What is the the fly mask like covering that Show Jumpers and Race horses where on their ears?

I am always seeing these things on Professional Show Jumpers and Racers! What are they and what is there purpose? Looks? Website with a Picutre of it: http://www.floridahorse.com/images/2005w…


Thanks!


AF


:)What is the the fly mask like covering that Show Jumpers and Race horses where on their ears?
That's not a head bumper, it is an Arabian style fly protection, called crocheted fly bonnet, Arabian fly bonnet and Egyptian fly bonnet - depending on who you are talking to. the ears are covered by the fabric and the crochet style net coming down has 'bobbles' on it that move around when the horse's head moves and helps 'swat' flies away.





http://www.chicksaddlery.com/Merchant2/m…





They started to become popular in the hunter and jumper world because the sight of the horse is not effected, but the covered ears dampen outside sounds and helps keep horses from getting distracted.





I have started seeing them without the bobbles in the hunter world.What is the the fly mask like covering that Show Jumpers and Race horses where on their ears?
A lot of people use them for 2 reasons. 1 to keep flys out of the horses ears also some people use them to buffer the sound a little. A lot of show people and race people use earplugs as well in their horses ears. It can make a big difference if the crowd is lowd
its so they cant see anything much so they dont freak over the ears is to dull their hearing
in the summer they are used to heep flys out on the horse face while riding but in jumpers, eventing, and racing they are used to dull the sound of the crowd and keep the horse focused
Bonnets, used to protect flys outta their ears :) Also looks sporty. I bought one a while back, it's black with gold border. It's really nice. Although some people say it keeps sound out, it really doesn't.. it's cotton. If anything they use earplugs within the horses ear and then put the bonnet on top.
Its to stop the horses from getting distracted by the crowd.





You sometimes see them on horses just out in pasture by a buyis road. Its to keep the hoses from seeing the traffic because they dont like it.





If a horse is timid and gets distracted by the audience they help the horse stay on track by limiting his vision to only the task at hand.
Fly masks keep biting flies from attack the thin, tender skin around the face of the horse and prevent gnats from creeping into the nose and ears.





Fly repellent is a challenge to apply and get full protection for the head, nose, and ears. These masks also protect sun-sensitive eyes and skin from UV rays.





In the picture, you are not looking at a fly mask but something that looks like just a decorative (and maybe padded) head collar.





This is something called horse head protector or head bumper...
Heya





They can be used for a variety of reasons





- stop flies getting into their ears and irritating them


- If the horse is a headshaker this can help.


- If its outside it will protect the horse from getting cold in their ears and lacking in performance


- it stops stuff from flying into them like surface.





=] xxxx
They keep flies off their ears and block the sound of the crowd. With that many people around, it's very noisy, and it helps the horse concentrate if you muffle the sound.