Why is my horse shaking his head?

Headshaking can be very frustrating. Although it’s fairly common, it can be difficult to get to the bottom of and treat effectively. It’s actually a clinical sign and, as such, can have a number of underlying causes. 

When to worry about headshaking?

It’s perfectly normal for all horses to shake their heads at some time or another. Thankfully, in general it’s just a defence mechanism aimed at agitating and dislodge any pesky flies. So, if you see your horse shaking his head when there are flies about, they are probably the culprit.

You’ll probably see a lot of tail swishing and maybe stamping as well. In the case of bothersome flies, it often subsides as the horse gets moving when working. But sometimes these bugs can be pretty persistent and distract him even when being ridden. In the summertime, it’s always advisable to use plenty of equine-appropriate fly repellent. You may also want to use fly rugs and masks in the fields, and nose net as well as ear covers for when the horse is being ridden, to try and keep any nuisance to a minimum.

Headshaking that is persistent, worsening, doesn’t respond to bug control, is present year-round, or only occurs when ridden, is likely to be caused by something other than simple annoyance from flies. This warrants some investigation. So if you see such signs, then it’s best to have your horse booked in to be seen by your local vets to investigate what’s going on.   

What are the possible causes of headshaking?

In our equine friends, headshaking can be a sign of a number of different disease processes. 

Dental disease is a key one

There are many reasons for oral or dental discomfort. Headshaking is often a way of the horse expressing that something inside his mouth is bothering him. This highlights the importance of regular dental check-ups for horses, and an oral exam will probably be one of the first things your vet will suggest.