Nerve reaction in head - advice please

[janie]

Hi all,
This is a weird one so would appreciate any help you can give.
Whilst hacking out recently my old gelding has been suffering with what I can only describe as an electric shock going up his nose causing him to flinch - sometimes quite violently and in this case it seems to run up his nose and go down his left leg which makes him lose his footing - his leg wobbles. He suffered within this about 8 or 9 months ago and now its back. I think its a nerve but would appreciate any advice from others who have seen this before.

[CityLights]

how strange is he trapping a nerve or something, have you had a physio try manipulate him

now you have mentioned this its almost like what one at work does but i think its becasue he has literally electorcuted himself on the fence and then he kind of has a fit sometimes, its horrible to watch

[flipper]

Is he just a headshaker?? I used to have 1 of these and she was dangerous to ride as she used to chuck her head about all over the place, rub her nose in the bank and her front leg used to come up off the ground too. Just as an experiment try putting a fly fringe around the straps of the noseband, so the tassles are over her nostrils. I used to ride my mare with 1 of these and never had any problems. Took it off and it started again. May be worth a try :)

[AndyL]

i agree...get it looked at, as since it disapeared for a while its not likely to be any mental disease. the nose part is most likely the initial response like how if you were idk say banged your funny bone...at least when i do my nose twitches :p

*EDIT* good idea flipper

[My Crazy Clan]

Not sure but I would really get it looked out, it doesn't sound nice for you boy, let us know how you get on with it.

[janie]

Thanks all. I have the vet coming out on Thurs so will quiz him then.
cheers.

[flipper]

If he's a headshaker thare's not a lot Vets can do. Some suggest cutting the nerve in the nose, but it's all rather drastic when it can be kept at bay with a fly fringe over the nose! Headshaking can be intimmittent and can dissapear as quickly as it came, only to come back again at some point. Really think it sounds as though you have a headshaker. Good luck with the Vet.