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Expert
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| I have a mare, super easy going, not much bothers her. Last fall, over night, she got weird about putting a bridle on. Fine when bit goes in mouth but she doesn't want her ear "bent" over to put the bridle on. Once on she rides fine. This continued so had vet out and he couldn't find anything. Wondered if she had a tick in her ear and suggested giving her ivermectin to kill tick. About two weeks later she was better. Didn't ride a lot in winter. This spring I rode her for a solid month with no issues whatsoever. One day she did it again. She will go 2-3 days without it being and issue then she'll be bad about it again. It's hit or miss. Gave her ivermectin, no change. Called 3 vets, asked about sedating and scoping down in there or something but all 3 said it's hard to get down in there and they're 99% sure they wouldn't find anything. All 3 said same thing. She's been getting worse.
She never itches or rubs her head on things in the pasture, she eats/chews even, never a head tilt, etc. Next week I have a vet coming to look at her from a chiro/acupuncture stand point (poll, tmj, etc)
We've tried a rope headstall, thick leather headstall, tried tying the headstall "back" to her mane in case there was a nerve it was sitting on, etc. Nothing seems to change. Her teeth get done every year (April 2015), there is NO sign of soreness or lameness anywhere.
Any ideas????
Edited by roanrider 2015-06-09 3:05 PM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
 
| Tick in her ear. That is how our old mare acts when she has them. |
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 Expert
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Location: South MS | roanrider - 2015-06-02 11:02 AM I have a mare, super easy going, not much bothers her. Last fall, over night, she got weird about putting a bridle on. Fine when bit goes in mouth but she doesn't want her ear "bent" over to put the bridle on. Once on she rides fine. This continued so had vet out and he couldn't find anything. Wondered if she had a tick in her ear and suggested giving her ivermectin to kill tick. About two weeks later she was better. Didn't ride a lot in winter. This spring I rode her for a solid month with no issues whatsoever. One day she did it again. She will go 2-3 days without it being and issue then she'll be bad about it again. It's very hit or miss. Gave her ivermectin, no change. Called 3 vets, asked about sedating and scoping down in there or something but all 3 said it's hard to get down in there and they're 99% sure they wouldn't find anything. All 3 said same thing. She's been getting worse. She never itches or rubs her head on things in the pasture, she eats/chews even, never a head tilt, etc. Again when you get the bridle on she rides fine. Next week I have a vet coming to look at her from a chiro/acupuncture stand point (poll, tmj, etc) We've tried a rope headstall, thick leather headstall, tried tying the headstall "back" to her mane in case there was a nerve it was sitting on, etc. Nothing seems to change. Her teeth get done every year (April 2015), there is NO sign of soreness or lameness anywhere. Any ideas????
I would sedate her and clip the ears - check for ticks, yeast infection, and ear mites - I had one with ear mites and a yeast infection and once we cleaned up the ears good no more problems |
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Expert
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| We have dug around in there as far as we can physically reach and have found nothing. Would there be drainage with a yeast infection? She has no drainage.....
How did you treat the ear mites, yeast infection?? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| In my younger years I had two like this, and the cause was too tight of a browband, I thought it fit, but it would creep up and pinch their ears.
Sadly neither were rehabilitatable, I had to bridle them like you do up a halter. Touch their ears their head would shoot up. The first one went to the vet, got the all clear, the other I figured out the cause too late
I would look at the headstall, then I would get chiro out to ensure the tmj, and poll are not out, then I would get massage out to work any kinks out.
A bot poll piece, may help reduce inflammation after all the treatments are done. |
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Expert
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| GLP - 2015-06-02 12:06 PM
Tick in her ear. That is how our old mare acts when she has them.
How did you treat for the tick? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | How much are you bending her ear, she just might be a little more sensitive then she used to be, try unbuckling the headstall and putting it on this way for a few days untill she learns its not going to hurt. Just dont bend her ear, when I bridle I gentley fold the ear back against their head. |
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Expert
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| cheryl makofka - 2015-06-02 12:12 PM
In my younger years I had two like this, and the cause was too tight of a browband, I thought it fit, but it would creep up and pinch their ears.
Sadly neither were rehabilitatable, I had to bridle them like you do up a halter. Touch their ears their head would shoot up. The first one went to the vet, got the all clear, the other I figured out the cause too late
I would look at the headstall, then I would get chiro out to ensure the tmj, and poll are not out, then I would get massage out to work any kinks out.
A bot poll piece, may help reduce inflammation after all the treatments are done.
Hmm I ride her in a one ear headstall 95% of the time. My leather is soft and flexible but I'll double check. Thanks |
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Expert
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| Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-02 12:14 PM
How much are you bending her ear, she just might be a little more sensitive then she used to be, try unbuckling the headstall and putting it on this way for a few days untill she learns its not going to hurt. Just dont bend her ear, when I bridle I gentley fold the ear back against their head.
I always drop the check pieces down 2 holes before I bridle. After bridle is on I'll tighten back up. I don't feel I'm overly bending her ear. We've started to put the bridle on like a rope halter, unbuckle the near side and flip it over her poll, then buckle again. I can do this but still feel like something isn't right. |
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 Balance Beam and more...
