# Horse hats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486 "2008-08-18T22:35:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/1 "2008-08-18T22:35:47Z")
I’m watching the Olympic equestrian events and some of the horses in the jumping competition are wearing little crocheted hats/ear covers. Do these serve any purpose or are they just a wacky fashion statement? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/2 "2008-08-18T22:52:42Z")
Generally, they’re just a fashion statement. Some folks also use them as fly coverings to keep bugs out, and to muffle crowd noises for a spooky horse. Some competitive venues in events like dressage prohibit them; it depends on the event. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/3 "2008-08-18T23:06:36Z")
Thanks. I was wondering because yesterday a horse who was wearing a hat refused a jump and the commentator said maybe it had a bug in its ear because it was shaking its head. Perhaps it was just embarrassed by the hat… ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/4 "2008-08-19T03:22:43Z")
They are generally a net material, not crocheted. Their purpose is indeed keeping flies & other bugs off the horses ears. They are quite commonly used on harness horses, either draft animals or those pulling carriages for rides in the park. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/5 "2008-08-19T03:25:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Perhaps it was just embarrassed by the hat… Or he had signed an exclusive endorsment contract with a rival horse hat company. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/6 "2008-08-19T03:34:21Z")
Generally from what I gathered from the commentary they are worn when the horse is wearing earplugs due to crowd noise. It prevents the horse shaking the plugs out. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/7 "2008-08-19T03:53:18Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] They are generally a net material, not crocheted. [/QUOTE] They are also crocheted. You got your basic ear-shaped covering part, and then you got your crocheted fiddly bits, for fashion. > **[p-4558-centaur-crochet-ear-nets.aspx - Equishopper](https://www.equishopper.com/p-4558-centaur-crochet-ear-nets.aspx)** > > Experience the Best Equestrian Shopping, Equitana USA plus the Horse Network Community. Shop top equestrian brands for Horse & Rider, join horse lovers at Equitana! [http://www.horseloverz.com/EPONA-Crochet-Ear-Eye-Net-pr-184915.html](http://www.horseloverz.com/EPONA-Crochet-Ear-Eye-Net-pr-184915.html) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/8 "2008-08-19T04:09:03Z")
And here I thought this was going to be about [this](http://www.horsehats.com/) site. I can’t figure out where the ears go, though. Waht? ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/9 "2008-08-19T10:21:59Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Generally from what I gathered from the commentary they are worn when the horse is wearing earplugs due to crowd noise. It prevents the horse shaking the plugs out. [/QUOTE] I seem to remember (and no I don’t have a cite) hearing about someone putting tampons in his horse’s ears before riding in a big competition … ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/10 "2008-08-19T11:55:07Z")
[QUOTE=Lobelia Overhill] I seem to remember (and no I don’t have a cite) hearing about someone putting tampons in his horse’s ears before riding in a big competition … [/QUOTE] They would have to be used tampons as horse’s ear canals are a fair bit wider than ours. A horse ear plug is about an inch in diameter. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/11 "2008-08-19T12:43:52Z")
eewwwww ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/12 "2008-08-19T14:12:34Z")
[QUOTE=Lobelia Overhill] I seem to remember (and no I don’t have a cite) hearing about someone putting tampons in his horse’s ears before riding in a big competition … [/QUOTE] Yes, people do this. They’re new tampons, of course. Apparently you get it wet so it fluffs up (it’s just cotton, yanno), then dry it, then put it in the horse’s ear. Purpose: to muffle sounds, in this case for a horse being used at a shooting event. > **[HorseAdvice.com Equine & Horse Advice: Ear plugs for horses](https://horseadvice.com/horse/messages/7/50218.html)** > > Articles and discussions on Ear plugs for horses written and moderated by an equine veterinarian. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-hats/460486/13 "2008-08-19T16:52:55Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Generally from what I gathered from the commentary they are worn when the horse is wearing earplugs due to crowd noise. It prevents the horse shaking the plugs out. [/QUOTE] This is what I surmised. While watching the show jumping, I turned to hubby and said, “Why are they wearing ear bonnets? It’s not like the place is infested with flies and gnats.” Hubby: “Seriously! Isn’t this an indoor arena?” Me: “They must be putting cotton in the horse’s ears to minimize noise distractions, and use the bonnets to keep the cotton in.” Hubby: “Yeah, now that would make sense.” That, or everyone is doing it because Everyone Is Doing It…kind of like those stripey GPA helmets they’re all wearing (although putting the flags on them was a nice touch). And FTR, the one ear bonnet I own is crocheted.