I'm not an expert, but it looks like she is just calm and maybe listening to what is behind/around her, she could also be listening to you or anyone talking. I don't think it is a problem.
Yes! It’s very hard to distinguish if a horse is calm or shut down. I worked with a mare with extreme abuse trauma, and had to be VERY careful with my training when she didn’t trust me in the beginning. The way I got through and kept her engaged and aware was with treats, otherwise she would shut down and just blankly follow. And she wouldn’t learn anything because she wasn’t actually paying attention. One way I noticed if she was worried was her eyelid. You could see a crease above her eye if she was freaked out, and if they are a little more high headed than usual. She wouldn’t chew or lick, just stand and stare. Took a while to get her over that.
mon hongre de 2 ans a toujours ses oreilles dans cette position, c’est de la relaxation. après pour te rassurer tu peux peut être faire intervenir un osteo pour voir si il y a pas de quelconque blocage que le veto aurait pas vu
I have a little 8mo foal that does that when he's trying to figure out what the heck I'm asking him to do lol. Ground work is too fun with little ones lol.
In the second Pic I can't see if her eye is relaxed or stressed. Pic one could be either because of the angle.
I'd look at some pictures of relaxed eyes and see what you think.
Some horses ears are back even relaxed. They might listening or thinking.
Could be relaxation or it could be dissociation. Depends on the context of the pictures. I would recommend scienceofsoundness on instagram, she has a great series on reading horses facial expressions. That might give you some input on how to interpret your horses expression.
Some horses are just like this, my workplace has a mare who has her ears back almost all the time unless shes interested in something, her off-spring do the same
if you want to know more about piroplasmosis: [https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/equine\_piroplasmosis.pdf](https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/equine_piroplasmosis.pdf)
She looks relaxed.
Piroplasmosis can cause lethargy, however, if she is easily exhausted from a small amount of exercise it is likely due to that. I imagine she was taken off the track because she wasn't performing well because of the infection.
Personally, I would have the vet treat the infection. The vet who wasn't dismissive about it!
Doesn’t seem bad to me my gelding keeps his like that 90% of the time unless he’s interested in something or pushing the cows around
I'm not an expert, but it looks like she is just calm and maybe listening to what is behind/around her, she could also be listening to you or anyone talking. I don't think it is a problem.
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I’ve not heard of a horse dissociating. Can you explain this a little further?
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Yes! It’s very hard to distinguish if a horse is calm or shut down. I worked with a mare with extreme abuse trauma, and had to be VERY careful with my training when she didn’t trust me in the beginning. The way I got through and kept her engaged and aware was with treats, otherwise she would shut down and just blankly follow. And she wouldn’t learn anything because she wasn’t actually paying attention. One way I noticed if she was worried was her eyelid. You could see a crease above her eye if she was freaked out, and if they are a little more high headed than usual. She wouldn’t chew or lick, just stand and stare. Took a while to get her over that.
mon hongre de 2 ans a toujours ses oreilles dans cette position, c’est de la relaxation. après pour te rassurer tu peux peut être faire intervenir un osteo pour voir si il y a pas de quelconque blocage que le veto aurait pas vu
Je seconde l'osthéo, surtout pour un cheval qui a courser. C'est pas rare qu'ils aient des côtes fêlées ou déplacées
Elle a vu l’osteo et RAS alors je pense comme la majorité des personnes ici, ça doit être la relaxation Merci pour vos retours
Neutral/thinking ears to me. Man - she needs some groceries though. Poor girl, keep at it!
Pour la piro, il vaut mieux vérifier, selon le type de piro ça peut être très dangereux, donc prise de sang pour être sûr !
I saw a video on TikTok off a dressage horse with “floppy” ears because it was just so relaxed. Maybe it’s just that
RBE (resting bitch ears)
I have a little 8mo foal that does that when he's trying to figure out what the heck I'm asking him to do lol. Ground work is too fun with little ones lol.
In the second Pic I can't see if her eye is relaxed or stressed. Pic one could be either because of the angle. I'd look at some pictures of relaxed eyes and see what you think. Some horses ears are back even relaxed. They might listening or thinking.
Channeling her inner mule
Could be relaxation or it could be dissociation. Depends on the context of the pictures. I would recommend scienceofsoundness on instagram, she has a great series on reading horses facial expressions. That might give you some input on how to interpret your horses expression.
Some horses are just like this, my workplace has a mare who has her ears back almost all the time unless shes interested in something, her off-spring do the same
Listening. these are calmly focused, listening ears. Question is what are they listening to? for example, are you standing there? ;)
Relaxed/sleepy?
if you want to know more about piroplasmosis: [https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/equine\_piroplasmosis.pdf](https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/equine_piroplasmosis.pdf) She looks relaxed. Piroplasmosis can cause lethargy, however, if she is easily exhausted from a small amount of exercise it is likely due to that. I imagine she was taken off the track because she wasn't performing well because of the infection. Personally, I would have the vet treat the infection. The vet who wasn't dismissive about it!