Both Ears Forward
Look at the signal, then look at the whole horse and the situation around it.
NOTICE
Both ears are upright and pointing forward.
You may notice the horse turning the ears toward something ahead, holding them there for a moment, or shifting the head in the same direction.
WHAT IT MAY TELL YOU
Your horse may be paying close attention to something in front of them—watching, listening, or simply taking in what is happening.
Forward ears are often more about where attention is going than about how the horse feels.
DON'T ASSUME
Forward ears don't automatically mean a horse is happy, friendly, or relaxed.
Instead, ask: “What has caught the horse’s attention, and what is the rest of the body telling me?”
LOOK AGAIN
Take another look at the whole horse. Where are the eyes and head directed? Is the body soft or tense? Has something changed in front of the horse?
The ears can point you toward what the horse is noticing, while the rest of the body helps fill in the picture.
Research / Learn More
What research shows
Horse ear direction can provide useful information about where attention is oriented. Research also shows that horses use ear and eye cues together, so ears are most informative when read with the head, eyes, and situation.
What it does not tell us
Ear position alone does not identify a single emotion or tell us whether a horse is happy, worried, or relaxed.
Sources
- The eyes and ears are visual indicators of attention in domestic horses — shows that ear and eye cues contribute to how horses communicate attention.
- Horses’ facial micro-expressions — discusses ear orientation as an indicator of attentional direction.