What is this?

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:35 pm

I have seen this every day and it has been nagging me and I figured i'd ask. At santa anita there is a pony horse that looks like his entire face is covered

I am assuming the pony horse is blind? I have never seen that before on a horse.

Bast · Postby **Bast** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:49 pm

Is it solid or is it mesh?

dublino · Postby **dublino** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:16 pm

Looks like a hood to stop the fleas getting at the horses eyes

TJ · Postby TJ » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:21 pm

Hi bdw,
Looks like a fly mask....he wouldn't be on the track if he was totally blind, one eye yes, but not two. If he were blind in one eye he should be wearing a Blind Eye Blinker....but it's the pony boy and they have to make ends meet and they cost a few bucks. Could just be because he gets irritated with fly's on his face which is what the fly mask is for....but usually when turned out. TJ
http://www.jockeytack.com/product/6a547 ... 5012e.aspx

LB · Postby LB » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:22 pm

It could also be that the horse is recovering from an eye infection and they want to make sure the eye isn't exposed to any irritants.

TJ · Postby TJ » Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:35 pm

LB wrote:It could also be that the horse is recovering from an eye infection and they want to make sure the eye isn't exposed to any irritants.

It could be any number of things why he has a fly mask....but he certainly wouldn't be out there blind as bdw thought:>)

Shannon · Postby **Shannon** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:24 pm

I have known several horses over the years who are driven absolutley mad by flies and were trained and shown with fly masks on (and ear covers, and nose covers).
It could also be the this horse as pink skin and light eyes and gets irritated by sun exposure.

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:51 am

Fly mask

http://www.amazon.com/Cashel-Fly-Mask-S ... B001BR88D2

Lucy · Postby **Lucy** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:40 am

There's an outrider pony at Suffolk who wears one - it confused the heck out of my mother, who couldn't understand how the horse could see where he was going.

Here's a closer look:

TJ · Postby TJ » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:49 am

....And every now and then you get a race horse that doesn't like dirt hitting or bugs messing around his ears or face.....watch this race with Gate Dancer. TJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqin6Xv5al0

freshman · Postby **freshman** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:35 am

TJ wrote:If he were blind in one eye he should be wearing a Blind Eye Blinker...

Why on earth should a horse with a blind eye wear a blind eye blinker?

TJ · Postby TJ » Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:14 pm

freshman wrote:
TJ wrote:If he were blind in one eye he should be wearing a Blind Eye Blinker...

Why on earth should a horse with a blind eye wear a blind eye blinker?

It covers and protects the blind eye from dirt clods, fly back or any eye infections, cuts bruises etc......read this: http://www.jockeytack.com/product/6a547 ... 5012e.aspx

Joltman · Postby **Joltman** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:36 pm

I think they just saddled the wrong horse and put the jock up on him...

jm

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:36 pm

AWW Lucy, Is that David's pony

(out rider).

kimberley mine · Postby **kimberley mine** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:25 am

TJ wrote:....And every now and then you get a race horse that doesn't like dirt hitting or bugs messing around his ears or face.....watch this race with Gate Dancer. TJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqin6Xv5al0

I've never seen one in the US, but overseas there is a piece of tack called pacifiers. It's a hood with eye holes a la blinkers, but instead of cups focusing the horse, has a wire mesh bubble that goes over the eye. They are not allowed on muddy days, as they might get clogged with mud, but in dry, sunny weather, it will keep dirt out of a horse's eye.