Scabby ears..

ROMANY 1959

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Sasha, new horse , has greasy scabby ears that just need a good wash, but she won't let me near them!!!
Any tips on getting her to bring head down, I plan to get warm soapy water and a sponge to see if I can get grease off, there is no problem putting bridle on, just she goes like a giraffe when a brush goes near .. This is the only thing she won't let me do.. De sensitising advice needed.. Pls
 
Slowly, slowly. catchy monkey! :D It's the only thing that worked for my lad. When he arrived he was a bit headshy and really got worried when you tried to touch his ears. Over the course of a few weeks I would stroke his neck gradually moving my hand higher till I could touch his poll for a second (move it before he figured out what I was doing and go back to stroking), then till I could rest my hand on it and just kept up this process till I could stroke one of his ears. Now he'll let me rub them straight off, move them around while I'm brushing the mud he invariably collects around them (how? the rest of him is CLEAN I tell you! :rolleyes:) and generally now he lets me be an ear-menace without a fuss :D
Good luck!
 
Sounds like equine keratosis. A harmless enough if unsightly condition.
The product MTG (apply using rubber glvoes - it stinks! - and a sponge - if you can get close enough) softens the scabs and you can 'scratch' them out. Or even basic cradle cap lotion from the baby aisle in the supermarket.

Keratosis can also form on the front of their cannon bones too. More common there. One of mine has it on both locations!

You could try twitching the horse in order to apply treatment too.
 
Not in ears, I've seen horses with that, no yO pointed it out just muck and grease cos she wintered out in a heard at old place, she lets me put bridle on ok, just any sight of cloth or brush and its giraffe head!!! Will try taking it easy, she let me scratch them near poll today while I fed her an apple..
 
slowly slowly !
I would wait till you have ridden and he is tired and relaxed and then just start grooming the general area and then move upwards, little by little.
you have my sympathy - its a total pain ;)
 
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