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  Discussion on Strange snaking of neck in transitions
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Member:
dlsenDrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2016 - 11:47 am:

I am going to try and describe the problem and then give the background because it is quite extensive. My 8 year old WB/Thoroughbred cross started "snaking" his neck, down and up, and shaking it while moving from the walk to the trot and also from the trot into the canter. It started out only circling to the right but has recently progressed to both ways. Previously, going to the left, his nose was tipped right and poll tipped in (left). He exhibits this behavior with and without a rider. After the transition, he evens out and moves soundly unless I ask him to increase his pace. It does not happen in the downward transitions. Now the background: In January 2015, he had Interspinous Ligament Desmotomy (ISLD) surgery because of his extensive kissing spine. (T13-L4) He had 10 processes done, most of which were overlapping. The surgery was successful, all processes except one had seperated and he rehabbed without issue. The main part of the rehab was lunging for many months to strengthen the back. Walk/trot/canter and cavaletti work at both the trot and canter. He completed his initial rehab beautifully and we have been under saddle since May, He has been happy and relaxed, and a part of our routine is warm up on the lunge line both ways, walk/trot/canter, before I get on. In November he started exhibiting the "snaking neck" only to the right and only from the trot into canter. It progressed into the walk/trot transition only to the right, to most recently unwillingness to make the transition both ways, walk/trot and trot/canter. His surgeon had been out to see this new behaviour and determined that it doesn't appear to be coming from the back or the stifles. Thinking it was neck related, we put him on 6 days of bute and robaxin to see if that made a difference and it made none. He has been on turnout rest for almost 2 weeks (Dec 23-Jan 5), but really hasn't been ridden since November. He has great mobility with his neck. He can even scoop hay off of the ground while he is walking. He has always carried his head a little lower than most, he almost never inverts. He can put his head up in the field, but just doesn't under saddle or while working on the line. I was wondering if anyone has seen any behavior like this related to head issues? Like TMJ, tear duct clogging etc. I am at a loss for where to go next and am trying to put it out there before we go down the path of X-rays and other expensive tests.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 7, 2016 - 4:06 pm:

Hello Dana,
How were back problems ruled out? Have you tried to do a regional nerve block in the area of the surgery? We have an article on this problem that should help you at HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Head Shaking including Photic and Medical Causes.
DrO
Member:
dlsenDrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 8, 2016 - 8:30 am:

Hi Dr.O,
His vet palpated his back as he has been doing the last few years before and after surgery to see what his reactions were. He felt that Tex was very comfortable bending and moving his back, more so than before the surgery and it has kept getting better after. Because he has been treating him for a year before the surgery, he agreed that this behavior never was a part of his pain responses in the past. Basically, if you were to just look at him from the neck backwards, he looks very sound. That being said, he didn't rule out the back but felt that it was more in his neck. What I thought was weird was that even on the bute and robaxin, he had no change. And when he walks, trots or canters, he can get dirt on his nose from dipping his nose in the sand. That doesn't make sense to me if it his back or his neck. He seems very flexible at all times. But I don't know the mechanics well enough to confirm that. That's why I was thinking something involving the head area. He has had a clogged tear duct in the past. He did have a cracked canine tooth that was walled off and had to be surgically extracted. They were both on the right side. He is funny about his right ear, but alot of horses are one sided. I am trying to figure out if I should concentrate on diagnosing the head or the back first. I couldn't determine if what he is doing is actual head shaking by the article here. I know it isn't caused by light because it happens indoors and out. And the funny thing is that its not as "violent" on the straight away as it is on the circle. Oh, and we did not do a nerve block...yet.
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