What causes scabs, crusting, or sores inside a horse’s ears? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

Scabs, crusting or sores inside a horse’s ears are often caused by fly irritation, rubbing, minor scratches, or skin sensitivity. Less commonly, they can be linked to parasites, infection, or another skin problem, so it’s worth checking carefully rather than just assuming it’s nothing.

If the horse is otherwise well, the first step is usually to look at the pattern, the surroundings, and whether the ears are being rubbed or bothered after turnout, exercise, or grooming.

Things To Check

1. Check whether the issue seems worse after turnout, especially in warm weather or when flies are active.

2. Look closely for redness, broken skin, crusts, discharge, swelling, heat, or any smell from the ear.

3. See if the horse is rubbing its head, shaking its ears, or reacting when the ears are touched.

4. Check whether the problem is on one ear or both, and whether the sores are only inside the ear or also around the face, mane, or neck.

5. Think about recent changes such as new turnout, bedding, grooming products, fly pressure, or a new bridle or headpiece.

6. Look for signs of mites, lice, or other skin irritation, especially if there is scurf, dandruff-like debris, or more general itching.

7. Check carefully for any obvious scratch, nick, or crusty patch that could have started from a minor knock or self-trauma.

Common Causes

Fly irritation is one of the most common reasons, especially in summer or on windy, open ground where ears are exposed. Horses may rub at their ears, which can then lead to scabs and crusting.

Minor scratches or self-inflicted rubbing can also leave scabs behind, particularly if the ears are itchy or sensitive.

Skin irritation from tack, grooming, headcollars, or a sensitive reaction to something in the environment can sometimes affect the ear area too.

Less commonly, mites, lice, a bacterial skin infection, or another dermatological issue may be involved. These are harder to confirm by eye alone and may need veterinary input if the problem doesn’t settle.

What To Do

Keep the area as clean and dry as you can without overhandling it. If you need to look closely, do so gently and avoid picking scabs off, as that can make the skin sore again.

Try to spot any pattern linked to flies, grooming, turnout, or tack use, and make small changes one at a time so you can tell what helps.

If the horse is rubbing, check whether anything in the environment could be irritating the ears, such as insects, dust, or a rough headpiece. Good routine fly control and careful grooming can sometimes make a noticeable difference to comfort.

Monitor the area over a few days. If the sores spread, keep returning, or the horse seems painful, that’s a sign the problem needs more than simple home observation.

Products That May Help

When ear scabs seem linked to fly irritation or summer discomfort, a routine fly-care approach may be useful as part of day-to-day management.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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