‘Solo’s symptoms worsened when he was being ridden’

Solo, a 16-year-old Connemara pony, developed fairly persistent vertical and horizontal headshaking during the winter of 2016. He had been with the same family for three years and, up to that point, had been the perfect children’s pony with no significant medical issues. Solo’s headshaking couldn’t be linked to weather conditions, and it occurred both inside and outside. However, the symptoms worsened when he was being ridden. Solo’s owners didn’t make any management modifications prior to calling in the vet, and obviously their main concern was their children’s safety. Solo was given a full physical examination by the vet, but this showed no abnormalities, and nor did an eye and dental check. The vertical and horizontal nature of the pony’s headshaking was apparent when he was being ridden, though, and he was graded as a two. Respiratory tract endoscopy and head radiology again showed nothing. Solo’s owners were then given the option of a treatment trial or further investigations. They opted for the latter.

A CT scan showed an abnormality of the roots of a left lower cheek tooth. The sensation to the tooth was blocked and this resolved the headshaking. The tooth was subsequently extracted.

Solo no longer headshakes and has returned to being the happy, pain-free children’s pony he was before.