/will soak hay as all there horses are in a barn and a bale just gets lobbed in.

I am thinking that I might take him home to my parents for a few weeks if he doesnt get any better, and if he does get better there then its something in that environment.

They are saying it seems to be up at his ear that is the problem, not his nose.
 
This is probably not much help to you atm but I always remember reading a letter in a horse mag about a gelding that had eventually been pts because of violent headshaking. All kinds of examinations and investigations had taken place until the owner was at her wits end. A postmortem exam was done which found that the horse had a seed very deep in his ear, which had been invisible in all the exams done while he was alive. The owner was of course devasted. I suppose I'm saying if you don't find the cause at first, ensure that the vet is extremely thorough in his investigations.
Good luck!
 
My boy is a headshaker - things that seem to bother him are coming into bright sunlight from the shade, flies and pollen.

After getting his back and saddle checked, he had a back injury, which seems to exacerbate the shaking. With physio, headshaking in trot seems to have subsided now. I use a nosenet which also helps. I am thinking of trying NAF shake relief as members on here have seen good results.

Perhaps try a nosenet/piriton and see if that helps, as it does seem to correlate with the start of spring...
 
Well, went out gave him a good groom etc, he only shook head a few times when I used a rubber curry comb on his flanks. He was fine tacking up etc, stood and sdidnt shy away from saddle or bridle. Walked to school ok. I got on and he was ok for 10 steps then he started shaking/snatching at the reins. He would stop a bit, then do it again, and in trot to. He did it a bit to if led with someone on him, but not if you walked right in front of him.

However, when we just stood with him he neck muscle seemed to be twitching - and making his head shake a bit - it seemed more like it was the neck than in his head. He wasn't looking in pain, if anything he had that naughty look in his eye. And he was keen as hie ears were forward, no grump face.

We took him for a walk in hand in a headcollar and he didn't shake until he fooked off with me and I managed to hold on and stop him (after like 10m) and then he was shaking it a few times back up to the stables.

I don't think it is something in his ear as he is happily standing still with no shaking, but whilst he doesn't seem keen on the wind on his face when he is being ridden, he stands with his head out the barn in the wind.

So I am going to see if the vet can recommend a physio to come out and see him and see what they can find. And also going to get a nose net to see if that makes any diff, buit he cant be ridden in the school until its sorted.
 
I would try a physio or a chiropractor.

A mare at work had been head-shaking and had been getting progressively worse.
I noticed it out in the field when I went to get her in but thought it was just the flies, however she still did it standing in, riding, and was getting worse over the past few days.

On Friday she had the chiropractor out and basically she had a lot wrong with her, particularly around her poll area (not sure exactly what as I was getting more horses in from field).

Well the chiropractor did her thing and now the horse is even better than before and no more head-shaking and she is even out racing tomorrow. This may not be the answer to your problem however worth getting checked out? As I would have never had guessed that our mare would have needed the chiropractor.
 
This is not going to sound encouraging I'm afraid but I had a horse who suddenly started headshaking. He was dreadful in the wind/sun and would try to hide his head away from it. A face mask helped so you could try that. The vets thought it might be nerve pain in his face (like trigeminal neuralgia in people) but were reluctant to do a nerve block as it was too risky/low success rate. Eventually he was PTS as he was unmanageable and in so much pain. Sorry, there are so many causes of headshaking, do hope you sort it out.
 
Mabel98 said:
This is not going to sound encouraging I'm afraid but I had a horse who suddenly started headshaking. He was dreadful in the wind/sun and would try to hide his head away from it. A face mask helped so you could try that. The vets thought it might be nerve pain in his face (like trigeminal neuralgia in people) but were reluctant to do a nerve block as it was too risky/low success rate. Eventually he was PTS as he was unmanageable and in so much pain. Sorry, there are so many causes of headshaking, do hope you sort it out.
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I had thought it might be that, as he has never much liked the wind/rain on his face, but he wasn't bothered about it when he was standing still or on the wee walk in his headcollar.

One other thing is that he was REALLY foamy in his mouth, usually he is but this was like 1hrs worth of foam in 10 mins.

I think he may have ran into the wall or been fighting in the barn as he did just dodge a kick from a wee pony when I put him back. Its hard to know exactly what but I think back/physio person is the best step at the moment
 
On of the horses I work with is a terrible head shaker, he will try to hide behind me when being led in or out of the field, this is 100 times worse if there is wind, rain or flies. I cannot let him walk behind me when he is at his worst as the movements are so violent it is dangerous for me to not see him / if he were to go up I would be under him!
He has nerve damage in his nose, wears a nose net for ridden work and is stabled indoors to prevent wind rain etc bothering him when stabled. When he is turned out he just tries to keep his head sheltered and if the weather is very bad I take an old towel or even use my jacket to wrap around his nose!
 
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