Hi all,
A topic that I don't know much about. Someone I know has a pony that seems to twitch his head when it's either a windy day or when there's a few spots of rain. He will stop to rub his nose or run it along the ground - as if trying to get away from the wind. She has tried a nose net on him and he's happier in that. I wondered if anyone has any advice or knowledge about it? She has talked to her vet who has said that some head shakers require an operation and that if it's mild and he's happy with a nose net continue riding him.
Thanks in advance. x
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Horse Care and Comfort
Headshaking
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I know a horse with head shaking. The movements persist without any equipment. The best explanation seems to me a problem of the trigeminus nerve that is irritated or hypersensitive. The vet gave an antibiotic to rule out a sinusitis (no success). We will try to cover the eyes to minimize the light entering the eye. There is also a method to put a protection over the nose, creating an irritation of the tissue that may mask the hypersensitivity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DegSrwcSF3k). The experienced people of the barn discuss also whether it is a normal behaviour. In the particular case it stops after a while when the horse is ridden.
Rudi
As Rudi said, it certainly is one of the signs of trigeminal nerve problems. If the little guy is being ridden by inexperienced small kids who don't know any better, it is not surprising to see happen, their mouths take such a cruel beating at their hands. It is very common unfortunately in such cases. I assume that they had its mouth completely checked out?....for any signs of "obvious" damage? Of course most of the time its difficult to see without an x-ray anyway.
For the most part, what is badly needed and called for regardless, is to be ridden bitless for a year anyway.
Generally a marked improvement is noticeable before too long depending on the severity.
As well, has the poor guy been properly measured for a correct "simple" bit? Something soft with a small diameter, if they still insist on using a bit.
There is a lot of research being carried out on headshaking in horses at the moment. It is interesting that the nose net helps which might suggest its an allergy (pollen or something)but as Paul and Rudi say it could be neural. The operation is not 100 % successful (varying reports seems to suggest 50 to 70% success) and it involves clamping/suppressing the nerve signals (in humans the nerve can be cut but not in horses apparently. Totally agree with Paul about the bit, get rid of it and see what happens. There is also some suggestion that as well as the bit it can be pain from other tack such as brow band too tight, nose band irritating and even back pain, so it really is a process of elimination and seeing what works but each thing you test needs time to work so that you can assess the result properly. There is the added difficulty that the longer this goes on the more it could become a habit that even after the original problem has gone, the habit remains. Good luck, keep us posted!
Thankyou for sharing the video. That's exactly the behaviour he displays. And that's a better design of nose net as well.
His teeth are checked regularly (every six months) by the vet and rasped when needed with hand tools (by the vet).
Thankyou for suggesting about bitless, I'm am currently in the process of going bitless, so maybe I could mention it.
Dear Abi, please check out EQUIWINNER - http://www.equiwinner.com/home.htm
we have had super success with that! Kind Regards CI Ann Lindberg
Hi Ann,
Thanks for the link. Have you used it personally and has it worked for you?
Regards Abi