Winter head shaking

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Testy

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My horse is a summer headshaker, it's easily controlled with a nose net whilst riding and fly mask with nose cover in the field.
However, this winter he has been on and off headshaking. Since Tuesday it's been quite bad, I rode him last night in the rain and he was very bad even with his nose net, although better if I kept him at the field end of the school as opposed to the yard end. I took him out for a wander round today as no turnout due to the snow and he was so bad I had to put him back in his stable.
He generally just chucks his head around a lot, loads of sneezing and tries to wipe his nose on the floor. Any ideas what could be triggering this in winter?
 
There are lots of different causes of head shaking.
A lot of the time its pollen. So usually accurses in summer.

If a horse is doing it in winter it could be one of the other reason.
Like a trapped nerve.
Head / neck.
Or brain issues.
 
I have a horse that head shakes in the summer but a friend has one that head shakes all year. If it's windy he does it and also in head on rain. His prob is his sinuses just below his eyes. I have also heard of horses having this type of reaction to the sun ( what's that!)
 
Hi there. I had my vet out last week because my mare began head shaking about 3 weeks ago. He said that he thinks it is due to the pollen. Checked her over thoroughly and has given her some anti inflammatory's to see if they make any difference. I had told him originally that I'd only noticed her doing it when she had her halter or bridle on but I've since seen her doing it a bit in the field. She has shaken her head a little for the past 2 springs but I don't remember it being as early as this! Vet did say it is common this time of year.
 
I think the comment about there being many causes of headshaking is misleading. Yes, a tooth abscess, cyst, tumour and things of that kind can bring on symptoms including shaking of the head,but if the problem is removed then the headshaking usually goes away; but as an owner of a 'true' headshaker for 5+ years and a member of many Yahoo groups associated with headshaking, I think it fair to say that those who are diagnosed with seasonal headshaking and those who headshake all the time are responding to many kinds of trigger but the cause is the same- misfiring in the trigeminal nerve. This nerve runs around the muzzle area ( thus nose itching, mouth sensitivity), up the face ( head itching and response to pressure, rain, cold etc), around the eyes (photosensitivity) and into the spinal cord through a very narrow gap in the area behind the poll. They are often diagnosed as 'hayfever' types with a seasonal blip at the time when pollens abound but its not hay fever as a human knows it. It is the response of the nerve to aggrevation of the nerve in the nose - hence why nose nets work as they stop the pollen getting in. Some I have known, those who are photosensitive, will be fine when wearing goggles! Since it has been exceptionally cold and windy this winter ( and Spring!) I suspect that these horses showing more headshaking symptoms are responding to the effect of cold on the nerve. Whether or not it will now mean they are sensitive for all time to cold .... who knows? The science of headshaking is very poorly researched.
 
My horse is a head shaker in spring/summer & early autumn. Fine in winter but I did notice when hacking a few wks ago that he was just starting to get a bit twitchy with his head, I was wondering if there was possibly some pollen about.
 
Thanks all for your replies. Just got back from the yard, took him out for a mooch about and he was lots lots better, still shaking slightly but not the violent twitches we had this morning.
I don't think it's the rain sensation as he's been doing it whilst its dry too.
Spoke to YM and she said birch pollen and suggested piriton. I'll give that a go, fingers crossed it works as he's unrideable when it's bad, and must be horrible for him
 
I have heard that horse,s can have nasal polyps and these can be seen using an endoscope I am sure they can be removed ,maybe ask your vet see what they think . I hope this helps .
 
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