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Post by happyhacker on Oct 2, 2015 22:31:02 GMT 1
My homebred gelding is 7yrs old now 7 has some sort of twitch of his head. We have had his teeth checked then his back. Had a physio to him. Changed bridles saddles bits nosebands, on numerous occassions. He was backed very gentle, all been done slowly because this twitch seems to get worse if he is stressed. He never settles to work properly & I am now wondering if it is something neurological. Vets have seen him but no one can get to the bottom of it. Anyone else heard of this problem
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 15:48:11 GMT 1
Does he only do it when he's tacked up, or only when ridden, or all the time? Is he shaking his head up and down, is it more or less constant or is it an occasional jump like something's landed on his nose? More detail needed!  |
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Post by happyhacker on Oct 4, 2015 22:33:21 GMT 1
It definately gets worse when he's ridden but is there occassioanlly when he is doing nothing. We tried the hackmore again todya & noticed when he halts, he turns around & tries to rub his nose on your stirrup or on you if you dismount. We tried a sheepskin noseband after this photo but that didn't help either. Tomorrow we will try his old bridle without any noseband to see if that does anything.This is only a short film as the batteries ran out of the camera but it gives you an idea of the twitching and it is a lot worse the more you ride. He also rides with his head very low & tucked in even though he is on a loose rein. Something some people might like but I feel as if its right somehow. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wph8x8t0pGQ |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2015 17:20:33 GMT 1
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Post by kafee on Oct 5, 2015 19:36:32 GMT 1
Have you tried a nose net? Sounds like he could have an allergy to something airbourne.
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Post by laurac on Oct 7, 2015 8:12:22 GMT 1
He is lovely
Agree with Michelle and kaffee try nose net and salt
My old big fella developed similar after a strong course of antibiotics which affected him all yr round apart from depths of winter face mask in field with nose cover massively helped
A friend of mine feeds local honey for her head shaker all yr round and it's totally kept her girls head twitching at bay needs to be local ally made to work
Good luck he looks a lovely boy x
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Post by mollichop on Oct 7, 2015 8:23:35 GMT 1
Aw bless him he looks lovely and he does look uncomfortable. Have you wondered about a cranial therapist? Is it the noseband on the hackamore high enough? Maybe it's just touching something sensitive where it is? Am just trying to think of some other ideas for you but the salt, honey and nose net ideas are definitely worth trying.
Hope he soon gets more comfortable.
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Post by happyhacker on Oct 13, 2015 21:54:53 GMT 1
Have taken the noseband of all together & he is still the same. He works for about 5 minutes then it starts again. There is no sign of twitching when he is in the field or stable before working him. But once it has started it goes on for about an hour after work.
He did have an incident with the electric fence about 6 months ago when I think he tried to lift the tape with his mouth. I didnt see the incident but told by a neighbour. I am sure that is when this issue started to got out of control.
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Oct 17, 2015 1:11:17 GMT 1
What is he like when doing ground work? At liberty? Lunging? Is it only when he is ridden that he does this?
Bless him - there is definitely something wrong, but maybe you can get to the bottom of it by seperating the elements involved. I would be inclined to work him first at liberty, then in a head collar, then whatever headgear you normally use for riding - and then with a rider. At some point on that scale the behaviour will start and that should give you a clue as to where the problem is.
It looks like a tricky one to diagnose though. Could be physical, could be psychological, could be neurological, could be intentional communication, could be a reaction to anything in his environment or lifestyle.
I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it.
Sending best wishes to you both xxx
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Post by happyhacker on Oct 28, 2015 22:32:49 GMT 1
Thank you Caroline. I have done all of those things & broken down each element. Physical, tack, enviromental. We think it is a stress thing. He can be like a stroppy teenager & tries to get his own way.
Today though, we rode him out around the village. Me walking along side, grandaughter on top. Although he was obviously nervous & fizzy he had no twitching while we where out. Just the odd head toss which isn't bad & not unusual as he hasn't been out on his own for quite a while. It definately wasn't twitching. We had stopped trying to take him on the road because we thought if we couldn't get this thing under control in a safe area, we didn't want to take the chance out in traffic etc. We Couldn't use the training area today so took the bull by the horns & went out. Surprisingly though it was OK. We shall try the same thing tomorrow, although, we have had this before were a change in tact has worked for one day, then the next day we are back to square one with the twitching.
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