Why blinders on horses

All of which helps maintain the calm and focus of the horse. Moreover, little things can scare horses because of their primordial prey instincts and wearing horse blinders prevents that. Though the name horse blinders somewhat appears to be cruel, the reality is different.

Blinders or blinkers only serve to block a certain percentage of the vision of the horse so that it may not look at anything rear or to its sides.

This is only to ensure the efficacy of the work and to protect their eyes. However, in recent years, many people have raised questions that why do horses wear blinders in the pasture? The removal of blinders is often demanded as they add extra pressure on the head and cause overheating due to their insulating properties.

Riding a horse that is wearing blinders is better as it allows the rider to full control of the horse. With the blinders on, the horse can not have a complete vision. Thus, they depend on the rider for changing directions or maintaining speed. Also, horse blinders help keep the horse calm and prevent it from getting scared of the minutest distractions allowing the ride to be safe for both the horse and the rider.

Police horses have blinders because their work can get messy, especially during an accident that involves screaming or people. It is situations like these that can panic your horse. It is to prevent such situations that police horses have blinders.

A blinder fends off the risk of a horse acting frantically in an emergency. Horses cannot see right being their body. The eyes of the horse are on the sides of their head which allows them to have a vision of, almost, degrees. They have a great visual field. However, they are unable to see at short distances right in front of them or behind them. You must love your horse and covering their eyes with a blinder might seem sceptical to you.

However, it is a very important part of horse riding. Having an almost degree vision can be distracting for a horse, especially when they are out in the field.

Adding a simple horse blinder can make your horses and your life so much easier. Skip to content Why do horses wear blinders if it has nothing to do with blinding the horse? Why Do Horses Wear Blinders? Why are Racing Blinders Used? Why are Carriage Blinders Used? There are strict rules about how large they can be. In some cases, blinders can be used to help a horse with damaged eyesight to recover. Some conditions can be exacerbated by light, so using more restrictive forms of blinders can protect their eyes.

A horse with injured eyes can do them more harm by something as simple as rubbing against a tree. A mask with firm cups can be very helpful here, protecting the eyes from further injury from scratching or abrasions. The more likely explanation is that the horse is wearing a fly mask. And bloodsucking insects like mosquitoes can cause a lot of distress. But not all breeds of horse have these.

And some horses are particularly sensitive to bites, and require extra protection. Next, focus on the fit. The lower edge should sit at least an inch below the base of his cheekbone. If it does, it can be a source of infection — a corneal ulcer, to be exact. Last but not least, be ready to try different styles of mask, depending on how your horse reacts to it. In general, the more of his face it covers, the more effective it will be at keeping away insects.

But some horses dislike the sensation of a full mask and will make every effort to get rid of it. In that case, you may get better results with a lighter design. Again, it will depend on how the horse reacts. Some unfortunately take exception to ear coverings and will make short work of a mask that includes them. And that can make life safer both for you and for him.

So try out different approaches and assess the way your horse reacts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Table of Contents What are blinders?

Also Reading. For many horses, blinders are commonly used in order to prevent the horse from becoming distracted. Farming horses can also be predisposed to distractions and if they are pulling a plow or a wagon they might need blinders to stop them from losing concentration on the direction they are supposed to be headed.

The blinders cover the rear vision of the horse, forcing it to look only in a forward direction and keeping it on track. Blinders are also useful to reduce the chances of the horse being spooked and making a run for it while still attached to the wagon.

Other Uses Carriage racing or harness racing are common equestrian sports where horses are pulling carts, carriages or wagons while racing.