08/06/2025
A long ish read but a good one nonetheless. One of the reasons routine bodywork is so important.
🐎 I’ve said it many times — HORSES DO GET HEADACHES!!
And I’ll keep saying it, because too many still ignore the signs.
It is NOT normal if your horse hates to have ONE or BOTH ears touched 🚩
Let’s talk about WHY ⬇️
The general term head shyness refers to a horse that moves its head away when touched in certain areas — especially the ears, poll, face, or upper neck.
Yes, rough handling can create this behaviour. But I’m talking about the horses that give a clear pain response — and we MUST pay attention to the 🚩 red flags 🚩
Let’s break it down with some anatomy — including cranial nerves — and real-life examples:
🔺 If you have to take your bridle apart to get it on — this is NOT normal.
🚩 It’s a pain response! Likely involving the poll, the occipital bone, or surrounding soft tissues like the nuchal ligament and suboccipital muscles.
🔺 Soreness around C1 and the upper neck? 🚩
The atlas (C1) supports the skull and sits in close proximity to the brainstem — where cranial nerves originate. If there’s tension, compression, or trauma in this area, horses can experience headaches, vision changes, coordination issues, and hypersensitivity.
🔺 Ear shyness – Behind the ears lies a complex neural and muscular region. Structures here include:
CN VII (Facial Nerve) – controls facial expression; dysfunction can lead to twitching or hypersensitivity.
CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) – especially its mandibular and ophthalmic branches, which are often involved in facial pain and head-shyness.
CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve) – important for balance; tension near the inner ear can affect proprioception and make head movement uncomfortable.
🔺 Horse is poor to catch?
Many are not trying to be 'difficult’ — they’re avoiding the discomfort of the halter going on, which may stimulate the trigeminal nerve or cause tension in the TMJ area. 🚩
🔺 Can be brushed on one side but not the other? 🚩
Could be unilateral cranial nerve irritation, often stemming from fascial pulls, past trauma, or misalignment.
🔺 Foaming at the mouth under bit pressure? 🚩
This isn’t always “submission.” Bit pressure can impact:
the mandibular branch of CN V (trigeminal nerve)
the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) — which controls tongue movement
the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) — associated with the throat and swallowing
All of these nerves can be compromised by poor dental balance, bitting, or cranial dysfunction.
Summary
Refusal to touch the ears, poll, or head is NOT just “bad behaviour.”
It’s communication.
Horses with myofascial pain, C1 restrictions, cranial nerve irritation, or TMJ dysfunction will naturally protect themselves — pulling away, raising the head, tensing the jaw, or shutting down altogether.
💡 Signs of stress you may see when touching the head area:
Elevated heart rate or subtle sweating
Holding the head unnaturally high
Tight nostrils or pinched expression
Squinting or avoiding eye contact
Rushing to the back of the stable when a rug is taken from the door almost in a panic
Don’t ignore these changes. Don’t write them off as “just being difficult.”
Think about pull-back injuries, rope accidents, or even long-standing bridle or bit pressure. These can have lasting effects on the cranial nerves, cervical vertebrae, fascia, and overall comfort.
Not to forget the cranial sacral connections, got a a horse with SI joint issues ? Could be related all the way to the skull!
🧠 Pain is real.
🐴 Headaches are real.
🎯 And your horse is telling you — are you listening?
Reposting because it’s THAT important.
Let’s do better for them.
