Touch trigger head shaking - same symptoms as Valegro & whiskers

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Kezza

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Hello, has anyone had experience of a horse whom headshakes if light rain or snow or a bit of rubber from the school hits his nose? Valegro had same symptoms and in Carl's book he says they tried acupuncture but eventually they believe he grew out of it. I've also seen comments from people saying they saw Valegro in a nose net. My boy is 13, been under saddle for 3 years, came from a show producer so has always had whiskers off. I've had him almost a year and had left his whiskers and bridle path to grow. When I tried him he threw his head up and down if cantering behind another horse, apparently he'd always done that, in anticipation of mud flying up at him and if it did he got quite upset. He would occasionally shake his head side to side when riding and I put him into comfort poll bridles and plaited his forelock and top part of his mane and this stopped that. Sometimes I use a fly veil also. He hates having his ears touched but is getting better. On one occasion it snowed lightly whilst I was riding him and he threw his head up and down in protest, he had his fly veil on over his ears. Then believe it or not I hadn't ridden in light rain or snow until Weds of this week. For the past few weeks he's been getting upset in his field by tiny black flies, displaying the same behaviour, throwing head up and down. I put some diluted coopers on his nose and it helped. So to this week. Weds we started off walking to the arena and it started spitting and he got very upset. I got on and was hoping the rain would stop but it didn't and I had to give up and take him in. He only settled once he was back in his stable. I then suddenly thought about his whiskers and the fact that they'd fully grown back and he'd had them off for the last 3 years at least so I clipped them off and in the field Thursday he was more settled. I rode him last night and it was dry but he still threw his head up and down a bit. He's very sensitive and remembers bad experiences for ages so I'm hoping he just needs time to get used to the fact that his whiskers have gone. Funnily enough if I put a flash on him, even loosely he gets upset and stuffy. He's very sensitive generally.

So, has anyone else got any experience of this? What did u try, what worked?

I'm wondering if a nose net might help but he might hate that as it'll be touching his nose. I've also thought about de sensitisation by perhaps sprinkling shavings over his nose and rewarding him with a treat when he doesn't overreact. And I'm considering acupuncture.

He's healthy, teeth are fine, tack fits, back is fine and he's fit.
 
Over sensitivity could be caused by poll or neck being out of alignment. My TB was a monster if it rained, racing to hide under a tree or any shelter he could find, regardless of me on his back. His 7th cervical was out of alignment and when it was all finally sorted I never had any further problems with rain.
 
Everything is aligned so not that I don't think. He's just a lovely chap whom is generally sensitive, not in a bad way, he is a quick learner, always wants to please and loves attention. It's just he doesn't like things touching his ears or nose. I've managed to improve him with his ears loads by building trust and being gentle but persistent, not sure how u do the same with his nose ...
 
My TB had this and would react violently with headshaking if just one midge hit his nose or a drop of rain, snow or even wind. He never had his whiskers trimmed and it just came on suddenly one summer.
It never improved but it was manageable with a nose net which seemed to be his comfort blanket. It didn't even matter if his nosenet had massive holes in, as long as it was against his nose he was fine. Take it off and he was unrideable.
I never new what caused it but wondered if a scoping he had perhaps irritated a nerve in his nose.
Definitely try a nosenet.
 
Thank u so much. I'm trying a nose net tomorrow and been advised to get a cashel fly mask with ears and nose to put on in the field asap as midges are out already due to mild winter. Interestingly the acupuncture therapist requires him to have full vet exam inc nose scope prior to treatment so trying to avoid that
 
And acupuncture therapist suggested nose net as it works by almost stroking their nose which they often find calming
 
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