Headshaking

Equine headshaking is a problem that causes considerable frustration for veterinarians, riders, owners and horses themselves. Until now it has been one of the most poorly understood conditions affecting horses. In some cases, the horse is unridable, the cause is unknown, the prognosis is poor and the condition has been incurable until now.

What is Headshaking in Horses?

The term headshaking refers to an abnormal behavior occurring when a horse shakes its head in the absence of obvious extraneous stimulus, sometimes with such frequency and violence that it becomes difficult or dangerous to ride, or appears to be distressed. There are some reasons for a horse to shake its head as part of normal behaviour. For example the horse may be shaking off biting flies or other parasites. The horse may be impatient when restrained prior to exercise. However headshaking characterized by uncontrolled and apparently involuntary head throwing, without apparent reason, is considered abnormal. It occurs most often in exercising horses, it begins as soon as they are warmed up (approximately ten minutes of work) and gets progressively worse the longer they are worked. These horses are referred to as headshakers.

Besides intermittent, sudden and apparent involuntary head tossing (usually in a vertical, nodding motion), there may be extension and forward kicking from the forelimbs, sneezing, snorting and an attempt to rub the nose on their leg, the rider’s leg or the ground. The horse and rider are often thrown off balance when these bouts of head tossing occur.

Once a Headshaker - Always a Headshaker?

The headshaking disorder is found world wide and is common. Abnormal headshaking behavior appears to be more prevalent, or at least more noticeable, in dressage-trained horses than in others; however, it is also seen in racehorses, hunters, jumpers, eventers and recreational horses. Headshaking affects all breeds and both sexes.

The condition is said to vary according to season. It may start in spring and early summer (May/June); signs of the headshaking sometimes appear to regress in autumn and remain absent until the following spring. In a few cases the problem develops in autumn and regresses spontaneously in winter. In even fewer cases, the problem may persist all year round. In nearly all cases the problem can be associated with the pattern of training from birth and the length and frequency of exercise. The condition is unknown in feral horses.

Why does Headshaking Happen?

Many attempts have been made to explain the cause of equine headshaking. Since until now there has been no effective treatment many veterinarians and owners have regarded headshaking as a behavior problem. It is possible that horses of certain temperaments are unable to cope with the stress of being ridden and show this by shaking their head. This explanation is possibly right for a few cases, but it is likely that, in the majority of cases, the behavior is secondary to an underlying condition that is causing some sort of pain or irritation. Specific diseases affecting the respiratory tract, eyes, nervous system, upper alimentary tract and musculoskeletal system have all been thought as underlying diseases that can trigger headshaking. It has been suggested that there is a connection with allergic rhinitis, but this has never been established.

Bit and tack problems will obviously be the cause of a small percentage of headshaking cases. Changing the bit and tack to improve the horses comfort and eliminate pinching has, on occasion, been sufficient to eliminate headshaking.

Headshaking has been noticed to be associated with exposure to bright light. Some research has shown some improvement in a few horses by reducing exposure to light, but this is not a practical solution even if it could be applied to most horses.

Have any of the previous treatments worked?

Detailed clinical investigations have never been able to identify the cause of the behavior and, furthermore, in the few cases where a possible cause has been determined, treatment and correction of the suspected cause commonly fails to correct the behavior.

Drug therapies used to treat suspected allergic rhinitis cases have been very unsuccessful. Cypohetadine (a histamine) has proved to be useful in treating some headshakers; however, its effectiveness has not yet been fully determined. Desperate surgical treatment by infraorbital neurectomy (destruction of the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve) eliminates sensation in the upper lip and cheek which can reduce some cases of photo triggered headshaking. This procedure is, at best, effective in less than one third of cases. Another method used to control headshaking involves placing a nylon stocking muzzle over the upper and lower jaws of the horse. Riders are often advised to keep to light work, and to avoid riding on sunny or warm days.

What is the News about Headshaking?

By far the overwhelming cases of headshaking occur as a result of high pressure within the circulation of the horse. It is natural for pressure to rise during exercise, but many performance or recreational horses suffer from a reduction in the number of skin capillaries. Over a period of a few years, this loss of capillaries becomes so great that the internal pressure during and after exercise causes the horse real distress. The nostrils can often be seen to be bright red and red lines can be seen in the eyes. It is unsurprising that that headshaking is more likely to occur in warm weather, under greater exertion, or that horses with pressure in their eyes should be shy of sunlight.

The good news is that there has been a revolutionary innovation. By means of simple cell signalling, the years of loss of capillaries can be reversed in a few days. The circulation pressure falls to normal, and the horse can be trained back to full performance. The method is to use the Equiwinner Patch each patch having two of the signaling devices. Because the horse would become accustomed to the signal if left on longer, a new patch is put on in a different position each day for ten days. This signaling process is sufficient to restore the capillaries for the rest of the season and usually for twelve months. The signaling can then be repeated if required.

The technology is such that it is perfectly safe. The horse responds to the signal only if it needs to do so. No banned substances are used. Unlike human medical patches, no substance enters the body, there is no chemical action, and no substances are metabolized. In fact, this is possibly the first example of an effective therapy for an animal condition being available before the equivalent for humans.

Are Equiwinner Patches available?

The Equiwinner Patches are sold in sets of ten - one set for one horse - throughout the world. To get some dispatched today please go to the order page..

The above information is offered as suggestions and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not rely on the information for diagnosis of any specific situation. Always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or treatment of any animal for whose care you are responsible. Equiwinner Patch is a fully guaranteed product. Liability is limited to the return monies paid for the product. In no event will Therapina Ltd be liable for any consequential, incidental, special, or punitive damages, however caused and under any theory of liability.