nemo & allergies

It's mid September, allergies should be gone. But they are not, and neither is our endless rain...sigh.
 
Today is the last application of a ten day course of the latest treatment attempt to help Nemo with his allergy symptoms, Equiwinner patches. I don't fully understand how electrolyte patches help allergies, other then balancing systems, but apparently they do. Just not Nemo.

We also are trying a new mask called Guardian Horse Mask. I came across them while doing online research. From everything I've read, they are very helpful for horses struggling with light and affected eyes. A horse mask with sunglasses, who knew??! These masks are all handmade, and the company has been great to work with. Jury is still out if it is making a difference for Nemo.
 
For several years, we've tried various courses off/on of Dexamethasone. Most years it's worked like magic. This year he initially showed some improvement, but it didn't come close to clearing symptoms up. We gave Cyproheptadine a whirl (along with Dex) it didn't work at all. He is currently off both. Brad hauled him to the vet to get his nose & throat scoped, nothing was found out of the ordinary. I have seasonal allergies myself, and know they are ever changing.

Nemo is double masked. We added a nose piece, and have limited his turnout during sunny days. Of course night only turnout is a possibility. It doesn't really solve the problem and puts him out of his regular lifestyle. We are less then thrilled about the idea in general.

Brad hasn't been able to ride him for weeks, not even indoors. Would like him to try some type of nose band to apply gentle pressure. Some folks are having success making them out of panty hose. Nemo is so unhappy he even bit his beloved human in his stall, while Brad was giving him some hay. So uncharacteristic. It's only happened once before. When he was a yearling walking in the pasture, testing Brad. Thought maybe Nemo just missjudged, but guess it was deliberate. I am sure Nemo was sending a message, he feels left out, and crummy. I know most horses don't care, but Nemo is one of those horses who visibly would rather not share his human. It was naughty, and really made his owner mad. I do think Nemo knows we are trying to help him. He puts his big head in our hands, looking for rubs & relief. Even with me.

Our vet has mentioned he thinks Nemo is allergic to something growing in the pastures. We think so too. It's a tough balance when Nemo prefers to be outside. All we can hope for is winter, and eventually moving him to our new home. The new location might not solve a darn thing. However it will allows us to manage the pastures and his care ourselves.

We are in the process of finding out what to try next, from our vet. Thankfully there are other options. I plan to look further into natural alternative's, most likely to try when we bring him home.

I found a very informative vet's website that has been compiling research on Head Shaking, altho much doesn't apply to Nemo and his allergies, some does. He falls under the Photic Headshaking section: http://www.headshakerinfo.org/
 
Suggestions on what has worked for others are welcome.