Why are those horses blindfolded?

“I’m worried about the horses in a pasture near me. They’re blindfolded and I’m afraid they’re going to get hurt.” 

Every Spring my friend, who works for an animal services department, receives complaints like this!

Do you know what these “blindfolds” really are?

Good job if you know these are actually fly masks, and they don’t impair a horse’s vision. In fact, they protect horses. The masks are made of see-through mesh that protects horses’ face, ears and eyes from flies, insects, and bugs as well as dust and debris in the air and twigs or branches that might otherwise poke them in their eyes. 

Fly masks also protect wounds on horses’ heads. Our seven-year old gelding scraped a large spot of hair and skin off his forehead. We doctored his wound and put the fly mask on, protecting him from flies that would otherwise have a party on that wound. Flies are crazy like that. 

Have you ever put a fly mask over your own face? I have, and it’s just like looking out your screen door or window screen. Of course my neighbor wanted to know why I was wearing one!

My horses love their fly masks. The minute they see their masks in my hand they lower their heads and stick their noses forward so all I need to do is make sure the opening for their ears is in the right place and then I fasten the Velcro straps. 

We always make sure their eyes and faces are clean first, and we make sure to keep their fly masks clean. 

Fly masks come in many fun and colorful styles, including coverage for horses’ ears, some have nose fringe, UV protection and longer nose pieces to prevent sunburn. There’s quite a bit more information on the internet about fly masks and their many uses. Just don’t let your neighbor catch you testing one out by wearing it, because take it from me, it might be hard to explain!