How to Clean Your Horse's Ears

Horses' ears do not normally need to be washed. But when mud or flies get in the ears, follow a few basics to ensure the well-being of the horse.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Handkerchiefs
• Antibiotic Ointment
• Fly Mask With Ear Protectors
• Fly Repellent
• Grooming Brush
• Flashlights
• Flashlights

1. Examine the ears. Use a flashlight or stand in the sunshine.

2. Look for specks or clumps of mud.

3. Hold the horse's ear in one hand, and hold a long, narrow grooming brush in the other.

4. Lay the brush bristles against the inside of the horse's ear.

5. Brush up and down several times. The horse might try to pull away, but after a few strokes, she should relax and push into the brush.

6. Stop and let her shake her head. This will cause the debris to flip outside, rather than inside her ear.

7. Brush the other ear. Let her shake her head.

8. Clip the ear hairs only when absolutely necessary, such as in the case of an ear injury or severe insect bite. Clip only as much hair as necessary to see the sore or bitten part of your horse's ear.

9. Dip a bandanna or large cotton handkerchief into some warm, soapy water and gently wash the sore spot. Never let any water drip into the horse's ear.

10. Apply a general antibiotic ointment to the sore spot.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses are plagued by biting flies in the summer. Protect their ears by dabbing fly repellant onto their ear hairs every few days. Or, buy a face fly mask that has ear protectors attached.
• Never let anything drip down into a horse's ears.
• The insides of the ears are covered with fur to keep water, bugs and debris out. Clipping the ear hairs makes the horses more prone to infection and fly infestation.

on 7/12/2006 Some horses just don't like their ears to be touched, and they will violently snatch their head away. I had an old gelding once that was as gentle as a puppy, but he got sore spots in his ears from fly bites. It hurt him and he wouldn't let anyone near his ears. I learned that I could soak a cotton ball in betadine (damp, but not dripping) and quickly stuff it in his ear. He'd jerk away, and then shake his head. The cotton ball would fly out, but the medicine was in! It did the trick!

on 6/30/2006 While I think Tea Tree Oil is great for everything... it is wonderful for ear cleaning. Put some on a cotton ball, and after rubbing and brushing gently - rub in the ear. The smell keeps the bugs away and its oil base keeps it clinging to the exposed part of the ear. Be careful that you don't put on a scratched area - it may burn if too much is applied.

on 11/22/2005 If your horse gets flaky crusts in his ear, alcohol on a cotton ball works well to get rid of that. Rub hard enough to get it off, but easy enough that you don't hurt or irritate him.