22/05/2026
We’ve seen a big spike over the past few weeks in horses suddenly developing head flicking, and it’s been quite striking. 🐴👃🏻
On scoping/exam, many of these horses have scabs and raw, irritated mucosa just inside the nostrils. Not surprisingly, this looks pretty uncomfortable — and the signs often worsen when they’re ridden, likely due to increased airflow through already sensitive tissue
A number of these horses also have a history of a runny nose, which raises the question: are we dealing with something viral, allergic, or a seasonal environmental triggers? Given the pattern and timing, herpesvirus recrudescence during periods of stress is also a consideration in some cases.
I’d be really interested to hear — have you noticed anything similar in your horse recently? And if so, has anything made a noticeable difference in managing it?