Just looking to get thoughts on horses who always have ears back over fences. Thanks!
I find it rare but I know of two mares who do it consistently. One being my own. Sometimes if she looks at a fence her ears will come up, otherwise always back. Not pinned but back all the time. I have had some judges tell me that is the only thing they don’t like about her and they have to dock her points for it but overall it doesn’t seen to upset them. I get the occasional “your horse must hate its job you are such a horrible person”. Those who know my mare know she isn’t happy unless she is jumping! The other I know I ride against in my association has gotten horse of the year two years in a row. I don’t think it mattered!
While it might not look real pretty, when your horse’s ears are swiveled back it usually means s/he is paying attention to you. It’s a good thing. Why a judge would dock points for it is beyond me.
I call it ‘earodynamics’ :lol:
Could hurt you a bit in the hunters, because a hunter is supposed to make a pretty picture, to put it simply.
[QUOTE=SillyHorse;7624019]
While it might not look real pretty, when your horse’s ears are swiveled back it usually means s/he is paying attention to you. It’s a good thing. Why a judge would dock points for it is beyond me.[/QUOTE]
The kind I’m picturing isn’t the "paying attention"kind. Thanks for replies! Hopefully more will weigh in!
It could be because the horse is in pain. I’ve definitely seen that happen.
I have seen some horses that only pin their ears and poke their nose out over the top of the fence. Kind of like their focusing face. I know I look pretty angry when I am focusing while I ride :lol:
I wouldn’t worry about it being due to pain unless it is accompanied with tail swishing, drifting, inverting, etc.
I mean my mare and the other one I am talking about look like they are pinning their ears but they really are not. I think maybe she doesn’t like the wind or something I am not sure. Definitely LOOKS pinned over fences and in still shots but it is not which is why randomly people will think I am a horrible person because my mare MUST be in pain or MUST hate jumping. Ohh how little they know! But yes it detracts from the pretty little hunter picture which is why some judges take off for it or so they have told me.
Is this the kind of ears back you are referring to?
[QUOTE=wishfulthinking711;7624151]
Is this the kind of ears back you are referring to?
Kinda… Mine kind of has the pinched nostrils too (which your horse isn’t doing in the pic), which I know they get when they’re pissy.
I don’t know… I guess I’ll just keep an eye on him. 
Thanks, everyone!!
earodynamics just made my day. Thanks walktheline for that one
I also know a horse that does that. She does it while cantering and while jumping. Apparently she loves jumping though. She doesn’t often refuse, run out or knock jumps. She has injured her neck twice but I’d think there would be more of a fuss if she was in pain.
[QUOTE=2boys;7624286]
Kinda… Mine kind of has the pinched nostrils too (which your horse isn’t doing in the pic), which I know they get when they’re pissy.
I don’t know… I guess I’ll just keep an eye on him.
Thanks, everyone!![/QUOTE]
Hmm post a picture for us! My mare sometimes does the pinched nose. I think its her concentration face lol! But yes show us a few pictures! Does she pinch her nose at every single fence? If so maybe something painful?
[QUOTE=walktheline;7624046]
I call it ‘earodynamics’ :lol:[/QUOTE]
A friend owned a pony who would always put his ears back upon takeoff. (Sound, happy, saintly pony, the kind every barn wants 10 of.) His trainer said he did it for aerodynamic reasons.
[QUOTE=SillyHorse;7624019]
While it might not look real pretty, when your horse’s ears are swiveled back it usually means s/he is paying attention to you. It’s a good thing. Why a judge would dock points for it is beyond me.[/QUOTE]
Not true. One ear back is normal - typically, the inside one. Ears back over a fence suggest pain or effort causing pain. Occasionally you get a very green or very nervous horse who has ears that revert back when you are first training them, but they are not the same as ears pinned. Despite being of similar motions, the two are entirely different and very distinguishable.
