Headshaking

[Ipsa]

We have a pony who head shakes seasonally in spring to summer, nothing to do with light seems to be like hayfever. Has anyone had any success with a trearment. We have tried lots of things but wondered if there was anything that was working for anybody.

[ros]

One of our local feed merchants told us of two customers who'd both had success with the Chinese Herbs Upper Respiratory formula. One of the mares on our yard also headshakes in spring/summer (particularly when it's windy) and her owner is trying them at the moment, but they haven't made much difference yet as far as we can tell (she's only been ridden once since she started on them).

I think this is one of those problems that can have numerous causes, and what works for one may not work for another. It does seem to be getting very common, and I'd be interested too to hear from anyone who's found a solution.

[Pam F]

Hi Ipsa, didn't know this was a problem in NZ - it seems to be getting increasingly common over here.
My horse is a seasonal headshaker similar to yours by the sounds of it. He is not unridable, like some, but during spring and summer sneezes, snorts and has a very itchy nose which makes riding out unpleasant for both of us. I have tried all sorts over the last 10 years. I have just had him in a trial to see if magnetic headcollars help - they didn't for me. I have tried all sorts of postions and lotions to no avail. The only thing which does help my horse is the Equilibrium Net Relief muzzle net. This seems to help a lot of headshakers and is now allowed in dressage competitions over here. I' afraid that is the only thing I can suggest.
Good luck.

[Ipsa]

Hi Pam,
yes it is definitely an increasing problem over here. Some times a net helps our pony, other times he's better without. It is so frustrating. I think they can have the net on in showjumping over here but not for dressage.
It is terribly frustrating isn't it.
We don't seem to have anyone specialising in it over here, I have heard of the odd one been cured though. Does it seem to be worse in some areas than others. I have heard of people sending their horses to the South Island where the climate suits people with allergies better so wondered if that might be the same over there.

[Mare-e]

I saw a race on television this weekend and the commentator was discussing one of the horses that was about to run and said the horse had a problem with headshaking. Supposedly the horse acted this way because he was highly sensitive to bright light. To solve the problem a devise was designed to fit over the horse's head that had protective lenses for his eyes - like a mask with built in sunglasses. Weird, but the horse submitted to the contraption and ran the race. And no more headshaking.

[fiesty_filly]

Well you said spring to summer right. Is this pony a gelding? Or is he around alot of other horses? He may be shaking his head at th mares, I couldn't tell without seeing him. It is probably just alergies though, he may be alergic to polin or if it is really dry and dusty may that is it!

[Pam F]

Hi Ipsa, I was just thinking here I am looking forward to next month when our headshaking season should be over and you are probably dreading the start of your headshaking season! Yes, it really is frustrating - during the worst period I have to resort to competing in indoor schools where I have no problem. It does vary from region to region over here too. I bought my horse 10 years ago from the South West where he had no symptoms atall - it is mainly pasture down there. I live in the northeast in an arable area with a lot af oil seed rape grown and he started with his itchy nose the first spring here. What is the countryside like where you llive?

Have a look at this website - http://www.medstats.dmu.ac.uk/headshaking This is the university where my horse is entered in a headshaking trial. University of Liverpool also does a lot of work on headshaking.

[Ipsa]

Hi Pam, yes you're right we are nearly at the time of year over here although last season he didn't start till December but it was a later season for hayfever sufferers. We only live about 40 km from where we bought him but we live in more of a valley but I have moved him to the coast about 20 mins away and it did not make an appreciable difference. It would be interesting to move him about 400km away to the central plateau near the mountains where it does not get so humid.
Thanks for the web site, I have one of the questionaires already, it is a great site isn't it.