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Head Shaking including Photic and Medical Causes

Head Shaking in Horses

  by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Introduction

Introduction » Training, Tack, or Medical? » Light Associated or Photic Headshaking » Other Causes of Headshaking » Other Resources » More Info & Discussions

Horse owners often observe their horses shaking and/or tossing their heads and this happens for a number of different reasons.
  • Communication with other horses usually suggesting aggression
  • Sign of resistance under saddle
  • Deal with irritations about the head. These would include:
    • Insects
    • Painful Tooth Problems
    • Temporohyoid Bone and Middle Ear Disease
    • Nasal and Sinus Disease
    • Guttural Pouch Disease
    • Reaction to Bright Light or Photic Headshaking
In the first case where horses are communicating with each other this is easily recognized often occurring in the field or across stalls and with the horses attention directed at anouther horse.

Tack and training resistance may be a bit harder to seperate from some of the medical conditions as the medical conditions will often worsen or at least be most noticable when the horse is being ridden thereby mimicking. To cause further confusion some of the medical conditions listed above give no obvious outward clinical signs. Successful treatment depends on a correct diagnosis. This article discusses the diagnosis and treatment of head shaking.

Training, Tack, or Medical?

Introduction » Training, Tack, or Medical? » Light Associated or Photic Headshaking » Other Causes of Headshaking » Other Resources » More Info & Discussions

Consider your horse's head shaking within the framework of three broad broad categories that may overlap somewhat: tack, behavorial, or medical problems. Start with a careful review of the history of the head shaking followed with a thorough examination of the head. Always keep in mind as you assess your horse that the tack or work under saddle can exacerbate a medical problem so always do a complete assessment.

History

Often the history of the condition can be the best place to start to localize a problem with head shaking. Start with making a list of the recent changes in the horses environment, training level, or routine that is associated with the onset of head shaking. Horses often shake their head when physically or psychologically irritated and as a signal to warn of possible aggression. This type of headshaking will usually pass as the horse adapts. If this occurrs in response to a tack change consider the new piece may be irritating and return to what was working before.

Because light associated photic headshaking is a common cause of head shaking a important historical finding headshaking would be the horse shaking his head under saddle as he is ridden out into the sun in the spring as daylight strenthens. Though often a middle age Thoroughbred any breed at any age can be effected. The condition can worsen over time to the point of head shaking year round and fairly easy to diagnose: does the problem go away when ridden in a darkened arena only to start up again when rode out into the sun? Even if this history is consistent with your horses headshaking you should do a throrough examination of the head to rule out contributing causes.

Examination

The horse should be observed under the condtions that cause the head shaking. Once the conditions for the headshaking are established the first thing to try is working the horse in a darkened environment. If necessary you may even attempt blindfolding to determine if the problem has some relationship with the brightnesss of light. It is imperative to exhaust this avenue as more than 60% of horses with head shaking have problems related to increased light. If the problem disappears you have a likely cause, or at least contributor to your headshaking problem.

The examination should include a careful examination the skull, mandible, ears, eyes, mouth, and nostrils for physical abnormalities. Besides physical abnormalities the head should be checked for symmetry, proper positioning, and function. Included in this exam should be the inside of the mouth, back of the soft palate, and inside the ear canals. This may require sedation for a complete examination. Chewing should be carefully observed for any problems. Look for signs of tack irritation under the jaw, in the bars, prominent wolf teeth and the roof of the mouth.
There behavorial causes and even the medical condition of photic headshaking can only be diagnosed by history and ruling our medical problems. History suggestive of training and behavioral problems should be investigated by returning the horse to a environment and situation that the horse was known to be comfortable with prior to the onset of problems. Any medical problems that are found should be addressed. If despite these measures the head shaking persists consider medical conditions not easily diagnosed on history and physical exam and requiring further diagnostic imaging.

Light Associated or Photic Headshaking

Introduction » Training, Tack, or Medical? » Light Associated or Photic Headshaking » Other Causes of Headshaking » Other Resources » More Info & Discussions

                       
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