Strange behaviour could it be head shaking?

[cookster1975]

I would love some opinions please on an issue I'm having with my horse. He is an 8 year old ID x Cob no issues i.e. back, teeth, saddle all fine and recently checked. He is reluctant to be caught (normally fine), reluctant to load (again normally fine) and is backing away from being bridled. He is ridden in well fitted soft bridle with a cavesson noseband and French link snaffle (no changes). When ridden recently (last few weeks) he's constantly playing with the bit, never seems settled, snatching the reins and shaking his head as though something is irritating him, yesterday he was also snaking his head. I have tried different bits but no change. He also gets twitchy as though he's got flies on his sides when he doesn't. He never does this on the ground or in the field. I had the vet about this time last year with the same problem but she couldn't get to the bottom of it. I tried him in a micklem bridle which seemed to help a bit but didn't fit him very well (cob length head, horse width). Does anyone recognise these symptoms? Can a horse head shake but only when ridden?

 

[be positive]

Horses can just show headshaking when ridden, mine is a seasonal headshaker who is not too bad, he rarely does it on the lunge and even less in the field, there are so many causes and various symptoms that it is trial and error normally to find out the cause and reduce the symptoms.
I would try a few things but not all at the same time otherwise you don't know which helps, a nosenet, cut out all feed as it can be feed related, get his neck, jaw and poll checked by a decent physio, many focus on the rest of the body and don't look at the head, keep a diary as to when he is worse to see if you can find the link, it is often caused by pollen but it is finding which pollen is the trigger, many are best ridden early in the morning before the pollen count is so high and there are less flies around, bright light and heat can make the symptoms worse.

I guess the vet checked his eyes and ears and if it stopped until recently the link will be something that is around now and not earlier in the year, grass pollen is very high now so it may help to ride early and keep him in during the day, being reluctant to be caught and load is probably due to the stress he is under when ridden.

Antihistimes can help if it is pollen that triggers it.

 

[Shay]

Yes some horses do head shake more when ridden - you could try a nose net and see if that helps. But to me it doesn't sound like classic head shaking. The first option for me would be aural plaques or blackfly (or similar) bothering his ears. Another possible it that he has got very hot and sweaty and simply doesn't fancy doing any more running about in the heat and has learned if he messes with his head you stop making him do things. Alternatively possibly a deep root abscess. Although the fact this happened at a similar time last year makes that less likely - the symptoms fit.

Cross posted with be positive - sorry. Sure she knows more than I do! (No sarcasm...she does!)

 

[cookster1975]

Thank you for your replies both. I think you're right I need to use process of elimination. I have my vet coming to check his teeth again (even though he's not due yet) and will book physio also - again been done recently but will ask her to concentrate on poll/neck. Do you think equine dentist would be better? I've always used my vet for teeth as she's done specific dentistry training but might be worth second opinion?

I will try a nose net but sure I tried one last year with no change. Also rode with no saddle and he still did it. Will try head collar only tonight or borrow a hackamore to try maybe?

 

[kirsty.mm]

I'm not an expert by any means, but it was recently suggested that my horse is a headshaker so I've done a ton of research. It seems that traditionally horses which are head shaking do it vertically rather than horizontally - is this the case? If yours is shaking horizontally then he may be being bothered by the flies, so you could try a veil or a mask and see if that helps? My Mum's horse has recently become hyper-sensitive to flies and is often agitated, swishing and headshaking horizontally if he just thinks there might be a fly!
If it is vertical then some brilliant suggestions have been made above - I would especially recommend keeping a diary of his behaviour and the environment - including in detail what he has eaten and the weather (not just if it is raining, but also pollen count, humidity, etc.)
My horse only headshakes when I'm working him on the flat, which seems to be common as many headshakers go on to make brilliant showjumpers as they are distracted and don't become inwardly focused. I suppose this suggests that they can certainly only headshake when they are being ridden!
Definitely try a hackamore but always best in a school first before hacking out. I hope you find out what's bothering him! Please update if you do, as I would appreciate any further info on headshaking!