Those with Headshakers

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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My 7 year old Standardbred mare is showing some discomfort whilst out riding, in some areas (usually dense country lanes where there are flys) she shakes her head so much she is losing concentration, now she does not do this on the road at all!

When we return from our ride, she rubs her nose on the wall, i ride her in a nose net, which makes a little difference, but i am wondering whether it is an allergy or the flys.

I am toying with a full face net or Nostrilvet?? Do you think the vet will be able to give me a definitive answer (are there tests etc)??
 
I have just had to retire my headshaker as he was headshaking all the time. The vets said that his was idiopathic and was unikely to go away.

I tried all the drugs, nets, masks, nostrilvet.

It's a condition that is very very hard to find what triggers it.... so look deep and keep an open mind that what might work one day might not work the next.... and it generally tends to get worse.
 
I am also interested in this for my boy as he does a similar thing but does it constantly out hacking. I had a head shaker before who was completely cured when wearing a net. Not tried a net yet as this horse is quite new but he doesn't do it the same as other horse which made me think it was flies. I am going to try one of those cashel quiet ride masks as had one for other horse who seemed to appreciate it.
 
I haven't tried nostrilvet, but horse much happier in full face mask.
he has the equilibrium version.

he has been on NAF shakefree this summer and it does appear to be helping.

he also reacts to insects/bright sunshine, but usually happy on road
 
My friend is having a similar problem and took her mare to Bell. They couldn't find anything definite so for the moment have advised using 2 nose nets over each other to increase the filtering effect, plus she's on antihistamines to see if it makes a difference.

I thought my horse was a head shaker as he was also doing it constantly (in the school, on a contact, on a loose rein and with everyone who rode him) He had loads of tests and all they found was he had bruised one side on his ribs and said to rest him for a few months, and now he is fine! I would never have put it down to that.
 
If it is flies that are causing the headskaking then a nose net will make very little difference as that is for pollen. My old boy headshook due to a combination of flies and bright sunlight and by wearing a full facemask, he was 95% better.
 
my friends horse shakes his head for about 2 weeks every year, she puts a nose net on it and it decreases but it doesn't completly go away. the horse then doesnt shake at all ntil he following year. maybe just keep going for a while and wait to see what the verdict is
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we have owned a true headshaker for 7 years. tried all maskes, nose nets, etc. This year has been the worse for her by far. I posted a note on here a few weeks back asking for advice. I was advised to try NAF shake relief. Didn't have anything to lose so gave it a go. WOW!! Is all i can say. She is totally different to ride and so much more comfortable in herself. We do have the occassional day when she is more "shakey" than some others but on the whole this product has given us our mare back!!! It does smell quite strong and she would only eat it in her feed if we added marmite tea to it. She refuses to eat it in her feed at all now so we make it into a thick paste and syringe it into her mouth. Use a fat syringe with the end cut out. Really worth a try.
 
I have a diagnosed seasonal headshaker, I believe there are several trigger factors to his condition including, stress, pollen and getting too warm and sweaty. By trying to reduce these triggers I find I can pretty much keep it under control. I have tried many supplements including NAF ShakeRelief, Global Herbs ShakeFree and Equine America ShakerGard which all helped to some extent. He is always ridden in a nosenet. This year I have had him on a different antihistamine - Cetirizine Hydrocholride (previously I'd tried Aterax and Steroids) and the change has been unbelievable, I now have a horse that hasn't involuntary twitched for 3 months, let alone had a full blown attack. Get a correct diagnosis from your vet and then try lots of different things, what works for one horse won't necessarily work for another.
 
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