Use the navigation bar above to access articles and more discussions on this topic.
| Author |
Message |
    
Gerlinde Fairhall
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jan 5, 2000 - 12:46 am: |   |
I have a 7 year old PP mare, which I bought 2 years ago untrained. She is wonderful to work with on the ground, gentle and affectionate as well as a good mother and very good brood mare. Early in 99 we sent her out for training for 6 months, only for our trainer (who is one of the best in this breed) to give up on one bad habit which he could not correct. When she gets upset about the slightest thing she will shake her her head violently. We tried many different bits and had her mouth and teeth checked by our Vet, who also does equine dentestry. Recently I have noticed that she will do the same thing free in pasture when something upsets her. Any suggestions or is this just the way she copes with stress? This is not a nervous mare. Any input would be appreciated, as this is very annoying. Linda |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jan 5, 2000 - 6:34 am: | |
Hello Gerlinde,
Head Shaking in horses can be a complex medical problem. Of course head shaking is one of the ways horses display displeasure, if it happens only when she is trying to make a point to you or the other horses, that probably is the cause. For some of the other causes and possible tratments see: The Horseman's Advisor: Training Horses: Behavorial Problems: Head Shaking.
DrO |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jan 5, 2000 - 5:08 pm: | |
Only head shaking :-)
My mare starts with head shake then a nudge if she can reach me.
Then if she wants something to continue she paws the ground with a foreleg.
If she wants you to do something now she taps a hind leg, and if she wants you to stop something now she will kick the ground hard with a hind leg.
My guess is you wont be able to stop her shaking her head as it is her major form of communication. If it is really a problem in a show ring etc, I can only suggest working her toward some other form of communication. Hard work as you will have to spot what else she uses to get a point accross then if it acceptable, make her see that you respond more to that than the head shake, as horses are flexible in the language they use she sould come around if you stop reacting to the head shake. |
Gerlinde Fairhall
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 6, 2000 - 2:03 am: | |
Thanks, Dr.O. We can eliminate medical problems, since there is no headtossing without provocation. Reading thru the previous posts on this subject tells me to go back to the beginning of training. She is doing fine under saddle if I let her go on a loose rain, 20 miles per hour, in the front of the group. It is any kind of restraint my lady is objecting to. So it's back to basics. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 6, 2000 - 7:33 am: | |
Hello Gerlinde,
Got it, there is one medical problem that does worsen with tack and exercise and that is the poorly understood "photic sneezing" variety.
Though this usually is associated with increasing light levels (are you in the southern hemisphere?) there are a small number of horses that do not have the light related aspects but still respond to the cyproheptidine. This condition occurs in humans and they describe it like a tickling in the nose when the stimulus is applied. Cyporheptidine is cheap and safe and if effective will change the behavior in 24 hours. I think the chance it will solve your problem is small but considering the cost vs benefit worth a try. Dosages are in the article.
DrO |
Gerlinde Fairhall
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 7, 2000 - 11:56 pm: | |
Yes we are in the Desert Area of So.Cal. with lots of light, heat and Dust. This is an excellent suggestion and may be I should make a pair of sunglasses? Just kidding! This is worth trying. Thank you very much. |
Terri Pierce
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 10, 2000 - 7:02 pm: | |
It's funny how our horses try so hard to communicate with us... yet, so many think that they can't! They can, we just need to learn to listen! Don't know what your mare is telling you, but, mine is nicknamed Flapper. She is called that because she flaps her lips (noisily I might add!) At first, I put a flash/figure 8 on her to make her stop, but, now, I realize it is her way of letting me know "I don't really want to do what you are asking, but, I'll do it anyway... and by the way, it really irks me to give in!!" So now, I just laugh and say thank you!
She is also really good at letting me know when she is displeased that I am giving attention (or God forbid....Treats!) to another horse! She comes up behind me and pulls my hair!! LOL |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 11, 2000 - 6:51 pm: | |
I have seen somewhere in Australia a company that makes sun glasses for horses and dogs if you want some info let me know.
see not all idea are dumb, someone will find a way to make it work :-) |
L8rider
New Member
Username: l8rider
Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 12:35 pm: | |
Head Shaking as protest?
Just got a new gelding I have been teaching to lunge via voice command. He's 4 yrs., healthy, very good ground manners and easy to work with in all respects. While lunging at liberty however, he lowers his head to ground and shakes...not violently, just shakes 3-4 times. He continues his circles and speed. If I ignore his head shaking, he will turn his whole head/outside shoulder toward me and give me a "pleeeeeeze?" look, but still continues his circle/speed.
Is this merely a dominance/protest thing and, if so, is it something I need to discourage or just let it be as long as he is doing his job? |
Linda Lashley
Member
Username: lhenning
Post Number: 357
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 1:07 pm: | |
My horse did this too. I ignored it and he quit after a period of time. They are like school children sometimes, and just have to tell us this "work thing" is not as fun as eating grass.
You might get more responses if you begin a new discussion rather than continuing an old one.
Good luck,
Linda |
Erika L
Member
Username: erika
Post Number: 1232
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 8:01 am: | |
I have read here and elsewhere that nylon netting laying over the nose will sometimes stop this behavior. Forgot why. (there goes that "Walking Encyclopedia of Useless Knowledge" thing my brother used to tease me about ): HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Head Shaking » One solution for head shakers |
