HEADSHAKING BRIDLE POLL
Dr Russell Mackechnie-Guire recently showed that pressures under the noseband and headpiece of a bridle can be extremely high depending on design and fit.
This short poll was conducted to try and determine if this is an area that could be explored in more detail.
Only three questions were asked and options were restricted.
679 owners who had or had previously owned a headshaker responded. The results are shown below. We are now considering how this could be expanded.
In the meantime, if you have a headshaker you may be interested in this webinar by Headshaking Researcher and Veterinary Expert Dr Kirstie Pickles:
Headshaking Webinar: click here
Headshaking Webinar Q&A: click here
Webinar by Dr Russell Mackechie-Guire Webinar on The Effect the Saddle and Bridle can have on Horse and Rider Performance, click here
Treating headshaking:
Successfully treating or reducing headshaking can be challenging and usually requires trying a number of different options, often in combination. Dr Kirstie Pickles and I ran a study on the perceived efficacy of different treatments of headshaking with Dr Monica Aleman and Dr John Madigan from UC Davis Vet School in California (see graph). The treatments that have the greatest reported success also appear to be the ones that may also make the condition worse in a small proportion of horses i.e. Cyproheptadine, Nose Net, Facemask, Corticosteroids, and Antihistamines.
