 |
What is it?
The veterinary literature describes headshaking as the 'sudden, intermittent and apparently involuntary tossing of the head'.
It is usual to see horses shaking their heads occasionally when bothered by flies in the field or when excited or frustrated (e.g. racehorses at the start of a race). However, an horse is an abnormal headshaker when this shaking occurs primarily when ridden and for no apparent reason.
Clnical Signs
The severity of symptoms can vary widely between individuals, some can shake so violently that both horse and rider are thrown off balance or the rider is knocked in the face. And, whilst many owners can learn to live with their headshaker, some horses can become distressed and dangerous and may have to be put down. It is important to monitor your horse's symptoms carefully and consult your vet at the first sign of any change in their normal behaviour.
Main sign:
- Sudden and apparently involuntary, vertical tossing of the head when ridden.
This can vary from a small, flicking movement to a huge upwards or downwards swing of the head and neck.
Other important signs:
- Horizontal or rotary headshaking
- Acting as if a bee has gone up its nose
- Flipping of the nose or upper lip
- Excessive snorting (may seem like sneezing)
- Excessive rubbing of their nose whilst being ridden, i.e. on your leg, on their own foreleg, on fence posts or even along the ground
- Striking out with the foreleg, often at the nose
Additional Signs
These are slightly less common signs that may be seen:
- Protectiveness towards the head or muzzle, for example, placing the head under a trail leader's tail, in water, dense undergrowth or against a wall
- Inflamed and watering nose and/ or eyes
- 'Clamping' the nostrils shut
- Swellings or hair loss on the face (broken skin and inflammation may also be as a result of excessive rubbing)
- General hypersensitivity of the head area
The above signs may result in a lethargic, unresponsive horse or equally a nervous and unpredictable one. You may find that their ability to concentrate and compete is adversely affected. Try to remember that a change in their behaviour and performance is as a result of all these symptoms the horse is suffering from. Try not to blame them for it.
Your horse may exhibit other signs such as odd breathing, coughing, stumbling or a strange head carriage. Some of these may be due to a problem that is additional to the headshaking (such as a respiratory or allergic condition) so make sure your vet has cleared your horse of these first.
Post Attack
Following an attack that has occurred during exercise your horse may continue to:
- Snort excessively
- Rub their nose excessively on objects, e.g. you!, stable doors, walls, their own foreleg or along the ground
- Have a runny nose or eyes
- Appear uncomfortable, lethargic or distressed
See ‘Ethogram’ for a complete description of all these signs.
Patterns in occurrence
Day to day
The headshaking and associated symptoms often only occur after about 10 minutes of exercise, i.e. when the horse is warmed up or begins to trot, though headshaking can occur at any pace. Horses that never show signs at exercise or do not show the associated signs indicative of nasal irritation may not be 'classic' headshakers (your vet can advise). However many headshakers, although worse when exercised, show many of these symptoms when resting in the stable or field. You may observe them twitching their heads when alone in the field. They may show increased symptoms when particularly stressed or excited. You may be able to identify particular times of the day or certain situations that make them worse - more on this in Possible causes.
Season to season
Some horses shake all year round but the majority (around two-thirds in our last study) show a distinct seasonal pattern. They begin headshaking in the spring (April onwards in the UK), worsen over the summer and improve into the autumn. These horses can be symptom-free over the winter with only the occasional bout (often on bright sunny days).
However, around one-third of the horses in our last study shook all year round, some of these had always done so, whilst others initially had a seasonal problem that had gradually extended until the horse suffered all year round. It is difficult to say whether a seasonal horse will become an all-year round sufferer and more research is needed on this. Some people have made the comment that their horse began headshaking for the first time in the autumn and then the problem disappeared until the next spring when the horse was showed more severe symptoms and for longer. As often as not the symptoms can stabilise or even improve over the following years, though opinions on this are divided. See FAQ.
© Katy Taylor, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK