Okay- what is it people?? There has got to be some trick that I’m missing. My mare whinnies incessantly without them, and it makes the whole show experience less fun. The problem is actually less with getting them in but more with getting them out! She will slam me around the stall over it. Do you leave yours in over the whole show weekend? Do you have any advice on how to get her to let me take them out without nearly killing me (joking. kind of.)?
TIA
Good lord no, don’t leave them in any longer than your tack is on. Get someone to hold her. If that isn’t enough grab a chunk of skin on each side while you reach in and take them out. If that isn’t enough try a lip chain. Work quickly.
Maybe offer a peppermint while you remove them? Also, be sure you stand to the side of the horse. Some get weird if you come at their ears from the front.
The peppermint trick works for the first one but the second one is impossible once she realizes the game- you would think she might let me so she could be comfy with them out! I did not know if leaving them in was something people did- I take them out as soon as she is put away but it ends up being a solid 30 minute debacle. I hate resorting to the gum chain but if that is what it takes I guess it is what it is.
Try the puffs instead of the Plugz. They’re so much easier to grab even if they’re moving their head around!
Also, if you can keep her ears clipped it may be easier. Some horses get really sensitive when their ear hairs accidentally get pulled on
Second clipping the ears if you don’t already. Does she let you scratch her ears or mess with them at other times? Do you only use them at shows or do you practice using them at home?
If she will let you get one out ok, then I’d stand at her side and reaching under the jaw with the near hand grab both at once and then it’ll be over before she freaks out. The initial speed of doing this is where it helps to have no extra ear hair.
I would try taking the first out with the peppermint, since you said that works. Wait 15 minutes or so and see if a peppermint will work for the 2nd one.
A friend of mine sewed yarn to her earplugs so that the yarn kind of hangs out. That way she can quickly grab the strings and pluck them out without having to reach into the ear. I asked if the yarn made the horse shake his head because it seems like it might tickle the horse, but she said she’s had no issues with it whatsoever.
Agree that many horses object to having ear plugs pulled out because of pulled ear hairs. So if your horse doesn’t have clipped ears, perhaps try clipping her ears. If she does then perhaps sew a loop of yarn onto the plugs so that you can pull them out without reaching into her ears.
And then, of course, chain/twitch as necessary.
Clip her ears, have a helper distract her with her favorite treats…I have one horse who loathes them and I have sewn small yarn loops through mine so I can just grab both loops at once and voila, plugs out and he’s none the wiser. I literally used braiding yarn and a braiding needle and the little loop of yarn is not obvious visually, but makes all of the difference to him when I go to take them out. I don’t have to reach down into his ears and can easily pop them out when his bridle is coming off.
Hahaha! Okay, I’m PNWjumper’s friend with the yarn loops. We must have been posting at the same time. 
My horse used to do the same, hes 16.2 and I’m 5’2" so if he wants his head out of reach of my hands, its not that hard! First, I taught him the command ‘down’ well before the ear plug issue so that made it a little easier. I started off putting pressure on his pole with a lead rope so that no matter how tall he got the pressure was still there until he put his head ‘down’. Today I can just say down and he will lower his head.
Once I started using ear plugs, he would listen to the down command but would shoot his head up when I went to pull them out. I started giving him mints to bribe him. One mint after I put them in and one when I take them out, now he loves getting his earplugs in or out because it means he gets treat. (you should see the stink eye I get if I forget!)
Another thing that helped, is I found that using the actual rubber ear plugs for horses, they are very firm and feel kind of tight in his ear, it was hard not to grab some hairs. I found cat toys at petsmart that are the exact shape and size as the ear plugs but much softer so they’re so much easier getting in and out. They’re bright colours so I don’t use them at shows but they’re great for using anywhere else and for getting them used to pulling them out.
These are the toys I use, cost effective too!
http://www.petsmart.com/cat/toys/grreat-choice-ball-cat-toy-zid36-11233/cat-36-catid-200099
My horse is the same, fine with putting them in, HATES me taking them out. He is better with the puffy plugs instead of the POMS. This sounds weird, but the easiest way for me to take them out is when I’m still on his back, I pull his head around closer to me, grab one out really fast, and before he realizes what I’ve done, it’s out. Never had an issue removing them that way, but he is a rearing, leaping jerk when I try from the ground.
I’ll be flamed for this but here we go.
The OP says without the ear plugs, the mare whinnies and calls incessently at horse shows.
Of course this is fairly normal behavior for horses who are insecure and haven’t yet developed confidence for whatever reason (unfamiliar surroundings for example). They call to establish contact and be reassured of their safety.
