Why Do Horses Wear Blindfolds?

It is a common site, especially in summer, to drive by a horse farm and see horses wearing what look like blindfolds. However, this is a common misconception. Horses are almost never blindfolded, except in emergency situations, such as fires, when they need to be led somewhere quickly and the handler does not want the horse distracted by scary things around him. What the horses are wearing are actually fly masks.

  1. Function

    • The function of a fly mask is to keep flies off of the horse's face and out of her eyes. Flies like to drink the liquid that comes out of horses' eyes, and this can be very annoying for the horse. In addition, the flies carry disease and can cause infections.

    Features

    • All fly masks are designed to cover the horse's sensitive eye area, stopping just a couple of inches below the eyes. The mask itself is made of a very fine mesh that keeps bugs out, but it is close enough to the horse's eyes that he can see through it easily, just like humans look through screen doors.

    Types

    • Some fly masks have ear masks that fit over the ears to keep bugs out, and others extend to cover the horse's nose. This keeps flies off of more of the horse's face than the regular fly mask and protects the nose from sun damage.

    Considerations

    • When purchasing a fly mask for a horse, it is important to make sure to get the right size. It should fit snugly enough to keep flies out and stay on without being uncomfortable for the horse.

    Fly Mask Care and Maintenance

    • Fly masks should be kept as clean as possible to avoid causing infections. Dip them in a bucket with a mild liquid soap and scrub them with a stiff brush. They can be sanitized with a very mild Betadine solution.