My Horse is Throwing His Ears Back
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I just adopted a retired standardbred. He will come when called and takes treats from my hand, but he is bad about throwing his ears back. I was told this was normal for his breed. Is this correct, or is it a warning from him?
- Kathy
I am curious to know when your horse is pinning his ears, Kathy. Is it when you are grooming him? Giving him a treat? When he is interacting with other horses?
Pinning of ears is not a breed-specific behavior—all horse breeds will do so in some situations. It is normal for all horses to pin their ears. It is a warning that essentially communicates “stop what you are doing.” It is a way to communicate, or attempt to take control of, a set of resources. If the behavior does not go to the next step (a nip, a kick, etc.), then it is less concerning. Sometimes normal behaviors in a herd are not acceptable or safe behaviors to occur toward people.