Does size of horses ears mean anything?

ZoeRPM said:
Mammal that have evolved to live in cold areas have small ears (to retain heat) and those that have evolved in hot areas have large ears (to cool them). It's as simple as that. Your mare is almost certainly part Welsh, as welsh ponies and cobs have disproportionately small ears.
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Probably the real reason.

tallyho! said:
I was told if you plug a cable in to a big eared hoss's ass, you can get freeview on your iPhone.
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When I was shown around the Heathrow T5 lounge before it opened, they had two lifesize model horses at the top of the escalators with lamps on their heads. It caused much humour on the "showrounds" to see that the flex did indeed come out of their bottoms! They probably cost a fortune, but were hideous!
 
How about the Marwari horse? It's ears form a complete satellite dish when perked forwards. Possibly much better for Tallyho to use as well.
 
I don't think ear size is particularly related to anything other than the genes the horse has for ear size... which are probably pretty random. But I do love a horse with big ears, I remember complementing my boy's mum on her massive ear size (he's a bit of a donkey too), only the owners didn't seem to share my point of view!
 
Both ours have huge ears. Fabio certainly fits the stereotype of kind and genuine. Donny's irish and his ears are huge with a little point. He again is genuine with a huge jump!
 
I'm struggling to think of a big-eared, bad-tempered horse. Known a fair few grouches with little lugs though!

I was told big ears=generous, laid-back nature.

Maybe it's just too much effort to put big ears back?:D
 
A certain well known rider in Derbyshire once had someone comment on how big her mare's ears were. This was hardly surprising since the mare's father was a Poitou donkey.
 
Haven't read all the replies so apologies if it's been said before, but I keep getting told (by my dad, my mare's old trainer, my best friend) that big ears mean an honest and genuine horse. I think they're just saying this so that Star (aka Big Ears) and I don't get a complex...especially as some people ask if she's part donkey!
 
B-B said:
My understanding is that horses with big ears are from hot climates and horses with smaller ears from colder.

My Spanish has bunny ears and my friends Welsh has very small...but thats the only comparisons if its right or not?
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Hmm, my Friesian (albeit some Spanish blood there) comes from a cold climate and has very big but delightful ears. Whatever though, horses' ears are just lovely and tell us what they are thinking.
 
D5edon said:
Hmm, my Friesian (albeit some Spanish blood there) comes from a cold climate and has very big but delightful ears. Whatever though, horses' ears are just lovely and tell us what they are thinking.
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And arabs have small ears and are from hot climates....
 
Don't think the evolution argument works as horses sweat and thus big ears can dissapate heat. However, big ears if they corresponded to better hearing would confer a selective advantage - clearly not though.

Personally despite being a genetics geek I have found over the last 30 years that big ears mean honesty and kindness - like big eyes.
 
D5edon said:
Hmm, my Friesian (albeit some Spanish blood there) comes from a cold climate and has very big but delightful ears. Whatever though, horses' ears are just lovely and tell us what they are thinking.
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wow! have you got a warlander??
 
Beausmate said:
I'm struggling to think of a big-eared, bad-tempered horse. Known a fair few grouches with little lugs though!

I was told big ears=generous, laid-back nature.

Maybe it's just too much effort to put big ears back?:D
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Awww - that's nice! I definitely have one of those!! And I love it when I do something a bit thick and she waggles one of those long ears at me... :)
 
Lucyad said:
And arabs have small ears and are from hot climates....
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No boby's told my arab that, he's got pretty big, ginger ears. But then he also has a dorsal stripe, so maybe he is actually half donkey!
I love watching their ears.
 
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