When respected equine scientists publish a study that could revolutionize our understanding of a perplexing condition, we at Curious Equestrian prick up our ears.
Dr. Kirstie Pickles and her team have done just that with their recent paper on using accelerometers to quantify headshaking in horses. Let's dive into this research that's making waves in equine neurology.
Understanding Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking (TGMHS)
Before we dive into the study's findings, let's clarify what we're dealing with:
TGMHS is an idiopathic facial pain condition in horses. Here's what you need to know:
Root Cause: It's believed to be caused by a sensitisation of the trigeminal nerve, leading to a lowered threshold for activation. This results in neuropathic pain - essentially, the horse experiences pain sensations without any actual tissue damage.
Symptoms: Affected horses exhibit a range of behaviours, including:
Violent head flicks (predominantly vertical, but can be horizontal or rotatory)
Signs of nasal ir…
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