The Ear Plug Secret?

[Lord_Helpus]

Your horse does not respect you. That is what needs to change – the ear plugs are a sign of the problem, not the problem itself.

First, your horse needs to learn to submit to pressure on her poll. Try constant pressure. If she resists, use your other hand on the front of her face and gently rock her head from side to side. As soon as she gives in, keep the pressure on her poll, but give her a treat with the other hand. If she resists again, no treat and gently go back to having her lower her head to pressure.

This is done quietly, without fast movements. There should not be any stress while she is learning. But you cannot give up – she must submit and keep her head down until you allow her to raise it.

Once she has the idea, then have her lower her head to be bridled and haltered and pulling the blanket on over her head. As soon as she resists and raises her head, go right back to using the pressure on her poll. You cannot be in a hurry; she must learn to put her head down and hold her head down until you allow her to raise it. Only once she will do it without questioning or resistance, then you have created her respect in this one area.

The ear plugs will be harder since it is now an issue. Teach her to lower her head and keep it down while you stroke her ears and handle them before trying the ear plugs.

[Mardi]

[QUOTE=wronglead;8810169]

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]

So…it’s your problem, not her’s. The sound of her voice drives YOU crazy. The ear plugs are a quick fix for YOU.

Do you know that each time you try to take them out, you’re driving HER crazy ?

Do the right thing and take the time to get her out and about more often. Otherwise you’re setting her up to fail again.

[wronglead]

Lord Helpus- this is a great point. I will start working on it asap. I never considered it to be a point of disrespect, but I can see how it would help with other things besides the plugs- she has always been a naughty giraffe about blankets in the winter!
Mardi- Thanks for summarizing my last reply, however you seemed to have missed the part where said that I lack time and funds to get her out and about more often.

[Mardi]

[QUOTE=wronglead;8810753]

Mardi- Thanks for summarizing my last reply, however you seemed to have missed the part where said that I lack time and funds to get her out and about more often.[/QUOTE]

Nope, didn’t miss it.

[dog_amp_horsemom]

how about in between shows working on desensitizing her to having her ears touched and putting the earplugs in and out.

[doublesstable]

I agree with hype that it needs to be part of your daily routine.

I have ridden at Hunter barns many of my riding years and ear plugs or cotton every ride…

So since then it has become a habit for me too now. I have had several horses not like them at first; and I just used Mrs. Pastures cookies. (they love those) When I put them in, give them a cookie. Take them out, give them a cookie. It takes time with some of them you just need to have patience. It will happen.

I had one horse that was 18 hands and I had to use a step stool for a while until he got used to ear plugs related to getting a cookie.

My horses actually seem to like their plugs… or maybe it’s just the cookies

[BeeHoney]

Mardi, there are many hunters that always show with ear plugs as part of their standard equipment. There is nothing wrong with this. It is not an inhumane or unrealistic expectation that the OP’s horse should learn, with patience, to accept having ear plugs placed and removed. There are some horses that get distracted by noises or are prone to whinny for friends no matter how many shows they have been to. Even for a young horse, ear plugs can be a tool to help them learn good show habits (no calling, no getting distracted by things happening outside the ring).

Yes, many horses dislike having their ears handled or trimmed, but with patient handling learn to be comfortable with it. I think people on this thread have offered a lot of helpful solutions, from cat toys, yarn strands, clipping ears well ahead of time, to cookies.

Of all the things that people do to show hunters, I think that ear plugs are very humane and reasonable. IMO, there are a lot of good opportunities to criticize the practices of hunter ring competitors, but this isn’t one of them.

[REH]

clip the ears like others said and then I actually stand on one side and pat them and then reach under the throat and up to the ear on the far side. This sneak attack helps.

[meupatdoes]

With anyone that doesnt want me near their ears I remain tall and quietly persistent.

I am tall enough that I can keep a hand gently on an ear even as it is being tossed all around a stall. The hand does not move until the horse puts its head down for a moment.

A little treat held low is also helpful, but we can’t have any unless the other hand is simultaneously touching the ear.

I never grab or get pissed.

I just wait.

[meupatdoes]

[QUOTE=wronglead;8809627]
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.[/QUOTE]

It only has to be the gum chain if you dont want to take the time for patience.

[GraceLikeRain]

[QUOTE=meupatdoes;8818356]
With anyone that doesnt want me near their ears I remain tall and quietly persistent.

I am tall enough that I can keep a hand gently on an ear even as it is being tossed all around a stall. The hand does not move until the horse puts its head down for a moment.

A little treat held low is also helpful, but we can’t have any unless the other hand is simultaneously touching the ear.

I never grab or get pissed.

I just wait.[/QUOTE]

Situations like those make me wish I could have magic legs that extend for 30 minutes. At not even 5’1 anything over 14.2 can usually get their ears out of my reach.

I’ve always taught them to lower their head to poll pressure. Once they know it I can use downward pressure with a halter as a substitute if they head flip out of my reach.

I’m learning a lot of tricks on this thread. I’ve never had one that didn’t love getting them pulled out since they earned an ear scratch at the same time. The loop idea is super creative and practical.