What Are Headshakers?

The answer is Horses That Shake Their Heads!

There are a couple of theories floating around...one is that it is a herpes virus...and the other is that it is an allergy to the sun when the UV index reaches a certain percentage.

My personal belief and experience through hands on treatment and from my extensive background and training is....that it represents a major headache...and possible nerve damage from the cranial bones being misaligned through an accident, or an emotional trauma connected to a head or neck injury.

I know this is a simplistic overview...but I will try and make it a little more understandable.

Imagine if you have a hat on that is too tight, or sunglass that put pressure behind your ears? What does that feel like? and what is your first reaction...to take them off. But can a horse do that? NO

Can he tell you it hurts? Well...he tries through body language--- rubbing his nose, shaking his head, rooting his head down to take pressure off his mouth or face, rubbing his face on his front leg almost uncontrollably, eyes watering, blowing his nose alot and acting out of control.

Now my theory why it only happens in the heat and the sun is because both of those put a lot of pressure on the optic nerves and if the cranial bones (which move by the way) have been impacted or torqued through trauma, they will affect the nerves. There are 12 pairs of nerves in the cranial vault and they feed the sensory nerves in the head and affect the whole central nervous system.

So if you have ever had a migraine...triggered by being out in the sun, where do you want to go? That's right into a dark room without any noise or vibration.

Just think!!! No noise, no heat, no vibration...and the horse has to endure all that while he is having a massive headache!

Causes of horse headaches:

• Pulling back while tied
• Trailering accident
• Cribbing straps too tight
• Ill-fitting bridles
• Misalignment of the cervical vertebrae (located in the neck)
• Flipping over backwards and hitting their head

CranioSacral Therapy is a non-invasive therapy that can realign bones and all the connective tissue surrounding the structures to obtain a balance in the cerebral spinal fluid that feeds all the nerves in the brain and head.

Through this technique...headaches can be alleviated almost immediately. And after a few sessions you can obtain perfect balance, and you will see it in the horses behavior. No more headshaking, nose rubbing or acting out of control while shaking his head.

I tell my clients, that if you ever see a behavioral change, think back to what happened right before that. And see if there is either an emotional connection (owner dying, being sold or abandoned) or a physical accident (tried to go through the roof of the trailer at a horse show).

More than likely you will see a connection of some sort.

You can leave a comment here for questions, or you can email me directly, I will be happy to answer individual questions.

'Til next time,
Karen Krueger
www.kruegerhorsetherapy.com