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Equine veterinary journal2017; 50(1); 73-78; doi: 10.1111/evj.12708

Prevalence of headshaking within the equine population in the UK.

Abstract: Headshaking in horses has been reported to be most commonly due to idiopathic neuropathic facial pain (trigeminal-mediated headshaking). The prevalence of headshaking in horses in the UK is unknown. Objective: To estimate owner-reported prevalence of headshaking in horses in the UK and to report their case background and disease characteristics, as reported by owners. Methods: Cross-sectional web based owner questionnaire. Methods: The questionnaire was advertised online via social media, horse forums, veterinary websites and equestrian magazines from 17th June 2016, until >1000 responses had been obtained. All UK horse owners were eligible to complete the questionnaire, however only one questionnaire could be completed per owner. Results: The estimated prevalence of owner-reported headshaking in the sample population of horses (n = 1014), within the last year, was 4.6% (95% confidence interval 3.5-6.1), whereas 6.2% (95% confidence interval 4.9-7.9) of horses were reported by their owners to have shown signs of headshaking at any time-point since ownership. There was no association of sex or breed. Nineteen percent of headshaking horses were reported to show headshaking at rest. Fewer than one-third (30.2%, n = 19) of headshaking horses had been examined by a veterinarian for headshaking. Of horses seen by a veterinarian, the cause for headshaking remained unknown in the majority of cases (57.9% responses) and trigeminal-mediated headshaking was reported as a diagnosis in just one case. Conclusions: The accuracy in data reporting by horse owners was not verified in this study. There may be a potential for bias towards over-reporting due to the nature of survey participation. Conclusions: Within this sample, owner-reported prevalence of signs of headshaking within the last year, in horses in the UK was 4.6%. Over two-thirds of owners of headshaking horses did not seek veterinary intervention for headshaking. Trigeminal-mediated headshaking was rarely reported by owners as a diagnosis.
Publication Date: 2017-07-06 PubMed ID: 28608565DOI: 10.1111/evj.12708Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research investigates the prevalence of headshaking in horses in the UK, a discomforting condition with an unknown cause, via a questionnaire distributed to UK horse owners. The study found that almost 5% of horses exhibited this behavior in the past year, and less than a third of horses showing these symptoms had been seen by a vet for this issue.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The objective of the research study was to estimate the owner-reported prevalence of headshaking in horses in the UK, and gain insights into the background and disease characteristics reported by the owners.
  • The researchers used a cross-sectional, web-based questionnaire to gather data. The questionnaire was promoted across online platforms – social media sites, horse forums, veterinary websites, and equestican magazines, with a target of obtaining over 1000 responses.
  • All horse owners within the UK were free to complete the questionnaire; however, they were limited to submitting one response per owner.

Key Results

  • Based on the data collected from the sample population of 1014 responses, the estimated prevalence of owner-reported headshaking in horses in the last year was 4.6%, with a 95% confidence interval of 3.5-6.1%.
  • Over slightly, 6% of horses were reported by their owners to have shown signs of headshaking at any point since they have owned the horse.
  • There was no discernible association of headshaking with the sex or breed of the horse. Furthermore, 19% of horses reported to be headshaking were at rest.
  • Surprisingly, less than a third (30.2%) of the reported headshaking horses had been examined by a veterinarian for this issue.
  • Among the horses examined by a veterinarian, the cause of the headshaking remained unestablished in the majority of cases (57.9%). Trigeminal-mediated headshaking, a common cause of this behavior, was reported as a diagnosis in only one case.

Study Conclusion

  • The researchers recognize a limitation of their study as the unverified accuracy of data provided by horse owners.
  • There is potential for over-reporting headshaking incidents because of the method of data collection.
  • Notwithstanding, the study concluded that the owner-reported prevalence of headshaking symptoms within the last year in horses in the UK was 4.6%. A significant finding was that over two-thirds of the owners of headshaking horses did not seek veterinary intervention for headshaking.
  • Furthermore, trigeminal-mediated headshaking as a cause was rarely reported by horse owners. Therefore, further research is required to understand and address the root cause of headshaking in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Ross SE, Murray JK, Roberts VLH. (2017). Prevalence of headshaking within the equine population in the UK. Equine Vet J, 50(1), 73-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12708

Publication

ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 1
Pages: 73-78

Researcher Affiliations

Ross, S E
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Somerset, UK.
Murray, J K
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Somerset, UK.
Roberts, V L H
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Somerset, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom

Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
  1. Heun F, Delarocque J, Feige K, Hellige M. Trigeminal Nerve Asymmetry in Horses With Idiopathic Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking: A Retrospective Case-Control Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70196.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70196pubmed: 40739903google scholar: lookup
  2. Lloyd-Edwards RA, Mulders E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Veraa S. Computed Tomography of the Hyoid Apparatus in Equine Headshaking Syndrome. Vet Sci 2025 May 23;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12060511pubmed: 40559747google scholar: lookup
  3. Franzen V, Gruber NA, Klußmann S, Schoster A, May A. Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on trigeminal-mediated headshaking in 17 horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2758-2765.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17194pubmed: 39264234google scholar: lookup
  4. Pickles KJ, Marlin DJ, Williams JM, Roberts VLH. Use of a poll-mounted accelerometer for quantification and characterisation of equine trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):645-653.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14132pubmed: 39020521google scholar: lookup
  5. Bell T, Kyriazopoulou P, Mowbray C, Murphy BA. Equine Headshaking Syndrome: Triggers, Seasonality, and Treatment Efficacy in Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 13;14(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14060875pubmed: 38539973google scholar: lookup
  6. Zamith Cunha R, Semprini A, Salamanca G, Gobbo F, Morini M, Pickles KJ, Roberts V, Chiocchetti R. Expression of Cannabinoid Receptors in the Trigeminal Ganglion of the Horse. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Nov 3;24(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms242115949pubmed: 37958932google scholar: lookup
  7. Kloock T, Hellige M, Kloock A, Feige K, Niebuhr T. Impact of Different Diagnostic Procedures on Diagnosis, Therapy, and Outcome in Horses with Headshaking: Recommendations for Fast-Track Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Protocols. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 13;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223125pubmed: 36428354google scholar: lookup
  8. Stange LM, Krieter J, Czycholl I. Comparison of the Current Situation of Equine Headshaking Syndrome in France and Switzerland Based on an Online Survey. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 28;12(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12111393pubmed: 35681857google scholar: lookup
  9. Aleman M, Sheldon SA, Jospin G, Coil D, Stratton-Phelps M, Eisen J. Caecal microbiota in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Vet Med Sci 2022 May;8(3):1049-1055.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.735pubmed: 35060350google scholar: lookup
  10. Fenner K, Hyde M, Crean A, McGreevy P. Identifying Sources of Potential Bias When Using Online Survey Data to Explore Horse Training, Management, and Behaviour: A Systematic Literature Review. Vet Sci 2020 Sep 22;7(3).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci7030140pubmed: 32971754google scholar: lookup
  11. Lindroth KM, Johansen A, Båverud V, Dicksved J, Lindberg JE, Müller CE. Differential Defecation of Solid and Liquid Phases in Horses-A Descriptive Survey. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jan 1;10(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10010076pubmed: 31906279google scholar: lookup
  12. Roberts V. Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. Vet Med (Auckl) 2019;10:1-8.
    doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S163805pubmed: 30666296google scholar: lookup