Why does my horse keep shaking its head and scratching its ears?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse keeps shaking its head and scratching its ears, the ears may be dirty, irritated or bothered by insects. It can also happen with fly irritation, a bit of discomfort from grooming or tack, or a skin issue around the ears. There are several possible causes, so it helps to check the ears and the surrounding area carefully before making changes.

Things To Check

1. Notice when it happens most often, such as after turnout, during grooming, after exercise or when insects are active.

2. Look at both ears for redness, swelling, scabs, discharge, heat or broken skin.

3. Check whether there is wax, dirt, loose hair or a strong smell inside the ear, but only look gently and do not probe deep inside.

4. See if the horse reacts when you touch the ears, headcollar area or poll, as sensitivity may point to irritation or soreness.

5. Think about recent changes, such as new grooming products, fly control, bedding, turnout fields or tack fit.

6. Watch for other signs like stamping, rubbing the face, tail swishing, shaking the mane or refusing to have the ears handled.

7. Check for flies, midges or other insects around the ears, especially in warm weather or near water and hedges.

Common Causes

Dirty ears or built-up wax can make some horses uncomfortable and more likely to scratch or shake their heads.

Fly or midge irritation is another common reason, especially in summer or in still, buggy weather.

Skin irritation from grooming, sweat, headcollars, tack or a new product can also make the ears feel sore or itchy.

Less commonly, an ear infection, mites or another skin problem may be involved, particularly if there is discharge, strong odour or ongoing sensitivity.

What To Do

Start by keeping a simple eye on when the behaviour happens and whether it is getting better or worse.

Clean only what you can safely reach, using gentle routine care and avoiding anything deep in the ear canal.

If the horse is bothered by insects, try to reduce exposure at the times and places where the problem seems worst.

Review anything new that might be irritating the area, including grooming habits, fly control routine, bedding or tack fit.

If the ears look mildly dirty, a calm, regular care routine may help support comfort and make it easier to spot changes early.

Products That May Help

If flies or midges seem to be making the problem worse, a seasonal management routine can be useful as part of keeping your horse more comfortable outdoors.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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