Instructions
Address the underlying reason your horse pins its ears back. A horse typically exhibits the behavior in response to defending its food, because it lacks respect for leadership and authority or because it's territorial and needs proper training.
Avoid interrupting the horse if it pins its ears during mealtimes. The anticipation of being fed can be stressful for a horse, and the herd hierarchy determines who eats first. Generally, a horse that pins its ears in this situation isn't being aggressive or disrespectful.
Communicate to the horse you're the leader by using deliberate movements, being gently assertive and maintaining confidence and composure in all situations. What the horse can't see through your nonverbal body language, it senses.
Distract your horse by giving it a series of commands, which compels it to think about something else. Immediately ask the horse to move forward in a different direction, go slower, faster or stop.
Train your horse to understand that the behavior is unacceptable by taking it out on a trail ride with other horses. Territorial horses will typically demonstrate the behavior while riding out in response to who's leading and who's following.
Inform other riders of your horse's dominant or territorial behavior to avoid surprises and for everyone's protection.
Be responsive at all times. Because you're the rider of the ear-pinning horse, it's ultimately your responsibility to avoid potential accidents.
Maintain a distance of 10 ft. on the front and back end of your horse. Allowing close contact can be dangerous because it decreases your reaction time if something goes wrong.
Regain your horse's attention immediately if it attempts to aggressively pin its ears at another horse. You can change the horse's focus by performing a transition, gait change, trotting, backing up or turning on the forehand.
Say, "No" in a sharp, stern tone if your horse has trouble refocusing and continues to pin its ears. Simultaneously, continue to give commands for moving forward and performing a gait change.
Alternate positions with the other riders during the trail ride to introduce your horse to different situations. This will enable it to learn and develop coping mechanisms that don't include aggressive ear pinning.
How to Block a Horse's Ears So It Doesn't Pin Them Back
A horse that pins its ears back is using body language to communicate. How it pins them back reveals what the horse is saying. If the ears are laid back slightly, but not flat, it may be part of the horse's nature and customary disposition. The flatter the ears, the stronger the threat and language the horse is using to convey it wants something to go away. A horse with a dominant personality that pins its ears back can quickly become aggressive and dangerous. It may swing its head to bite or its hindquarters to kick. Although you cannot physically block a horse from pinning its ears, you can train it to stop the aggressive habit.