Head Yanking at Walk

[midnightsecret]

Hello all

Comments

[hold_onhope]

Check her eyes. I knew a mare who would flip her head like that. At first we thought it was behavioral, but it just got worse no matter what discipline she got. Eventually we noticed her doing it even while she was alone in her stall not being bothered.

I don't know what the official diagnosis was, but it had something to do with her sight, oversensitivity or something like that. (It was something that developed over time, not something she was born with.) Her owner rides her with a fly mask to filter the light, and it seems to do the trick. I don't know if this is what is going on with your mare, but it might be worth checking out.

[moonfeather]

Head flicking can also be caused by an allergy to surrounding tree pollens irritating the face. Or so ive heard. Interesting to hear about the eye-sight thing, thanks for sharing.

[blitzen_]

yep. head shaking syndrome i think we call it here.

[default_reality]

I was going to say as I got about halfway through this comment "I bet they rode her in a fly mask!"

ahaha. :)

[hold_onhope]

Simple but effective. :)

[default_reality]

Definitely :)