Ear Problem - Young Horse

[TaraB_Connected_Ride]

[QUOTE=betsyk;8924284]
Lots of great suggestions. We’ve had two who were tough about bridling, one because of ears. For him, curling his head and neck toward me as I started bridling him (treat) then holding the bridle in front of his face (treat), rather than reaching between his ears seemed to help. I’d let him take the bit (treat) then pause while I reached up and started with the right ear (treat). Lengthening the cheekpieces a hole or two and making sure your browband is big enough might also help - you can shorten the cheekpieces after the bridle is on, but be careful the bit isn’t so low that it bangs into his teeth.

Our mare just needed to know that nobody was going to shove the bit into her mouth or pull it out before she was ready. She was “easy” once we realized we just needed to take it slowly and give her a moment to reach down for the bit, rather than bringing it up towards her.[/QUOTE]

I think this is also true for her. She just needs some time, patience, and love and she will be perfect, I have no doubt! She is such an angel about everything else that it makes me sorta sick thinking that someone must have been really rough with her ears to make her this way!

[csaper58]

Maybe treat for ear mites? 1 regular dose of Ivermectin, then in 14 days another dose. [Do] it twice to get the ones that hatch after the first dose.

[theresak]

I’d use clicker training for this. I think you need to have the ear touching associated with a reward to really get her over this. It takes a lot of tiny steps and repetition but works.

I used clicker training for getting my horse to let me touch the inside of his nostrils in preparation for a tear duct flush procedure - he’s very sensitive about touching the inside of his nose and looking/touching inside his mouth.

[Reynard]

Who on earth twitches ears?

I hope you find the solution to the problem.

[StormyDay]

[QUOTE=Reynard;8925599]
Who on earth twitches ears?

I hope you find the solution to the problem.[/QUOTE]

Cowboys do. It’s really common in the west, and with racehorse trainers.
My horse was also ear twitched before I got him, though for some reason he didn’t associate the bridle with pain, just if I needed to brush up there. One day he had a really itchy face after riding, so I rubbed all of his face and then rubbed around his ears, and then in his ears. He realized how wonderful that felt and hasn’t been ear shy since.

[TaraB_Connected_Ride]

[QUOTE=Reynard;8925599]
Who on earth twitches ears?

I hope you find the solution to the problem.[/QUOTE]

Very, very common practice and so barbaric as far as I am concerned. And this is what can happen when it is done to sensitive horses.

I have no doubt we will work through this though, she is an angel of a horse. It will just take time and her trusting that I will NEVER do something like that to her. My poor baby!!

[TaraB_Connected_Ride]

[QUOTE=theresak;8925021]
I’d use clicker training for this. I think you need to have the ear touching associated with a reward to really get her over this. It takes a lot of tiny steps and repetition but works.

I used clicker training for getting my horse to let me touch the inside of his nostrils in preparation for a tear duct flush procedure - he’s very sensitive about touching the inside of his nose and looking/touching inside his mouth.[/QUOTE]

Great suggestion as well.
I was just speaking with a very experienced clicker trainer in regard to some other things, and now will chat with her about this!

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=TaraB_Connected _Rider;8925826]
Great suggestion as well.
I was just speaking with a very experienced clicker trainer in regard to some other things, and now will chat with her about this![/QUOTE]

If you find the clicker unwieldy with all the other things in your hands you can make a very specific ‘clock’ type noise with your tongue, or even a short whistle instead.

Then you can easily do this in the future while riding as well.

[theresak]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8926290]
If you find the clicker unwieldy with all the other things in your hands you can make a very specific ‘clock’ type noise with your tongue, or even a short whistle instead.

Then you can easily do this in the future while riding as well.[/QUOTE]

Yup - I transitioned a click to a very short “yes” so I can utilize the technique while riding.

[luvmyhackney]

I had really good success with the TTouch exercises for quite a few head shy horses. Definitely get her poll adjusted and check to make sure nothing is actually in her ear canal. Mine gets dirt up there which makes it very sensitive. It helps to wrap the bit in a fruit roll up or something tasty so she forgets ears and thinks about a tasty treat when bridling.

