Aural plaques and headshaking

[pammy]

Hi all. Help!. We have a new mare on a "trial or return" basis, and are having a few problems with her. She has really sensitive ears, and we managed to look inside yesterday and saw she has ear plaques. I understand that there is not really an effective (or easily administerable) cure for these, but that they are not a problem apart from the sensitivity. The thing is, she also head shakes, and I wondered if this could be linked to the ear plaques, or is it likely to be the usual allergies/stress etc. thats causing her to do it? She seems to have the classic symptoms of starting it a short way into the ride, the problem is, her shaking is pretty bad and it unseats my husband as he is only a novice. Is there any hope, or do we bite the bullet and send her back??????

[shandy84]

try an ear and a nosenet they may help :) also garlic and other repellants in the feeds

[Lucyad]

My horse had aural plaques when I got him and I asked the vet what to do - she said just to leave them and avoid touching them or grooming them and they have since cleared up of their own accord. My horse didnt head shake though.