Ears Softly Turned to the Sides
Look at the signal, then look at the whole horse and the situation around it.
NOTICE
The ears are turned gently outward or to the sides rather than strongly forward or backward.
WHAT IT MAY TELL YOU
This can be part of a quieter, more neutral, or resting picture, especially when the rest of the horse also looks soft and comfortable.
DON'T ASSUME
Sideways ears don't prove that a horse is completely calm, comfortable, sleepy, or relaxed.
LOOK AGAIN
Notice the eyes, head, neck, breathing, posture, and overall muscle tension. Does the whole horse look soft, or are other areas telling a different story?
Research / Learn More
What research shows
Ear position changes with attention, activity, and context. A softer sideways position can occur in quieter situations, but there is no single ear angle that proves a horse is relaxed.
What it does not tell us
Sideways ears should not be used as a stand-alone test of comfort or emotional state.
Sources
- The eyes and ears are visual indicators of attention in domestic horses — supports reading ears as part of a larger attentional picture.
- The Effect of Stabling Routines on Potential Behavioural Indicators of Affective State — reviews ear position and movement as possible welfare clues while noting limits in the evidence.