Equine Headshaking Support Group

This website was created out of sheer frustration in 2009. There was little to no information back in 2005 when my first horse fell victim to this horrific condition and in 2009 my second horse started, and then so did the countless hours of researching for relevant and current information about how to fix this problem.

What I found was lots of good information scattered everywhere, and lots of miracle cures also, and everyone has an opinion - so which do you choose ?

The aim of this group, is to help you work out the best "plant of attack" to cure your horse, through shared information, basically what works and what doesn't, wether its worth a try or just plain forget it. A Yahoo group has specifically been created for this website, so that all owners can stay in contact, bounce ideas of each other, and in general support each other. The more support and suggestions on how to handle a particular problem or concern you have the more likely it is we are going to be able to help you. So please join the group and start posting.

Since 2009, I have received lots of information from concerned horse owners that I am eternally grateful for and they are found on the "Resources" and "Articles" pages. Five however stuck out.

1. From my vet "Don't fall victim to overnight magic cures, be sensible and don't get desperate

2. You know your horse better than anyone else, look at him, and look at what he's trying to tell you is wrong. Go with what your gut is telling you to do.

3. Calm down and stay away, make sure your horse is safe, fed, watered and has shelter to get out of the light, and then leave them alone. Only do what you need to do with them, and that's it. The more you stress the more your horse is going to stress, its not good for either of you wrapping both of you up in your own negative energy ball.

4. Look at what's in front of you, your paddocks, your feed, your water, your soil, the information you need to solve this will be right under your nose, you just need to think outside the box

5. Keep it simple,dont overthink things, and keep a detailed diary.

6. Join the HS Support Groups, get whats in your head out and let others help you deal with this, their is a wealth of information on these groups, you are not alone by any means.



Current Treatment Options

All horses are different in how they react to these treatments. The biggest thing for you to remember is that don't give up after a week, realistically you might be only able to try a few of these treatments per season, thats assuming your horse is seasonal

  1. Drug Therapies, Cyproheptadine, Melatonin, Equity Vaccine - refer to your vet for advice
  2. Dex Pulsing - refer to your vet for advise
  3. Potassium/Sodium - Dietry changes - read more here
  4. Dysfunctional Adrenals - TCM Equine - Traditional Chinese Medicine - read more here
  5. Nostrilvet - allergy based HS - read more about this product. Watch Video
  6. Nose Nets - Allergy based HS
  7. UV face Masks - Photophobic HS
  8. Herbal Cures - via Herbalist
  9. Herbal Cures/Hair Test - via Naturopath

Things you should check

  1. Consult your vet first, rule out anything that might be causing this
  2. Saddle Fit
  3. Teeth - check for sharp points - tooth absus have been known to cause HS, and recently a horse with a small piece of tooth left after extraction.
  4. Check your horses diet, have you changed anything that might have brought this on, or did you recently purchase this horse, check with previous owners as to the environment it lived in prior, esspecially pasture and diet

I hope the information provided on this website helps you, please feel free to submit your details and tell us about your horse and what you have been going through, and keep us upto date so your situation can be updated for everyone to see where you are up to and how you are going with your "plan of attack"

The more people we have thinking about our horses and finding a solution and to this disease, and for our horses to be pain free once again.

If you would like more information please join the support group, again the more horses that are on this list, the more people are going to realise that its a disease not a behavioural issue.

Quick Progress updates on cases

1. Warmblood Gelding Victoria Aust - HS resolved after diet change of reduced potassium
2. Stock Horse Gelding NSW Australia - HS currently at 98% Flick Free after diet changes, pasture and soil corrections. Currently remains on full time pasture in 2012
3. Hanovarian Mare - NZ - Completed Dry lot time in 2011 still remains flick free in 2012 season
4.Quarter Horse Gelding - Michigan USA, currently remaining 90% Flick Free on restricted pasture. Removed from pasture when grass is dangerous.
5. Andalusion/TB Mare - NSW Australia - currently in initial dry lot phase, currently at around 95% Flick Free, and has just started back under saddle