Skill
Procedures that you should be able to competently and safely perform on a horse.
LEARN HOW TO
Assess & Treat Ear, Teach Horse to Accept Handling of Ear
Summary
Although ear-related problems are rare in horses, all horse owners should be able to touch and look in their horse’s ears. This is particularly true when you suspect that there is a problem with your horse’s ears or when you are asked by your vet to perform treatments on your horse’s ear.
Frequently, this is difficult to do. Horse ears are very sensitive. Horses with painful ears are very guarded and can be difficult to treat. In many cases it is not worth the struggle to treat a painful ear. That said, you have to determine whether it is possible for you to safely perform this skill on your horse without causing undue stress or injury.
Many horses will withdraw when their ears are touched, raising their head higher than handlers can reach. Some horses that have had their ears grabbed by handlers as a means of restraint may negatively respond.
If you need to treat your horse's ear repeatedly, you will need to be able to press downward on your horse's poll and have them drop their head. If you cannot do that, you may not be able to look in their ears. So, ensure your horse can do this first.
Frequently, this is difficult to do. Horse ears are very sensitive. Horses with painful ears are very guarded and can be difficult to treat. In many cases it is not worth the struggle to treat a painful ear. That said, you have to determine whether it is possible for you to safely perform this skill on your horse without causing undue stress or injury.
Many horses will withdraw when their ears are touched, raising their head higher than handlers can reach. Some horses that have had their ears grabbed by handlers as a means of restraint may negatively respond.
If you need to treat your horse's ear repeatedly, you will need to be able to press downward on your horse's poll and have them drop their head. If you cannot do that, you may not be able to look in their ears. So, ensure your horse can do this first.
PROCEDURE
PROCEDURE
Using a headlight, and standing to either side of your horse's head, place downward pressure on the poll using either your fingers or the halter. Your horse should drop their head downward. Release pressure on the poll, but be very ready to immediately reapply it if your horse begins to raise its head. Slide your hand toward the base of your horse's ear. Touch there. Stop if your horse is relaxed. Apply pressure if your horse raises its head.Now, touch the main outer part of the ear, the pinna. If your horse allows the outside of the pinna to be rubbed, then gently separate the hairs on the inner surface and look down into the external canal as far as you can.
Look for masses, lumps or bumps, white plaques, and ticks or mites on the inner surface of the pinna. A brown waxy coating of the external ear canal is normal for horses. Some have more than others. Pus is never normal.
Apply a treatment to your horse's ear per your vet’s recommendations.
TIPS FOR SAFETY AND SUCCESS
Teach your horse to accept your evaluation of their ear before it is necessary.The following is the best way I have found to determine whether a horse is really experiencing ear discomfort or pain, or is merely bluffing its handler. This is also a way to desensitize a horse to reactivity.
For the left ear: Position your body at the horse's shoulder. Hold the halter with your left hand. Place your right hand on the horse's cheek. Hold your hand gently but firmly against the skin. Now (over about 3 seconds) slide the hand toward the base of the ear. Keep your hand in position until the horse relaxes, and then immediately remove the hand.
Now repeat, this time moving closer to the ear base. Walk the horse forward a few steps, interact with them, reward them with a pat, go to the other side and repeat.
If the horse tries to evade, raise or shake its head, keep constant contact with the flat of your hand and on the nose band, until the horse yields, then release both pressure on the nose band and on the face. Follow the horse's head around if necessary, maintaining the same contact with the hand on the skin and pressure on the nose band.
The second the evasive behavior stops, release pressure, interact, and walk forward a step, let them relax. Work your way up and onto the ear using this same technique. Once you get through the "bluff phase" you can better tell whether the horse really is experiencing discomfort or the behavior is simple learned evasion.