Lighthearted fun: Stallions with adorable floppy ears

[Ride4Life]

I’ll admit it. I have a thing for floppy ears. =) One of my mares has large floppy ears that swing with her strides when she is relaxed. It actually helps me know when I am riding her correctly as her ears won’t flop until I do.

Some examples would be: Rocher, ridden by George Williams and Warum Nicht ridden by Isabell Werth.

Not that anyone would ever breed just for floppy ears - but what stallions have them or what lines are known for them? What is interesting is that my mare has them but her son that I met does not - so I don’t know how much they are inherited.

Happy Holidays everyone!

[crosscreeksh]

Lop eared horses have always been known to be GREAT race horses and jumpers!! But…I bought a weanling colt years ago who had big, but not yet lop ears. My plan was to show him on the line then either go the show or race horse route with him. The bigger he grew the bigger/floppier his ears became. To the point that one hand could not reach around the base of his ear (can we read donkey here??) I asked a friend of mine - a well known “A” circuit show judge how she would place a lop eared horse. She said “all conformation points equal - he would be at the end of my choices!!” At that point I sold him as a rce horse prospect where he went on to be a Stakes winner!! Just my story!!

[didgery]

Last time I rode a horse (after being a mulewoman for a couple of years) I was so disconcerted his tiny, rigid little ears! I realized, of course, that they were normal and I was weird. I’m happy to see this thread . . . stationary ears are unnerving.

[stolensilver]

The dislike of big ears is very American. In Europe big ears are seen as a sign of a kind, genuine horse and are considered a plus point. They aren’t marked down in the show ring and buyers are often persuaded to buy a horse who has big ears because of the belief that they are linked to good temperament.

[flyinghorse]

I love those big ears!!!

[Boomer]

I love floppy ears too! I’ve noticed lots of traks have them… Just one of the reasons to like traks.

[MysticOakRanch]

I love big floppy ears too - now you have me wondering, I can’t think of any stallions that have them (big ears, yes, floppy, no), but I can think of plenty of mares. Is it a boy trait that their ears are UP - since they are the ones who watch over everything?

[NancyM]

I was just thinking the other day about the lack of lop ears I have seen recently. They used to be more often seen around here, anyway. There were several local stallions that had them, and produced them often in their offspring. Thoroughbred stallions Keep Your Promise was one, and Crimson Clem was another. A local and well known rider had a lovely jumper mare that had a georgeous set, known as The Flying Nun. I had one myself too, not as lop as some, but more than what you seem to see these days.

I always think they are very attractive on a horse. Expressive.

I was just remarking to my weanling colt yesterday, how he has his dad’s ears, short and perky, looks like a welsh pony. Not lopped at all, unfortunately.

[DownYonder]

I believe I saw something just recently about lop ears being a fault that may prevent a stallion from being licensed in Germany. I will have to try to hunt up that reference…can’t quite remember where I saw it.

[selah]

I think Baloubet du Rouet has rather large, expressive ears. They seem to be in constant move:cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGqvE_5dgdI&feature=related

[joiedevie99]

There is a Oldenburg stallion named Jubilant by Don Schufro with the most wonderful floppy ears ever. Mica Mabragana shows in him in the small tour.