Cornell University’s Equine Seminar Series presents “Headshaking in Horses: Rethinking a Mystery from a Comparative Pain Perspective”
WHAT: Cornell’s Alexander Thompson, DVM, DACVAA will explore the possible neurological underpinnings of equine headshaking, its parallels to human trigeminal neuralgia, and strategies for understanding and managing the condition with empathy and insight
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 6:00-7:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: Via Zoom; registration required HERE
MEDIA: The event is free and open to the public
ITHACA, N.Y. – Equine headshaking is a frustrating and often misunderstood condition, but increasing evidence suggests it may reflect underlying nerve pain rather than abnormal behavior. This lecture will examine how and why affected horses display these behaviors, what we currently know about the condition, and how it may relate to human facial pain disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia. This talk aims to provide horse owners with a clear, compassionate understanding of the current knowledge surrounding this challenging condition.
About Dr. Thompson: Dr. Alexander Thomson is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and a Founding Fellow in Pain Management. Prior to Cornell, he served as a medical director and anesthesiologist in two referral hospitals in Hong Kong, where he led specialty hospital development, accreditation initiatives, and clinical training and patient safety programs. His academic interests focus on interventional pain management, clinical pharmacology, and strategies to improve perioperative safety and communication.
This seminar is part of the Cornell Equine Seminar Series, and will be presented on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Eastern Time via Zoom. Please register in advance.
The Cornell Equine Seminar Series is presented by the Cornell Equine Hospital and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Held monthly, equine experts present on important equine health and management topics. The event is free and open to the public. Media members are asked to register with Karli Rizzo at Kmr266@Cornell.edu.Equine Info Exchange offers the only comprehensive Calendar of Events for the equestrian and horse loving community. We look forward to promoting your event and organization to our ever growing audience of horse lovers around the world!
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