[norcalammie]

My horse was very ear shy when I got him as they had ear twitched him. I had to take the bridle apart to get it on. Would undo the cheekpiece on one side and start back by the withers. Once I got the bit in his mouth, I could then do up the bridle. Worked very slowly and discovered he loves carrots. Always got a treat once the bridle was on.
For ear clipping I found you could not get near his ears. Again worked slowly with one person giving carrots while the other got the clippers close to his ears.
Now I can touch up ears with no halter, no rope or anything. I do not clip ears all the way - just the little fringe and then he gets a carrot piece.
He now loves having his ears scratched inside and out but it has taken time and carrots.

[Pipkin]

I agree a physio is probably a good plan, and then you can be sure there’s no tightness there that’s compounding the issue.

Also might be worth having her sedated and letting a vet have a good look? I read a horrific story (possibly on here??) about a pony that had dramatic behaviour change that started with not letting his bridle be put on, and was eventually pts with suspected brain tumor - post mortem revealed a sweet wrapper stuck deep in it’s ear We had one that was a bit funny about it and he had ear plaques, which there’s not really anything you can do about, but they did go away as his diet and skin improved. (he had mild allergies)

If all fine on the medical front I agree that it’s just a time and patience thing!!

[TaraB_Connected_Ride]

[QUOTE=Pipkin;8927561]
I agree a physio is probably a good plan, and then you can be sure there’s no tightness there that’s compounding the issue.

Also might be worth having her sedated and letting a vet have a good look? I read a horrific story (possibly on here??) about a pony that had dramatic behaviour change that started with not letting his bridle be put on, and was eventually pts with suspected brain tumor - post mortem revealed a sweet wrapper stuck deep in it’s ear We had one that was a bit funny about it and he had ear plaques, which there’s not really anything you can do about, but they did go away as his diet and skin improved. (he had mild allergies)

If all fine on the medical front I agree that it’s just a time and patience thing!![/QUOTE]

I was able to have the vet get a good look when she was drugged to have her teeth done. There was nothing remarkable without doing deeper diagnostics that she felt were not warranted anyway.

So the time, patience, and developing a training/desensitizing method that works best for her are in order! Although, I am going to have the Chiro out for a look over as well.

I love all of the suggestions I’ve gotten. Certainly has given me a great place to start!

[MsM]

When I was a kid I had a big horse who was ear-shy. First I got a sturdy stool (I’M short!) that would not easily tip. Then I worked with him using a form of"war bridle". Used clothesline rope. I worked with him a bit putting pressure on it which pressed on the poll and rewarding with treats when his head came down. Once that was working, I loosened the bridle several holes and got an extra long browband. Gave the signal with the rope and carefully put the bridle on. Slipped rope out and adjusted bridle. Only took a couple of weeks and then a couple more with a loosened bridle.

[SuzieQNutter]

When Twiggy came she would let me put a bridle on but did not like her ears being touched at any other time.

I put the bridle on and put on one of those jumper ears thingies. The jumper ear thingie was on for a couple of hours. When I took it off she no longer cared if I touched her ears.

[TaraB_Connected_Ride]

[QUOTE=SuzieQNutter;8928254]
When Twiggy came she would let me put a bridle on but did not like her ears being touched at any other time.

I put the bridle on and put on one of those jumper ears thingies. The jumper ear thingie was on for a couple of hours. When I took it off she no longer cared if I touched her ears.[/QUOTE]

That is an interesting thought! I might just try this tomorrow! I’d be thrilled if it works!

[Halt_Near_X]

I know a horse who would react to bare hands coming near his ears but not to a hand with a towel or cactus cloth in it. Approaching him with a towel and then sneaking in some bare-handed touching of his ears, quickly returning to rubbing with a towel, helped him. It was an alternate reward to food.

He also got better when the approach to bridling changed–he doesn’t like having an arm draped over his poll. He’s much better about allowing someone to slip the bridle over his ears if the right arm is wrapped around the head, not draped over it. Less happening near his ears, I guess, and he feels like he has an “out” even if he doesn’t use it.

[2tempe]

One more thought: I know of a mare who will let you touch ears, but funny about bridling. She is fine with pressing the ear forward while putting the bridle on, but not ok with having the ear pushed backwards.

Second, I have a friend w/ a tall horse, she regularly stands on a step stool to bridle. Patience and whatever treats your horse lusts over!