Weird head scratching whilst wearing a bridle?

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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I've increasingly noticed that when Hovis comes in from being ridden he really rubs his face as if its incrediably itchy?
Usually this is whilst still wearing his bridle which makes it damn hard to get off! I've cured him rubbing against me but he's rubbing his face against his haynets or the bars of the stable as if something is really irritiating him.
I've checked his face for lumps and bumps, a rash, irritation etc and can't see anything. I clean his bridle so it's not dirt trapped underneath or anything.
Any ideas?
 
If it's after he has been ridden, it's probably just that he's hot and need a good scratch.

My horse always does it when we come back from a hack etc and is hot.
 
This time of year they love doing that - not so much fun when they try use you as a rubing 'post' when they have their bridle on! A few 'firm' words I think are in order so you can get his bridle off then he can rub his face to his hearts content!
 
My boy does exactly the same, he seems to get irritated by having a bridle on and as soon as I get off he is finding the nearest thing to scratch his whole face on, has done it for years with no visible reason.
 
My horse does that aswell, it does make it incredibly hard to get the bridle off and i havent cured the rubbing on me therfore i am always prettily patterned in black and blue bruises up my arms! I'm sure people are starting to think its the o/h!!
How did you stop him rubbing on you?
 
I was reading a vet site the other day that headshaking is a spectrum disorder and whilst everyone canrecognise the far end, the low end can be as subtle as rubbing the face/muzzle on things during or after being ridden. Makes no difference to anything, just interesting!
 
PF always rubs her face when she comes in from exercise, especially if she's a bit sweaty. I have to whip her bridle off quite quickly or else it becomes quite a struggle! In fact... I think most of the horses at our yard do it too...
 
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