What should I check if my horse is shaking its head after being touched near the ears? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse shakes its head when you touch near the ears, it usually means the area is sore, irritated or uncomfortable. Common causes include flies, simple skin irritation, wax or debris in the ear, handling sensitivity, or a small cut or scab you may not have noticed yet.

You can often narrow it down with a careful check, but you can't rule out a deeper ear problem at home. The main aim is to look for anything obvious, avoid making the horse more sore, and note whether it happens only in certain situations.

Things To Check

1. Check whether it happens only when you touch a specific spot, or whether your horse reacts to any contact around the head and ears.

2. Look closely for redness, swelling, heat, scabs, broken skin, dampness, discharge or a bad smell around the ear and nearby skin.

3. See whether your horse is also head shaking, ear flicking, rubbing, stamping, or showing irritation in the field or stable.

4. Check for flies, midges or other insects around the ears, especially if the problem is worse in warm weather or at turnout.

5. Feel gently around the base of the ear, jaw and poll for any obvious soreness, bumps or tense reaction.

6. Think about whether anything has changed recently, such as grooming, clipping, tack, a new headcollar, turnout, or bedding.

7. Look for signs of waxy build-up, dirt or debris near the outside of the ear, but do not put fingers deep inside the ear canal.

Common Causes

The most common reason is local irritation, often from flies, midges or general sensitivity around the ears. Some horses are simply more reactive if the area is itchy or sore.

Minor skin issues such as a small scratch, scab, pressure from headgear, or irritation from grooming can also make a horse pull away or shake its head.

Less commonly, wax build-up, trapped debris or an ear infection may be involved. These can be harder to spot from the outside and may need a vet check if the reaction continues.

On occasion, pain elsewhere in the head, jaw or poll can make ear handling uncomfortable too, so a horse that has suddenly become sensitive may need a broader assessment.

What To Do

Start by keeping the check gentle and brief. If your horse reacts strongly, stop and avoid repeated fussing around the ears.

Clean only the outside of the ear area if needed, using mild routine care and a soft cloth. Don't try to probe inside the ear canal.

Make a note of when it happens, what seems to trigger it and whether there are any visible changes. That pattern can be very helpful if you need advice later.

If flies seem to be part of the problem, adjust turnout timing, stable management or summer protection as appropriate. If tack or a headcollar seems to rub, check the fit and remove anything that could be causing pressure.

If the horse remains sensitive, worsens, or starts showing discharge, swelling or ongoing head shaking, it would be sensible to get veterinary advice.

Products That May Help

If your horse is more bothered in warm weather or around flies, a summer care routine may help support day-to-day comfort and make it easier to manage irritation near the ears.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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