02/10/2026
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐:
Horses can shake their heads for many reasons, from an occasional โnormalโ flick to severe repetitive movements that can make a horse difficult or dangerous to work with. When the headshaking is severe, repetitive, or relentless, it is usually due to an underlying disease or nerve problem which can cause intense irritation and discomfort.
๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ:
โข Vertical (up and down), horizontal (side to side) or rotational head movement
โข Nose twitching and lip smacking
โข Scrubbing the nose on the floor, against their legs, on the riderโs feet or stable walls
โข Excessive snorting/irritation
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ:
โข Dental pain, including sharp points, periodontal disease or other dental problems
โข Nasal or sinus disease, ear or throat irritation
โข Pain involving the poll, neck or temporomandibular region
โข Allergies or environmental irritation, including dust, pollen, insects or bright sunlight/eye irritation
โข Neuropathic pain, particularly irritation or abnormal sensitivity of the trigeminal nerve. This is often referred to as trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Nerve pain can be hard to diagnose - Diagnosis typically involves treating or ruling out all other potential causes.
๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด:
โข Treatment options vary depending on the individual case and underlying cause.
โข Correcting any dental pain is often one of the first steps.
โข Allergy treatment trials or control of environmental factors such as bright sunlight can help.
โข Fly masks/UV masks as well as nose nets can help reduce some causes of irritation.
โข Diagnostic imaging and musculoskeletal examination can help identify possible areas of pain.
โข Allergies or environmental irritation, including dust, pollen, insects or bright sunlight
โข Neuropathic pain (Most often the trigeminal nerve) can be more challenging to treat. Medications for nerve pain can sometimes help. Therapies such as PENS therapy or electroacupuncture have also been used successfully in some cases.
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ ๐
โข New, persistent, or worsening headshaking should be investigated, particularly if it is associated with exercise, difficulty eating, nasal discharge, facial sensitivity, rubbing the nose, behavioural changes or other signs of pain
โข Identifying and addressing the underlying source of pain or irritation is important for managing these horses.
