Some mentioning of the size of a horse’s ears in another thread got me to wondering:
–Does the size (smaller than average/longer than average) tend to mean anything? I’ve heard horses with long ears are usually very intelligent, but nothing about especially short ears.
–Do you have a preference? Why?
it’d be interesting for sure to see everyone’s views on the matter. I’ve always paid more attention to what the ears were doing than what their structure was – but I did so love my gelding’s short teeny little ears!
I love ‘airplane ears’, the ones that look like plane wings when the horse is concentrating or relaxing. Kind of like ears on deer. Just a personal preference, and I am glad we have at least one like that in our barn.
I like ears that blend in with the rest of the head and body. I’ve seen pictures of some foals in Australia that had jack rabbit bunny ears. So huge they did look like they could fly. I’ve often wondered if the foals grew into those gigantic ears.
I like big ears. Long and shapely and narrow at the base. I also like wide flat noggins. Like so: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7b/29/40/7b2940ad786369998c7a59dd879bccc3.jpg
My current horse has small “pricky” ears and when he get’s naughty ideas they twist up like devil horns.
I have a grand old mare with those long floppy sideways ears. Everyone loves her ears, it makes her kind old face even gentler.
But I favour short pointy ears. I favour a pony type head in general, wide through the forehead, large doe-eyes, a bit of a dish, and a small muzzle. Considering I breed Hanoverians this is not a look that sits well on a massive dressage horse! A more horsey version of the pony head is a nice compromise though.
Are long-eared horses more brainy? I’m really not sure about that! 
the only thing I have heard about ears is that if the flop when the horse goes, they are schoolmaster ears.
never really thought about my preference on ears, because just like a head you don’t ride the ears, however ears can tell you how a horse is feeling and that is important!
my old man schoolmaster had large floppy ears…he was the best!!! when he was listening and concentrating they were soft and out to each side…sigh…I miss him!
The Flying Nun was a very well known jumper up here - you can guess how she got her name.
I heard an old wives tale that the smaller the ears the older the mare was when they gave birth, the larger the ears the younger the mare was.
That being said, my yearlings dam was 17, and she came out with huge donkey ears…soooooooo, yeah, lol.
I like big ol’ floppy donkey ears. Like so:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuFJl71fw9E&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I remember reading a book by Linda Tellington-Jones where she analyzed horsey facial features to determine personality…all I remember about ears is narrow ears are supposed to mean a spooky horse (not true IME). My horse has narrow, smallish ears. He’s not that spooky and pretty smart. His left ear is the more expressive one.
https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-0/10517517_10155557497490038_1606056857543845551_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoibCJ9&oh=75da5a6e8f68749910a1c7e9a88c66e0&oe=55CA7C66&gda=1438583874_160adb7086a06fc48f52aef46abe367a
I’ve never heard of long ears meaning more intelligent, but I will say I’ve never met a mean horse with long ears. They always seem to have a lovely kind temperament.
My 6-week old colt has huge ears and is remarkably friendly - even the vet says he is one of the most personable foals she has ever seen. I have no idea if it has anything to do with his ears, but I love them!!
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