In excessively cold weather, your foal's or horse's ears appear frozen. When you feel the ear, it feels cold and stiff.

Frostbite is the cellular destruction of tissues due to extreme cold, and often occurs to extremities such as the ears, tail or limbs.

Frostbite is very rare in healthy adult horses. They usually tolerate extreme cold very well. When it occurs in adults, usually just the tips of the ears are affected. Older horses and ill or debilitated horses that are down for extended periods are more likely to develop frostbite. Frostbite is also more common in donkeys and mules that have longer ears.

Foals born in subzero temperatures or windy, cold and wet conditions may have problems with frozen ears, and occasionally frozen feet or tail. Providing shelter from wind and moisture is the single most important thing you can do. In severe weather, it is best to have your mare foal inside, at least out of the wind and moisture.