Head shaking issues in a Standardbred

[LadyBug]

I’m also in the thick of this with one horse, but thankfully I have another that has kept me riding. My horses are also at home, so it isn’t a big deal to try different things for the headshaker. She can be a pasture puff if need be as long as she is comfortable and can maintain a good quality of life. Most of the time she does NOT headshake in turnout.

I have tried: generic zyrtec, Cypro, acupuncture, chiropractic, nose nets, melatonin daily at 5pm, MSM, magnesium, UV fly mask 24/7. My vet wanted me to try Gabapentin, but I think it is unrealistically expensive as a maintanance drug. Unfortunately nothing has worked well enough for her to continue working. She is not a candidate for being in the barn when the sun is out as she needs her 24/7 turnout to be sane. I did allergy testing but never did the shots as I am not totally convinced it is allergy related. I tried riding on a warmer, sunny day in the middle of winter and she was headshaking. That leads me to believe it is not allergies, but I’m keeping that in mind for the future.

She does not headshake in the indoor and one day while riding outside the clouds blocked the sun shining on the ring. She went from headshaking like crazy (we were wandering around at a walk while a friend was riding another horse) to being able to do W/T work. I was convinced it was photic at that point, but the 24/7 UV fly mask did not help. She wore it for probably 2 months straight. I learned this spring/summer that she cannot tolerate a fly mask at all anymore because I think they aggravate the nerves in her face. She headshakes almost nonstop in T/O within about an hour of having a fly mask on. It resolves shortly after removing it.

I haven’t ridden her lately, but as of now she is comfortable in turnout. She is on MSM and Magnesium as well as a trial supplement for horses with heaves. We did go through a few weeks earlier this summer where she was headshaking a lot in the field. It’s heartbreaking to watch. I have decided that if she gets to the point that she cannot be comfortable being a horse then I will put her down, which is a shame as she is very talented, well-bred, and only 9.

Still on my list to try: Dex pulsing, Regumate, Top Stock, and the Ivermectin protocol (<— you’ll see this a lot in the FB groups).

I wish you the best of luck! The frustrating part about finding what works for your horse is that you need to give each thing a chance for a few weeks or a few months.

[islgrl]

@KittyinAus

Thank you very much. I will persist in my efforts to find something. Would put money on Valegro not being a head shaker.

Its actually true, he is indeed a headshaker

[KittyinAus]

@islgrl

Its actually true, he is indeed a headshaker

Think that I’ll write to Carl and get his suggestions. His staff will probably answer, but will get information I hope.

[vxf111]

Have you had the horse tested for allergies?

My horse started shaking his head out of the blue. Took him to New Bolton for a full workup and, lo and behind, he has some significant food allergies (corn, soy, oats, alfalfa, timothy). Put him on an elimination diet and gave him allergy shots and the head shaking went away, never to return, like it had never happened. I would have had NO IDEA but for the allergy skin testing. Never in a million years would I have guessed that was the cause.

And it was totally treatable. Totally.

[KittyinAus]

@vxf111

Have you had the horse tested for allergies?

My horse started shaking his head out of the blue. Took him to New Bolton for a full workup and, lo and behind, he has some significant food allergies (corn, soy, oats, alfalfa, timothy). Put him on an elimination diet and gave him allergy shots and the head shaking went away, never to return, like it had never happened. I would have had NO IDEA but for the allergy skin testing. Never in a million years would I have guessed that was the cause.

And it was totally treatable. Totally.

So glad that you were able to find a solution to your horse’s problems. I won’t give up. Thank you for the encouragement.

[Pennywell_Bay]

My mare was off work for a bit of time (not for lameness). When she started back under saddle - she’d shake her head.

OMG I thought. She’s a headshaker. Eek. Calls vet, vet does exam. Nothing.

1. She wouldn’t shake her head on the lunge
2. She wouldn’t shake her head on the lunge under tack
   3, She wouldn’t shake her head in the field etc.
3. When I was on her she’d shake her head.
4. Vet work up, saddle fit, teeth done, bit changed blah blah.

Worked with a dressage and h/j trainer. Both said the same thing (I had them give her training rides to get another opinon). Both had similar input: my horse was resenting my leg/seat on her when I started her back in work. Add asking for contact and her head shaking was her “rebellion”.

After a few motnhs (late May - now) of riding, lateral work, bending, basically treating her like she was an unbroke horse- she’s back to herself and the headshaking is nonexistant. She’ll still do it if she is anxious (we are waiting for someone in the hunt to open a gate etc). For her- all physical possibilites were rules out and it was more behavioral.

[drawstraws]

@vxf111

Have you had the horse tested for allergies?

My horse started shaking his head out of the blue. Took him to New Bolton for a full workup and, lo and behind, he has some significant food allergies (corn, soy, oats, alfalfa, timothy). Put him on an elimination diet and gave him allergy shots and the head shaking went away, never to return, like it had never happened. I would have had NO IDEA but for the allergy skin testing. Never in a million years would I have guessed that was the cause.

And it was totally treatable. Totally.

Could I ask what you feed your horse? Mine came up positive to soybeans, corn, timothy and borderline molasses but it was a blood test, not skin test, so I’m not entirely certain how accurate it was. And he can be picky about his food so some of the things I’ve tried he won’t eat (beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, and alfalfa cubes were all a NO). I could do straight oats but most of the ration balancers have soybeans so it kind of defeats the purpose.

[vxf111]

@drawstraws

Could I ask what you feed your horse? Mine came up positive to soybeans, corn, timothy and borderline molasses but it was a blood test, not skin test, so I’m not entirely certain how accurate it was. And he can be picky about his food so some of the things I’ve tried he won’t eat (beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, and alfalfa cubes were all a NO). I could do straight oats but most of the ration balancers have soybeans so it kind of defeats the purpose.

Beet pulp, barley, rice bran, flax seed, with HB-100 and a vitamin and mineral supplement from HT. For hay he gets locally grown grass hay which doesn’t have T or A. I may supplement this winter with soaked orchard grass pellets.

[Ainsley688]

My horse develops mild seasonal head shaking due to her allergies. Here in MA, I had her on an allergy supplement from March-October. Funny thing is, she had almost NO allergy symptoms when I moved her to Texas!! The past 1.5 years had been the first time I haven’t needed to put her on her allergy supplement! I suspect she’s sensitive to milkweed, and possibly cedar, since there was a lot of those allergens in her previous environment, and none in the Texas one. Go figure. I used Duralactin for her allergies, vet recommended. It is a HUGE help in making her allergy symptoms manageable.

[Alexie]

My headshaker is unrideable without a nose net, with one he’s fine. He headshakes all year round. It’s a horrid thing, I hope you find a solution soon.

[KittyinAus]

There’s some possible good news. Fingers crossed. He might have ear mites. If that’s the cause of the problem, all I have to do is get rid of them. He’s a big horse who is quite phobic about his ears and that’s why I haven’t had a good look at them yet.