Horse show question

[oxysback]

Great photos. How old is your daughter? I saw some very young women on horses yesterday and thought about how remarkable their skills seemed for their ages.

She's a graduating senior this year and she'll be 18 at the end of August. The horses in the pictures aren't ours, but Jess gets paid to put some saddle time on them them and to introduce them to shows for their owners. I would have loved to have that kind of job when I was that age, but Jess is a way better rider than I ever was.

[ehirsch83]

In the jumper ring, ear covers are mostly a "fashion" statement- they help the horse look more the part.

They do keep insects out! But they definitely add to the look of the high end jumper.

They are not used to keep ear plugs in place. Once you put the ear plugs in and make sure the horse can't shake them out- they are set.

[rubysoho]

In the jumper ring, ear covers are mostly a "fashion" statement- they help the horse look more the part.

They do keep insects out! But they definitely add to the look of the high end jumper.

They are not used to keep ear plugs in place. Once you put the ear plugs in and make sure the horse can't shake them out- they are set.

Hmm.. Tell that to the riders I know who use the ear covers for that. I work at an equestrian facility and during schooling shows I have overheard trainers also talking about using the covers to hide/keep in the ear plugs in place, specifically on horses that are allowed to scratch their head while in tack. (well,they didn't say that but I saw them letting their horse nearly rub the bridle off!)

Needed or not, it is one reason people use them.

[ehirsch83]

Hmm.. Tell that to the riders I know who use the ear covers for that. I work at an equestrian facility and during schooling shows I have overheard trainers also talking about using the covers to hide/keep in the ear plugs in place, specifically on horses that are allowed to scratch their head while in tack. (well,they didn't say that but I saw them letting their horse nearly rub the bridle off!)

Needed or not, it is one reason people use them.

Except, Ruby- they aren't allowed in the hunter or eq ring- only the jumper ring, hence...There is no reason to hide ear plugs in the jumper ring since they are not judged on appearance.

[rubysoho]

Except, Ruby- they aren't allowed in the hunter or eq ring- only the jumper ring, hence...There is no reason to hide ear plugs in the jumper ring since they are not judged on appearance.

please note that I mentioned schooling shows, not recognized/rated. And I didn't say it was to hide the ear plugs but rather the cover was used to help keep them in place on particular horses - not all.

[LivetoRide]

I ride mainly dressage these days...FEI rules state that ear plugs may not be used in rated competition. They recently (well, over the past few years) opened up to the idea of allowing fly bonnets in dressage and of course, some riders have used that as an opportunity to try to hide ear plugs.