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Why are Horses blindfolded

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February 22, 2020, 05:57 PM
gjgalligan
Why are Horses blindfolded
while in a pasture?
Couple of weeks ago I went by a pasture with 5 horses. All had "coats" on but 2 of them had a hood (for lack of a better term) that had them blindfolded. Temp was in upper 20s so I ruled out insects being a problem.

Anybody gotr a reason?


Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking.
February 22, 2020, 06:00 PM
6guns
I'm not a horse person, but I always thought it was to keep flies out of their eyes.




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February 22, 2020, 06:33 PM
fpuhan
6guns is correct. They aren't truly blindfolds, but a mesh that fits over the horse's head. They can see through the mesh.




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February 22, 2020, 06:42 PM
rscalzo
quote:
that had them blindfolded.


It's a fly mask, not a blindfold.


Richard Scalzo
Epping, NH

http://www.bigeastakitarescue.net
February 22, 2020, 06:44 PM
gjgalligan
No flies in subfreezing weather. At least I haven't ever seen any out in the open pasture.


Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking.
February 22, 2020, 07:28 PM
BamaJeepster
They also put them on if the horse is sensitive to light - which could be caused by some type of issue with the eye like an infection or scratch/injury which is being treated. As others have said, the mesh is see thru, but keeps flies out and reduces glare.



“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
- John Adams
February 22, 2020, 07:38 PM
Opus Dei
All the above is correct, but one might also see a horse in harness or on a track wearing blinders. That's just so they only see ahead as to not get distracted or startled.
February 22, 2020, 07:44 PM
BamaJeepster
quote:
Originally posted by Opus Dei:
All the above is correct, but one might also see a horse in harness or on a track wearing blinders. That's just so they only see ahead as to not get distracted or startled.


And for a visual reference of the difference:

First two pics are horse wearing 'blinders' from the side and front. The 3rd pic is a horse wearing a standard mesh fly mask:








“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
- John Adams
February 22, 2020, 08:24 PM
walkinghorse
Flymasks are also used to protect horses eyes from tall grasses and weeds while grazing, including foxtail in the ears. In addition flymasks help protect eyes while trailering, lots of dust and airborne debris potential then.


Jim
February 22, 2020, 08:28 PM
walkinghorse
quote:
Originally posted by walkinghorse:
Flymasks are also used to protect horses eyes from tall grasses and weeds while grazing, including foxtail in the ears, mask shown in previòus picture does not have ears. In addition flymasks help protect eyes while trailering, lots of dust and airborne debris potential then.



Jim
February 22, 2020, 11:00 PM
Sailor1911
Perp walk?




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February 23, 2020, 07:36 AM
MagicHorse
Some horses have allergies too & the fly asks also help keep the eyes from being as irritated in those cases as well. Some of the "fly masks" have covers for the ears as well.

I always taught my horses to trust me to lead them around actually blindfolded as most horses do not want to leave their stall in the case of a barn fire. In that case, you can blindfold them, lead them out of the burning barn, & take the blindfold off after they are safely secured away from their home. Horses have even been known to run back into a burning barn because they think of their stall as a safe space.
February 23, 2020, 09:58 AM
Keystoner
Do horses get used to that mask easily?



Year V
February 23, 2020, 10:02 AM
egregore
quote:
reduces glare

Shades for horses? Smile

I wonder if there was snow on the ground and it was sunny. There can be considerable - to unprotected eyes, even harmful - glare from this
February 23, 2020, 11:51 AM
gearhounds
quote:
Shades for horses?

Its future must be bright...




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February 23, 2020, 11:58 AM
TMats
“Coats and flymasks,” did they have slippers and a hot water bottle too?

Best explanation I can offer is that all 5 are “feed ‘em & lead ‘em” show horses. The blankets are to minimize winter coat growth. A bit baffled by the fly masks, perhaps again, further protection of facial scratches for a show horse, although just keeping them in the barn probably addresses both issues.

Might be that the owners read horse magazines and think this is what they should do. All those magazines, unfortunately including Western Horseman these days, are aimed at horse hobbyists


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despite them
February 23, 2020, 12:01 PM
parabellum
And a final cigarette, of course. C'est la guerre, but we are officers and gentlemen, are we not?
February 23, 2020, 12:41 PM
bendable
this was a hundred years ago , but when the Amish had a horse or two with a wild streak in them , they would cover their eyes to keep them from running through the fences .





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February 24, 2020, 08:18 AM
filipows
Did it look like this


UOTE]Originally posted by gjgalligan:
while in a pasture?
Couple of weeks ago I went by a pasture with 5 horses. All had "coats" on but 2 of them had a hood (for lack of a better term) that had them blindfolded. Temp was in upper 20s so I ruled out insects being a problem.

Anybody gotr a reason?[/QUOTE]