Why does my horse keep rubbing its ears?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse keeps rubbing its ears, the most common reason is irritation rather than something serious. It could be dirt, flies, sweat, grooming products, tangled hair, or sensitivity around the ears and poll. If it’s happening a lot or your horse seems sore, it’s worth checking carefully because ear rubbing can sometimes be a sign of discomfort that needs attention.

Things To Check

1. See when the rubbing happens most often, such as after turnout, during grooming, after exercise, or in fly season.

2. Look at both ears for redness, swelling, scabs, discharge, bad smell, broken skin or areas that feel warm.

3. Check whether there is dirt, dried sweat, mud, loose hair or bits of bedding trapped around the ear or poll.

4. Notice whether your horse reacts when you touch the ears, head or poll, as tenderness can suggest irritation.

5. Think about recent changes, such as a new shampoo, fly control routine, tack, headcollar or hat silk.

6. Watch for signs of flies or midges around the ears, especially if the rubbing is worse outside or at dusk.

7. Check if the behaviour is just ear rubbing or part of a wider pattern, such as head shaking, stamping, tail swishing or general restlessness.

Common Causes

The most common causes are dirt, sweat, loose hair or minor skin irritation from grooming or environmental factors. Flies and midges can also make the ears feel very itchy, especially in warmer weather or at turnout.

Less commonly, a horse may be reacting to ear mites, a small skin infection, a sore spot, or irritation deeper in the ear. In some cases, rubbing is linked to discomfort elsewhere on the head or neck rather than the ear itself.

What To Do

Start by checking the ears gently in good light and cleaning only if they look dirty and your horse is comfortable being handled. Keep the area dry and free from obvious debris, and avoid poking inside the ear canal.

Review anything that might be causing irritation, such as sweat build-up, strong grooming products, hat rubs or heavy fly pressure. If flies seem to be part of the problem, manage turnout and use your usual summer care routine to make the horse more comfortable.

Monitor how often it happens and whether the skin improves once the likely trigger is removed. If the rubbing continues, gets worse, or the ear looks sore, it’s sensible to speak to your vet for advice.

Products That May Help

If flies or summer irritation seem to be making your horse more bothered around the head and ears, a fly-season routine can be useful as part of your day-to-day management.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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