Horses » Head shaking

kc771

This question is related to: Perry the Horse

Age:17
Gender:Male
Breed:Thoroughbred
Neutered:Yes
Weight:500kg
Vaccination History:Every January
Fed On:Alfalfa Original, Horse and Pony nuts, Sugarbeet
Kept:Stabled at night, Field during the day

Head shaking

I've tried looking into my horse's head-shaking habits, there doesn't seem to be anything that connects to setting him off. I've had his back checked, saddle checked, teeth rasped and ridden in a fly mask but he still does it. Admittedly i haven't tried a nose net. I cant really canter him in a field because he shakes that bad, he throws his feet out of line an i'm concerned he'd trip and fall. He does it all year round, so it cant be pollen, and he even does it in the evenings, so he cant be sensitive to light. However, strangely enough, when he's concentrating in work, he doesn't seem to do it much. Could it be a bordem thing?

29/2/12

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stuart stuart

short answer yes it may well be just a learned vice.
I say just to indicate that it does not necessarily indicate that there is any reason for him doing it not to indicate that it is easy to 'cure'!
It may well be worth anaesthetising his infra orbital nerve as it travels through the infra orbital canal on the side of his face (www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Wilkins.pdf ) If this improves the situation then it may indicate that there is something causing him discomfort. It may also indicate that he is distracted by the fact that half of his face feels different! So no doubt as you already know this whole subject is complex varied and individual. However if this does improve the situation on several occasions there is (or at least was a few years ago) a technique of injecting a depot substance that modifies the nerve function being worked on at Liverpool university.
Sometimes a complete change of environment may modify the situation.
No magic wands in this case I fear!
Please do let us know how he goes.

1/3/12

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