Hi! So I have a 2 1/2 year old shire cross, and I've previously thought that she just had some trauma up by her poll because bridling her has been utterly terrible and she hates any place even remotely close to her ears touched. But she let me feel up behind her ears yesterday, and its swollen? I got her from an auction in Feb, and the guys that 'started' her weren't kind to her, in a simple way. Not abusive or anything, just horse traders. I'm suspisious that she needs chiro, but I'm really the only person that can handle her so far so thats not really and option.

It is hard to give any advice via the web.

You should have her checked by a vet or physio - but maybe you will have to put some proper training effort into her before.

Any horse should have at least a basic medical training - which means to get touched anywhere without getting anxious or aggressive.

I'm planning on taking her to my vet asap, but I've got some more important things going on and no truck able to haul at the moment. I've been working on it for nearly a month and shes really only comfortable with me going on her forward to feel the top of her poll before she pulls away.

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She's not aggressive at all (shes quite friendly and very willing), but shes also incredibly green since shes only been handled since December 2025, so I'm perfectly fine with her being anxious over things. She has a really good mind from what I've seen.

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I've researched it quite a bit and it looks like a she could be poll evil, which hopefully my vet will prescribe antibiotics for when I get her there.