Why is my horse shaking its head and rubbing its face in fly season?
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Overview
In fly season, head shaking and rubbing the face can often happen because your horse is irritated by insects, especially around the ears, eyes and muzzle. Sweet itch is one common reason, but it’s not the only one, so it’s worth checking for other signs before assuming that’s the cause.
Things To Check
1. Note when it happens most. Is it worse at dusk, after turnout, near water, or in windy still weather when flies are active?
2. Look closely at the face, ears, mane and forelock for redness, broken skin, hair loss, scabs or damp areas from rubbing.
3. Check whether the horse is stamping, tail swishing, tossing the head or trying to rub on fences, stable doors or field posts.
4. See if there are flies clustering around the eyes, ears or muzzle, or if the horse seems bothered even in the stable.
5. Look for ear sensitivity, head shyness or signs that the horse dislikes being touched around the poll, cheeks or ears.
6. Check whether any new feed, tack, grooming product, rug or fly control routine has changed recently.
7. Make sure the eyes look clear and there is no discharge, cloudiness or obvious swelling around the face.
Common Causes
Fly irritation: This is the most common reason in summer. Flies around the face, ears and eyes can trigger head shaking, rubbing and restlessness.
Sweet itch: Some horses react strongly to midge bites, often causing intense itching, rubbing, mane and tail damage, and irritation around the head or ears.
Skin irritation or sensitivity: Sunscreen, grooming products, sweat, dust or rug friction can sometimes make the face feel sore or itchy.
Ear discomfort: Flies, sensitivity to handling, or irritation inside the ears can make a horse shake its head or rub at the face.
Less commonly, another health issue: If the behaviour is persistent, unusual for your horse, or not linked to fly pressure, there may be another cause that needs checking.
What To Do
Start by keeping a simple note of when the behaviour happens and what seems to trigger it. This can help you spot whether it’s mainly linked to turnout, weather, grooming or time of day.
Keep the face and surrounding skin clean and dry, and check daily for rubbed areas or broken skin. If the horse is rubbing hard, try to reduce the chance of further damage by adjusting turnout timing, using fly masks where appropriate, and keeping the stable and turnout area as fly-free as you reasonably can.
Review routine fly management too. Small changes to turnout timing, stable management, grooming and checking the horse more often at peak fly times can make a noticeable difference to comfort.
If the itching seems seasonal and the mane, tail or face are becoming more affected, it’s sensible to keep a close eye on patterns and discuss it with your vet if it keeps happening each year.
Related Questions
Could head shaking in summer mean sweet itch?
How can I tell if fly irritation is causing my horse to rub its face?
When should I worry about a horse shaking its head?
Atlas is here to support owners with practical, easy-to-understand guidance. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you're concerned about your animal's health, symptoms worsen, or something doesn't feel right, contact your vet.