Most people involved with horses will have seen a horse at a competition or out riding with a net or piece of mesh, known as a ‘nose net’, covering their nose or muzzle. But are these yet another ‘tack fad’ or do they actually work? 

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What are nose nets and what are they used for?

So, what are nose nets? Nose nets are contoured pieces of mesh that attach to the horse’s noseband and fit closely over their muzzle. Usually used during ridden exercise, they aim to protect against, or counteract, triggers which cause the horse to ‘head shake’.

What is head shaking?

To understand the idea behind nose nets, we must first understand head shaking. As well as understand the theory behind using nose nets to counteract this behaviour. 

Head shaking has been defined as an “abnormal condition when a horse shakes its head in the absence of obvious external stimuli and with such frequency and violence that it becomes difficult or dangerous to ride or appears to be distressed” (Lane, 2012).

The condition can be caused by several different triggers, including:

  • Environmental irritants such as wind, sun, insects and pollen
  • Trigeminal mediated head shaking or ‘facial pain” 
  • Dental, eye, upper airway or ear disease or pain
  • Parasites such as ticks or lice 
  • Poorly fitting tack
  • Behavioural problems

The condition can be hard to diagnose and a trigger for the behaviour often remains unknown. Around two third of cases are thought to be linked to an environmental trigger, but if a cause cannot be found it is often called ‘idiopathic head shaking’. 

Which horses are affected?

Head shaking is thought to affect around 4.6% of the UK horse population; with 64% of cases showing a seasonal pattern to the behaviour (Beaver, 2019). Any horse can be affected, but thoroughbreds, geldings and middle aged horses are more likely to develop the condition.

How is head shaking diagnosed?

Diagnosis often involves a process of elimination. Obtaining an in-depth history from the owner regarding the patterns, obvious triggers and seasonality is vital, as well as excluding causes such as poorly fitting tack, environmental triggers and learned behaviours. 

Investigating and treating any possible pathology using diagnostic tests such as imaging of the head (e.g. X-rays, CT or MRI), thorough dental, ophthalmic and ear exams and endoscopy (imaging) of the upper airways is important to rule out an obvious source of pain or irritation.  

Treatment trials and the use of local anaesthetics to desensitise the nerves of the head can also be beneficial in narrowing down the problem. Nose nets can form part of these treatment trials, and are often used as a non-invasive, cost-effective way of reducing these unwanted behaviours in cases where no obvious cause is found. 

How do nose nets work?

As well as acting as a physical barrier to environmental factors such as wind, UV rays, insects and pollen, nose nets are thought to act by constant stimulation to nerves supplying the nose, preventing the violent response to intermittent stimulation. This is similar to the gate control theory where a non-painful signal (stimulation by the nose net in this case), closes the nerve “gate”, preventing signals travelling to the central nervous system and triggering a pain response (i.e. shaking or jerking of the head). 

Nose nets have been found to improve symptoms by up to 70% in approximately 25% of head shaking cases without a diagnosed underlying cause (Roberts, 2019).

What kind of nose net is best?

As with most equine products, there are countless types of nose nets and masks available on the market, making it difficult to choose the right one. A study investigating the efficacy of three different kinds of nose nets (Mills and Taylor, 2003) – a full cover, cylindrical net and two different half nets, found that around 75% of owners reported some degree of improvement with all nets, but the half nets seemed to be more effective at reducing the really violent jerking movements of the head. 

Often, choosing the right nose net for your horse can involve trial and error, and there is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach. 

Summary 

Head shaking can be a complex condition, and a definitive diagnosis is often difficult to achieve. Following exclusion of pathological conditions,  nose nets can offer a cost effective, non invasive and risk-free method of reducing head shaking behaviours. Nose nets can also be used in the diagnostic process. And there is significant positive evidence for their use in certain cases. 

If you are concerned your horse is displaying head shaking behaviour, contact your vet as it may be a symptom of pain or an underlying condition that requires treatment. 

References 

Further reading