A lot of horses get flat, gray warts in their ears. These are persistent, but usually don't bother the horse too much. Treatment for such warts is usually not recommended, Dr. Alice said. Sarcoids are relatively common, as are melanoma on or in the ears of gray horses. The tips of the ears are often frozen off horses that are pastured in extremely cold areas.
Foals born in the high country often lose the tips of the ears due to frostbite.
The tips of the ears are generally the last part of the new foal to dry and are, therefore, susceptible to the cold. And the ears are very subject to wounds. Split-eared horses are a pretty common sight. Such splits can usually be repaired with cosmetic surgery. Even splits several years old can be repaired by a skilled vet, says Dr. Alice.