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Location: 31 lengths farms | My mare started doing this about a year and a half ago, every so often. One day she just flat went ballistic about it. I had her teeth and ears checked several times, had them checked again after the really bad incident and again, vet found nothing though she was very reactive across her muzzle, sneezing, shaking her head and also reactive to pressure points on her poll and TMJ areas. I'd have her looked at for TMJ and or how many of the points she hits for Head Shakers. My mare had most of the HSS issues and symptoms, put her on Cyproheptadine for it and it made a nice difference, was able to start riding her again but it also made her lethargic and it can create issues with colic episodes. Started her on an herb for inflammation points, namely her TMJ points and the head shaking and bridling issues went away. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I have a gelding who is awful with his ears... and I've already had to treat him for ear mites twice this year. He was even bad about being bridled when I first got him and it's probably the biggest reason why he's hard to catch. The vet used some type of liquid medication in a syringe and squirted it down in there and rubbed it around. Vet obviously had to use a twitch on him to do all that, but he started feeling better after a few days. He's fine if my five year old nephew wants to pet on him, but he knows that he won't mess with his ears. Since he's been treated twice this year he's already easier to catch and doesn't seem to mind too much with people loving on him. |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Central Texas | My guy does this when his TMJ is out. |
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Elite Veteran
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| I was told to put Vaseline in their ears to get the ear mites out. Seemed to work, but not sure if there's any real science behind it. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | roanrider - 2015-06-02 11:21 AM Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-02 12:14 PM How much are you bending her ear, she just might be a little more sensitive then she used to be, try unbuckling the headstall and putting it on this way for a few days untill she learns its not going to hurt. Just dont bend her ear, when I bridle I gentley fold the ear back against their head. I always drop the check pieces down 2 holes before I bridle. After bridle is on I'll tighten back up. I don't feel I'm overly bending her ear. We've started to put the bridle on like a rope halter, unbuckle the near side and flip it over her poll, then buckle again. I can do this but still feel like something isn't right.
Well I'm thinking she could be out in the poll, have a Chiro look at her since you have ruled out ear ticks. I hope that you get this figured out, I feel for you having a horse that hates to be bridled.  |
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Expert
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| Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-02 3:57 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-02 11:21 AM Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-02 12:14 PM How much are you bending her ear, she just might be a little more sensitive then she used to be, try unbuckling the headstall and putting it on this way for a few days untill she learns its not going to hurt. Just dont bend her ear, when I bridle I gentley fold the ear back against their head. I always drop the check pieces down 2 holes before I bridle. After bridle is on I'll tighten back up. I don't feel I'm overly bending her ear. We've started to put the bridle on like a rope halter, unbuckle the near side and flip it over her poll, then buckle again. I can do this but still feel like something isn't right.
This is SOOOO not her nature so I know something is bothering her. The vet (also is a chiro/accu) comes out Tuesday. Fingers crossed he finds something! |
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Extreme Veteran
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| Could be a whole lot of things. It's a good policy to let your head stall out a few holes everytime you put it on. You'll avoid problems later on if you do. You can try putting some campho phinique in the ears. It'll run the mites out, as well as treat a yeast infection. |
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 Night Watchman
Posts: 5516
Location: Central Montana | Ear plaque possibly. I'd never heard of it until a little over a year ago when a friend's horse started having issues being bridled and they took him to the vet. They use a belt like headstall with no ears on him now and just buckle/unbuckle as needed. |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Central Texas | roanrider - 2015-06-02 4:33 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-02 3:57 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-02 11:21 AM Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-02 12:14 PM How much are you bending her ear, she just might be a little more sensitive then she used to be, try unbuckling the headstall and putting it on this way for a few days untill she learns its not going to hurt. Just dont bend her ear, when I bridle I gentley fold the ear back against their head. I always drop the check pieces down 2 holes before I bridle. After bridle is on I'll tighten back up. I don't feel I'm overly bending her ear. We've started to put the bridle on like a rope halter, unbuckle the near side and flip it over her poll, then buckle again. I can do this but still feel like something isn't right.
This is SOOOO not her nature so I know something is bothering her. The vet (also is a chiro/accu ) comes out Tuesday. Fingers crossed he finds something!
If you have a chiro work on her make sure they check the TMJ joint as well. Like I said, my gelding does that from time to time. It took me a while to figure out it was his TMJ and his poll as well. Mine was only the left side. Google TMJ for equines and you will come across some little tips to check and see if this maybe the issue. One of the main tips is running your thumb down the side of the face on the nerve that runs down from the TMJ to the side of the lip. I did this and my horse absolutely freaked out. That pretty much told me, vet also did the same thing when I took him in. Had the TMJ adjusted and injected (injected to give him some quick relief), did xrays to see if the joint was arthiritic. Couldn't believe the difference it made in him. Have you had the teeth floated lately? floating teeth can cause TMJ issues. Good luck and hope you find out what's bothering your horse. |
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Expert
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| Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong.
