23/10/2025
Why Do Many Liberty Horses Put Their Ears Back?
This is a question that comes up frequently, yet is often sidestepped but let's tackle this common yet difficult question, I certainly don't have all the answers but this is my personal take on it.
Since only the horse truly knows the answer, we can only speculate based on their body language, which makes it a difficult topic to nail down. However, by looking at the whole picture, we can develop a more informed perspective.
The Whole Horse: Look Beyond the Ears
People often hyper-fixate on the ears without looking at the complete picture. While the ears are a good indicator of where a horse's thoughts are focused, their meaning changes dramatically depending on the rest of the body.
For example:
• A sign of aggression: Ears flattened back against the head, a stretched neck, and bared teeth is a clear threat.
• A sign of focus/softness: Ears rotated slightly back, but with a softness in the eye and the rest of the body, can indicate the horse is listening intently to the handler behind their line of sight.
When interpreting the ears, we must always put it in context with the entire body.
Causes: Frustration and Closeness
Based on body language, there are a few primary reasons we see this backward ear position more so in Liberty work or groundwork:
1. Frustration
In some instances, the ears signal frustration. This can happen when:
• The human is too busy with their body or tools.
• The handler's energy is too much or unclear.
• The horse isn't given enough time or space to figure out the right answer.
If not addressed, this frustration can quickly escalate into other behaviors, such as biting. Frustration will show up not only in the ears but as general tension throughout the horse's body.
2. Proximity and Personal Space (Bubbles, Energy, and Headlights)
We see this ear retraction more often in Liberty or close-range groundwork due to the close proximity of the handler.
I teach students to visualize their energy coming from a pair of "headlights on their chest," which they can direct using arm or stick extensions for clarity. I also encourage them to visualize bubbles surrounding the horse—one around the head/neck and another around the middle/hindquarters.
Often, Liberty work starts with the handler being very close. I feel that sometimes the handler's energy can crash or collide with the horse's personal bubble, especially at the front. This can cause the horse's ears to retract backward out of uncertainty or a slight degree of self-protection.
Each horse has a unique sensitivity level, so some react to this more than others. I don't always view this retraction as a negative thing unless the rest of the body also displays signs of tension, worry, or frustration. In many cases, it's a mild reaction to a handler being in their space.
The ears tell a story, but they never tell the whole story. In Liberty work, a horse's ears may retract due to mild uncertainty from close proximity or deep focus on a task. The difference between a healthy, focused listener and a frustrated horse is determined by everything else: the softness in the eye, the relaxation of the back, and the movement of the tail. For truly ethical and successful Liberty, we must always commit to reading the whole horse.