The ear plugs solve the symptom, not the cause. Battling each time the plugs have to come out doesn’t solve the cause, and only creates more problems down the road and more frustration for the mare. The battle is escalating, and a gum chain is now being considered to make her stand still. And when that doesn’t work, then what ? The mare is miserable each time you have to remove the plugs. She’s getting worse, not better. Why are you continuing to use them ?
Please look at what you’re doing. Invest in solving the cause. Maybe have her go to a few shows with barn mate and walk around together. She might still whinny but after a while she’ll gain her confidence and become quieter.
Take the time to help her, rather than gathering your weapons.
One trick is to take them out as you are removing the bridle. Takes a bit of coordination, but if you reach up to start taking the bridle off, most horses won’t realize you are removing the plugs at the same time.
The other thing I do is stand there just playing with their ear. Rubbing the head gradually moving closer to the ear. Then just rub the ear for a minute. Then reach in and pull it out. Continue to rub after it is out.
And the shorter the time period it is in, the less most horses are bothered by them.
I LOVE the yarn idea! I am going to try for sure. She is fine with me rubbing and touching all over her ears normally (with the exception of the 10 minutes after I pull the plugs out). Her ears are clipped, which she stands actually quite well for without a fuss.
Mardi- I knew I was going to get this type of response. I have no excuse, honestly, besides the lack of time and funds to get her out and about more often to try and resolve the issue. Plugs are a quick fix- she is not the nervous or anxious type but rather just a talker and as bad as it sounds her high pitched whinny drives me crazy. She does not continue to yell for her friends once she is settled in the ring (I have shown her without plugs once before).
[QUOTE=snaffled;8809826]
My horse used to do the same, hes 16.2 and I’m 5’2" so if he wants his head out of reach of my hands, its not that hard! First, I taught him the command ‘down’ well before the ear plug issue so that made it a little easier. I started off putting pressure on his pole with a lead rope so that no matter how tall he got the pressure was still there until he put his head ‘down’. Today I can just say down and he will lower his head.
Once I started using ear plugs, he would listen to the down command but would shoot his head up when I went to pull them out. I started giving him mints to bribe him. One mint after I put them in and one when I take them out, now he loves getting his earplugs in or out because it means he gets treat. (you should see the stink eye I get if I forget!)
Another thing that helped, is I found that using the actual rubber ear plugs for horses, they are very firm and feel kind of tight in his ear, it was hard not to grab some hairs. I found cat toys at petsmart that are the exact shape and size as the ear plugs but much softer so they’re so much easier getting in and out. They’re bright colours so I don’t use them at shows but they’re great for using anywhere else and for getting them used to pulling them out.
These are the toys I use, cost effective too!
http://www.petsmart.com/cat/toys/grreat-choice-ball-cat-toy-zid36-11233/cat-36-catid-200099[/QUOTE]
I use these as well and they are great!
[QUOTE=showidaho;8809813]
Hahaha! Okay, I’m PNWjumper’s friend with the yarn loops. We must have been posting at the same time. :)[/QUOTE]
Ha ha! I couldn’t remember who it was who had done that…just the genius that was the yarn loops. Figures that it would be my favorite person, lol! 
I’ve had to be one of multiple people to hold and conquer to get out plugs, and I’ve actually taken them out while still on the horse as well. The second is maybe not the absolute safest for the rider, but if you have decent timing and balance, it can be somewhat better then a shadow boxing match with certain horses as they really just dont expect it! Size of horse to rider makes a big difference on this one and you have to know the horse pretty well to be quick on a reaction if there is one. On the ground you just have to be quick, and sometimes having one person hold, then a person at each ear to go at the same time can help.
I’ve always been taught that if you use ear plugs at the shows you should use them at home too. That way you’re practicing what you showing.
If you put them in and out every ride, then the horse will eventually get used to them. If you have a groom to help out, they usually have great tricks for horses who want to be difficult. I’ve found a good groom goes a looong way to making things much easier. One groom could clip easily when no one else could get near the horse with clippers. Some people just have a way with horses who are difficult.
I had a horse who was so much happier with them in. He was pretty reactive to noise and it allowed him to focus on his job.
If your mare seems to be more relaxed with the ear plugs in, then use them. She may not like all of the commotion of the show grounds. Use them when you’re riding and then take them out and let her walk the showgrounds and hang in her stall so that she slowly gets used to the noise etc of the shows but know that many horses show with the ear plugs in and a lot of those horses have been doing it for a long time.
It’s just part of their routine.
