Q: My horse pins his ears every time I tighten the girth. My trainer says it’s just a habit. How do I know if it’s actually discomfort?

I always hear a little red flag whenever the phrase “it’s just a habit” starts being thrown around, especially when it comes to clear communication signals like pinned ears. Horses literally don’t have the brain structure to act out of spite or plan revenge (check out Janet Jones, Ph.D.’s amazing book Horse Brain Human Brain [affiliate link] for more on this!), so I’d argue that this is a pain (or “remembered pain”) response, especially if your horse doesn’t show discomfort in other parts of the tacking or grooming process. Rule out common symptoms like (ill fitting tack and ulcers) and plan on slowly rebuilding your horse’s trust surrounding his girth once the symptoms are investigated and addressed.

Q: My horse has been spooking at things he ignored all summer. Is this just “fall brain,” or is it worth a vet call?

Dr. Temple Grandin has done a ton of research on horses, fear, and desensitizing them to things that are scary. “By understanding that horses view different sides of things as entirely new,” she says, “we can aim to desensitize them to everyday objects from all angles for better safety and welfare.”

Horses store visual memories differently than we do, and they need to see things from all angles to make sense of them. If things are changing with the seasons—foliage, landscape, new things like coats and scarves hanging in the barn—your horse’s spooking might just need some exposure training. However, if the things he’s spooking at have remained unchanged or slow, intentional desensitization sessions haven’t helped, it might be time to get your vet involved to rule out any vision or neurological changes that might be taking place.