Repeated Head Shaking or Flicking
Look at the signal, then look at the whole horse and the situation around it.
NOTICE
The horse repeatedly shakes, jerks, flicks, or snaps the head rather than making one occasional movement.
- Rapid vertical flicks
- Repeated side-to-side shaking
- Sudden jerking movements
- Nose rubbing, snorting, sneezing, or striking at the face may sometimes occur too
WHAT IT MAY TELL YOU
Repeated head shaking can have several causes, including insects or irritation, ear or dental problems, tack-related discomfort, pain, or a medical headshaking condition.
DON'T ASSUME
Repeated head shaking should not automatically be labeled a training problem, bad habit, or simple annoyance.
LOOK AGAIN
How often is it happening? Is it violent or increasing? Does it occur at rest, during exercise, seasonally, in bright light, around insects, or with nose rubbing and sneezing? Is handling or riding becoming difficult?
SAFETY
Frequent, violent, persistent, or unexplained head shaking deserves veterinary attention—especially if it causes distress, affects riding or handling, or appears with rubbing, snorting, sneezing, or striking at the nose.
Research / Learn More
What research shows
Occasional head shaking can be normal. Frequent or violent head flicking can also be a sign of a pathological process. Trigeminal-mediated headshaking is recognized as a neuropathic facial pain condition in horses.
What it does not tell us
Repeated head shaking does not by itself identify trigeminal-mediated headshaking; other causes need to be considered and veterinary assessment may be necessary.
Sources
- Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses — reviews the condition as a neuropathic facial pain disorder and distinguishes clinically significant headshaking from occasional normal behavior.
- Equine Discomfort Ethogram — describes rotational head shaking and other repeated head movements seen with discomfort.