Poll evil is a severe, chronic infection of the bursa at the top of the horse's head that causes persistent pain, head-shyness, and significant welfare impairment if not treated promptly and effectively.
Poll evil causes chronic, severe pain centered at a sensitive anatomical location - the poll where horses carry significant tension. Horses cannot communicate their discomfort verbally, and head-shyness is often misinterpreted as behavioral problems rather than pain responses, leading to punitive training approaches that compound suffering. The infected bursa creates constant aching and acute pain spikes whenever the head is touched, haltered, or restrained, making routine handling traumatic. Surgical treatment is invasive and recovery requires careful management to prevent reinfection. The Brucella organism raises public health concerns and may complicate treatment decisions. Horses with unresolved poll evil are at high risk of behavioral deterioration and may be abandoned or neglected if owners cannot manage their care needs.