Why is my horse head shaking when flies are around?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse is head shaking when flies are around, the most common reason is simple irritation from flies or midges near the face, ears or eyes. It can also happen if there’s something else making the area uncomfortable, so it’s worth checking for a pattern and looking closely for any visible signs of irritation.

Most of the time, this is a management issue rather than an emergency, but persistent or severe head shaking should not be ignored.

Things To Check

1. Notice when it happens most. Is it mainly in daylight, in windy weather, after turnout, or near the stable door?

2. Look around the eyes, ears, nostrils and forehead for redness, swelling, discharge, scabs or broken skin.

3. Check whether your horse is also stamping, tail swishing, rubbing or trying to escape flies.

4. Make sure the bridle, noseband or headcollar isn’t rubbing or sitting too tightly.

5. Look for signs of dust, sweat or sticky coat areas that may be attracting insects or adding to irritation.

6. Notice whether the behaviour improves in the stable, in a fly mask, or after moving away from heavily fly-populated areas.

7. Check if the shaking is only happening when flies are present, or whether it continues when there are no obvious insects around.

Common Causes

The most common cause is fly or midge irritation around the face, ears or eyes. Some horses are simply much more bothered than others, especially in warm weather or at dusk.

It can also be linked to general skin sensitivity, sweating, dirty tack, or a fly mask or headpiece that is rubbing.

Less commonly, an eye problem, ear irritation, dental discomfort or a nasal issue may contribute if the shaking doesn’t settle or happens away from flies as well.

What To Do

Start by reducing fly exposure where you can. Try to keep turnout and work in mind at the times of day when flies are at their worst, and use sensible stable and yard routines to make the environment less attractive to insects.

Check tack and headcollars for rubbing points, especially around the poll, cheeks and nose. Keep the face clean and dry, and remove any dirt or sweat that may be making irritation worse.

Keep a simple note of when the head shaking happens and what seems to improve it. That pattern is often the most useful clue.

If your horse seems bothered even when insects are minimal, or the behaviour is becoming more frequent, it’s sensible to get it looked at.

Products That May Help

For horses that are more bothered by flies and summer irritation, this collection may be useful as part of your normal fly-season routine.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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