The blinkers shut off the peripheral vision of the horse, so that they can only look forward. This means they can concentrate more on the ground, fences and hurdles that are in front of them. If a horse is easily distracted by its surroundings then blinkers can act as a Read more…
The forelock is the tuft of mane that falls downwards between the ears above the forehead. The forelock gives the horse some protection from the weather and helps protect them from biting insects. Some horses have very thick forelocks, while others may be wispy, almost non-existent. What is the purpose Read more…
Common facial markings are: Blaze: a wide white stripe down the middle of the face. Strip, stripe, or race: a narrow white stripe down the middle of the face. Bald face: a very wide blaze, extending to or past the eyes. Some, but not all, bald faced horses also have Read more…
Behind and above the eyeball is a fat-filled cavity which acts as a cushion. This is the supraorbital fossa, the dent between the eye and ear, which moves in and out as he chews. This dent contains a pad of fat continuous with the fat behind the eyeball. Why do Read more…
The third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane, is located within the inside corner of the horse’s eye. It elevates passively as the eye retracts, helping to protect the eye from trauma. What was the purpose of having a third eyelid? The third eyelid is a triangular membrane of Read more…
The ciliary body and choroid are structures that are not readily seen by the naked eye, but the iris is the colored portion of the eye that surrounds the pupil. The iris in the horse comes in two colors—brown (many shades) and blue. What are horse eyes called? Blinders and Read more…
A horse brass is a brass plaque used for the decoration of horse harness gear, especially for shire and parade horses. They became especially popular in England from the mid-19th century until their general decline alongside the use of the draft horse, and remain collectors items today. Why do pubs Read more…
A breastplate (used interchangeably with breastcollar, breaststrap and breastgirth) is a piece of riding equipment used on horses. Its purpose is to keep the saddle or harness from sliding back. How do I know if my horse needs a breastplate? Most horses that use a breastplate do so because of Read more…
The most common sites of venipuncture in the horse include the jugular vein, the cephalic vein, the transverse facial vein/venous sinus, and occasionally the superficial/lateral thoracic vein. Where do you draw blood from a horse? The most common site for blood collection in the adult horse is the jugular vein. Read more…
In fact, blinkers are likely to help a horse rather than suggest they have no chance of winning. After all, blinkers are used to calm the horse down and realign its focus, so it can run its best race. Why do horses run with blinkers? Many racehorse trainers believe that Read more…