Next conversation - possible EPM..... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| My mare does this, it started for Her after a wreck. I bought a pretty belt style bridle with a 3" wide strap. I give her the bit with it unbuckled. She holds the bit while I buckle it behind her ears. And I skip the one ear part. Only because she's uber broke and if I lost a bridle - even at a dead run - she's still controllable.
Sounds like you're on the right path to figure out the cause. This might get you through until then. |
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 Veteran
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Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM
Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong.
Next conversation - possible EPM.....
I haad the same experience with my mare, vet found nothing. I had her adjusted and she was fine the next time I bridled. She did give me the stink eye for a second though because she was thinking of the pain. I would get her adjusted. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong. Next conversation - possible EPM.....
Just throwing this out there, maybe the bit is pinching or the bridle is to tight. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| BabyJ - 2015-06-09 3:26 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM
Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong.
Next conversation - possible EPM.....
I haad the same experience with my mare, vet found nothing. I had her adjusted and she was fine the next time I bridled. She did give me the stink eye for a second though because she was thinking of the pain. I would get her adjusted.
This vet also does chiro/acupuncture so she was examined from both the "eastern" and "western" side of things. He went over every hair on her body. |
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Expert
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| Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:29 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong. Next conversation - possible EPM.....
Just throwing this out there, maybe the bit is pinching or the bridle is to tight.
I lost count of how many different bits/headstalls we've tried with her. This is SO out of the ordinary for her, she is a people pleasing horse. She wants to do things right so I will keep digging until I find what is wrong. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | roanrider - 2015-06-09 2:51 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:29 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong. Next conversation - possible EPM.....
Just throwing this out there, maybe the bit is pinching or the bridle is to tight.
I lost count of how many different bits/headstalls we've tried with her. This is SO out of the ordinary for her, she is a people pleasing horse. She wants to do things right so I will keep digging until I find what is wrong.
Have you thought or tryed a Hackamore on her? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Maybe try a Pozzi hack, I really like the way mine fits.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:54 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 2:51 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:29 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong. Next conversation - possible EPM.....
Just throwing this out there, maybe the bit is pinching or the bridle is to tight.
I lost count of how many different bits/headstalls we've tried with her. This is SO out of the ordinary for her, she is a people pleasing horse. She wants to do things right so I will keep digging until I find what is wrong.
Have you thought or tryed a Hackamore on her?
Yup. Rode her in a hackamore and rode with just a rope halter.
We wondered if there was a nerve bugging her, maybe some inflammation so we let her sit for almost 2 weeks. Today was the first day we did anything with her (when vet came) and she is still super reactive. Vet said everything looks exactly like it should. There is no inflammation, there is no swelling, there is nothing out of whack, nothing at all.
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | roanrider - 2015-06-09 3:00 PM Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:54 PM roanrider - 2015-06-09 2:51 PM Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:29 PM roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong. Next conversation - possible EPM..... Just throwing this out there, maybe the bit is pinching or the bridle is to tight. I lost count of how many different bits/headstalls we've tried with her. This is SO out of the ordinary for her, she is a people pleasing horse. She wants to do things right so I will keep digging until I find what is wrong. Have you thought or tryed a Hackamore on her? Yup. Rode her in a hackamore and rode with just a rope halter. We wondered if there was a nerve bugging her, maybe some inflammation so we let her sit for almost 2 weeks. Today was the first day we did anything with her (when vet came ) and she is still super reactive. Vet said everything looks exactly like it should. There is no inflammation, there is no swelling, there is nothing out of whack, nothing at all.
Wow thats just crazy. I wonder if you gave her some bute an hour or two befor you bridle her just to see how she would react so you can see if its pain or not. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | roanrider - 2015-06-10 1:00 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:54 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 2:51 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-09 3:29 PM
roanrider - 2015-06-09 12:20 PM Update 6/9. Vet was out, examined her for an hour and can't find anything physically wrong with her. Her poll is fine, her tmj is fine. He checked her from head to toe, nose to tail. Sedated her so he could really check her ears and there is nothing wrong. Next conversation - possible EPM.....
Just throwing this out there, maybe the bit is pinching or the bridle is to tight.
I lost count of how many different bits/headstalls we've tried with her. This is SO out of the ordinary for her, she is a people pleasing horse. She wants to do things right so I will keep digging until I find what is wrong.
Have you thought or tryed a Hackamore on her?
Yup. Rode her in a hackamore and rode with just a rope halter.
We wondered if there was a nerve bugging her, maybe some inflammation so we let her sit for almost 2 weeks. Today was the first day we did anything with her (when vet came ) and she is still super reactive. Vet said everything looks exactly like it should. There is no inflammation, there is no swelling, there is nothing out of whack, nothing at all.
One of the nerves that runs over their nose is called the transgeminal (sp) nerve or something like that, it is the one that they believe causes HeadShakers usually. That was the one that was inflamed on my mare too, even the wind blowing over her face irritated her. |
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Horse weird about putting bridle over ears.