Hi,
I purchased an
Original Guardian Mask from you about 3 years ago, and
I have to tell you it is the best thing that has worked for
my severe headshaker. All the vets she has seen have
not seen such a bad case of it.
She is totally
distressed through the summer months and is clearly photic
related. She is a lot better on duller days, however
we believe that she also has allergic rhinitis as she is
fine on sunny days through the winter months but she appears
to be getting worse every year with it starting earlier each
year.
She's 15 now
and developed this when she was 8, me and previous owners
have tried absolutely everything other than the surgery
which I do not want to try. we have tried antihistamine,
various homeopathic & herbal remedies, nose net, turning her
out at night and stabled during the day, which all helped
reduce symptoms slightly. She now also has a human
steroid nasal spray for allergic rhinitis & this in
combination with your Guardian Mask achieved amazing results
last summer.
After about 1
month of being on the spray and wearing the mask during the
day and removing it at night, I was able to leave her out
all summer & ride her with almost no symptoms, it was such a
relief after struggling for 3 years! I do also
believe that a contribution to her headshaking is due to
vaccinations, she does have a suppressed immune system.
3 years ago she had a severe reaction to her combined flu &
tet vaccine all her limbs swelled horrifically and only
steroids helped take it away but the vet could not
understand what had caused it as bloods came back negative
for any virus. It was only the next year she had her
vaccination that she had a similar but less severe reaction
that I realized that's what it was. So she had no
vaccinations for a couple of years and I think that's why
she was so good with her headshaking last year.
I had her
vaccinations again this year started a new course due to
insurance policy enforcing them and she's never been so bad
until this year! Even with the spray & mask she is
unable to be turned out on even the slightest of sunny days,
but is on dull days but only with the mask. So I
have not had her 6 month vaccine and am not going to
continue with them despite the insurance. I have
ordered a powerful immune boosting herbal remedy, continuing
the spray and mask to see what I can do this year for her
and hope next year will be better.
I suppose what I
am trying to say is that not only are there so many
different causes for headshaking but so many can contribute
for even the individual horse with the syndrome. In my
horses case I believe her immuno suppression to be the cause
of the allergic rhinitis which is the cause of this photic
sensitivity. I suppose she is lucky to have an owner
that is prepared to try everything possible where some would
have had her put down due to the severity and potential
danger when handling her.
Anyway, I bought
an extra large 3 years ago which fits fine, I am just
checking that the sizes are the same as they were then so I
can order the Riding Mask. Also, if I buy the nose
piece will this attach to my Original Guardian Mask that I
already have? If you would like any more info from me to
pass on for research purposes or testimonials I will be more
than happy to help.
Thanks,
Dianne
Greetings Dianne,
Thank you so much for sharing
your experience, It seems to be a struggle to keep your
horse healthy and we are really pleased that the Guardian
Mask is helping her. Also thank you for the
gorgeous pictures of Minty!
To answer your question about
size, yes the sizes are still the same and it would also be
the same for the Lightweight Riding and Racing Mask.
You can order size Extra Large.
As for the Nose cover, if your
mask has the tabs on the front then yes, the nose cover will
attach. The nose cover was discontinued at one point
and we reintroduced it by popular demand, so an older mask
may not have the tabs for attachment.
Thank you again, we value your
input and so do other horse owners.
Guardian Mask
