08/06/2025
Yes, horses get headaches!!
And theyโre often trying to tell us โ we just need to pay attention.
I talk to my clients about this all the time. What we call โbad behaviorโ is so often just a horse saying, โIโm not okay.โ
Head tossing, avoiding the halter, pulling away when touched near the ears or poll โ these are not training issues. These are pain responses. Nervous system overload. Built-up tension. Old trauma showing up in subtle ways.
Stress, injury, tight tack, even emotional changes โ it all stacks up in their bodies. And unless weโre really tuned in, itโs easy to miss.
If your horse suddenly doesnโt want to be caught, or youโre having to take the bridle apart just to get it on, donโt ignore it. Thatโs communication. Something is going on in the nervous system, the fascia, the cranial nerves. And they need help, not pressure.
This post below explains the anatomy and the signs in a way every horse owner should see. Itโs so good.
Please read it. Please share it. Letโs start normalizing the question, โWhat if my horse is hurting?โ before we assume theyโre being difficult.
We can do better. They deserve that.
Q๐ Iโve said it many times โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ๐พ๐๐๐!!
And Iโll keep saying it, because too many still ignore the signs.
๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฉ
๐๐ฒ๐โ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ฌ โฌ๏ธ
The general term head shyness refers to a horse that moves its head away when touched in certain areas โ especially the ears, poll, face, or upper neck.
Yes, rough handling can create this behaviour. But Iโm talking about the horses that give a clear pain response โ and we MUST pay attention to the ๐ฉ red flags ๐ฉ
Letโs break it down with some anatomy โ including cranial nerves โ and real-life examples:
๐บ If you have to take your bridle apart to get it on โ this is NOT normal.
๐ฉ Itโs a pain response! Likely involving the poll, the occipital bone, or surrounding soft tissues like the nuchal ligament and suboccipital muscles.
๐บ Soreness around C1 and the upper neck? ๐ฉ
The atlas (C1) supports the skull and sits in close proximity to the brainstem โ where cranial nerves originate. If thereโs tension, compression, or trauma in this area, horses can experience headaches, vision changes, coordination issues, and hypersensitivity.
๐บ Ear shyness โ Behind the ears lies a complex neural and muscular region. Structures here include:
CN VII (Facial Nerve) โ controls facial expression; dysfunction can lead to twitching or hypersensitivity.
CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) โ especially its mandibular and ophthalmic branches, which are often involved in facial pain and head-shyness.
CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve) โ important for balance; tension near the inner ear can affect proprioception and make head movement uncomfortable.
๐บ Horse is poor to catch?
Many are not trying to be 'difficultโ โ theyโre avoiding the discomfort of the halter going on, which may stimulate the trigeminal nerve or cause tension in the TMJ area. ๐ฉ
๐บ Can be brushed on one side but not the other? ๐ฉ
Could be unilateral cranial nerve irritation, often stemming from fascial pulls, past trauma, or misalignment.
๐บ Foaming at the mouth under bit pressure? ๐ฉ
This isnโt always โsubmission.โ Bit pressure can impact:
the mandibular branch of CN V (trigeminal nerve)
the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) โ which controls tongue movement
the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) โ 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 โbad behaviour.โ
Itโs communication.
Horses with myofascial pain, C1 restrictions, cranial nerve irritation, or TMJ dysfunction will naturally protect themselves โ pulling away, raising the head, tensing the jaw, or shutting down altogether.
๐ก 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
Donโt ignore these changes. Donโt write them off as โjust being difficult.โ
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!
๐ง Pain is real.
๐ด Headaches are real.
๐ฏ And your horse is telling you โ are you listening?
Reposting because itโs THAT important.
Letโs do better for them.
