What should I check if my horse’s ears look inflamed after turnout? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse’s ears look inflamed after turnout, the first things to check are the skin itself, any signs of rubbing or bites, and whether the ears seem hot, sore or dirty. It could be something simple like flies, pollen, a scratch, or irritation from a headcollar or fly mask, but it’s best not to assume.

Things To Check

1. Check whether the redness or swelling appeared after turnout, grooming, exercise, or wearing a fly mask or headcollar.

2. Look closely for broken skin, scabs, discharge, crusting, heat, or any areas your horse reacts to when you touch them.

3. Check for signs of rubbing, such as hair loss along the ear edges, sore spots behind the ears, or a fly mask sitting too tightly.

4. Look for flies, midges, pollen, mud, or seeds caught around the ear base or inside the outer ear flap.

5. Notice whether your horse is head-shy, shaking their head, stamping, or rubbing their head more than usual.

6. Check the rest of the face and neck for similar irritation, lumps, bite marks, or signs of a more general skin issue.

7. See whether only one ear is affected or both, as that can help you think about local irritation versus a broader trigger.

Common Causes

The most common cause is simple irritation from flies, midges, pollen, dust, or something rubbing the ear area during turnout.

Another common cause is minor skin damage, such as a scratch, bite, or pressure from tack, a headcollar, or a fly mask.

Sometimes the ears can look inflamed because they’ve been dirty, itchy, or handled a bit too firmly during grooming or cleaning.

Less commonly, an ear infection, allergic skin reaction, or another skin problem may be involved, especially if the ear is painful, smelly, weeping, or keeps getting worse.

What To Do

Bring your horse in and inspect the ears in good light. If there’s only light dirt, you can gently clean around the outside with care, but don’t poke deep into the ear.

Check turnout gear, especially fly masks and headcollars, for rubbing points or a poor fit. If anything looks tight, rough or dirty, stop using it until you’ve reviewed it.

Keep an eye on whether the redness settles after they come in and the area is left alone. A photo can help you compare changes over a day or two.

If flies seem to be a factor, think about reducing exposure during peak times and keeping the surrounding skin as clean and comfortable as possible.

If the area is sore, swollen, smelly, weeping, or not improving, it’s sensible to get veterinary advice rather than keep trying to manage it yourself.

Products That May Help

If turnout irritation seems linked to flies or summer skin discomfort, a seasonal care routine can sometimes help you keep the area cleaner and easier to monitor.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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