Headshaking syndrome causes severe trigeminal neuralgia-like facial pain in affected horses, significantly compromising welfare and often ending competitive careers.
Headshaking syndrome causes extreme facial pain analogous to trigeminal neuralgia in humans - a condition notorious for causing severe, lightning bolt-like pain episodes. Affected horses cannot be ridden as stimulation triggers violent pain responses, and daily activities including grazing may cause pain episodes. The condition significantly reduces quality of life through chronic uncontrollable pain. Many affected horses are euthanized when management fails to provide adequate relief. The welfare case for pursuing specialist treatment including the newer trigeminal nerve compression procedure is strong, given the severity of suffering from untreated headshaking.