Horse with a hair net over it's mouth in a hunter class?

Question

I saw this horse at the last show we were at and and he had a hair net over his mouth and attached to the noseband. I thought it was the weirdest thing. What is the purpose and if it is to keep his mouth shut why not just use a flash? They got first and the show was A circuit.

Answer 1

theres some wierd thing out there that looks like a hair net that helps horses not throw their heads i dunno how it works but it does

Answer 2

I think in all honest opinion you are refering to a "Muzzle Net" which reduces head shaking due to photosensitivity and a form of light twitching. I find it interesting because these are not permitted in the hunter ring? Especially at 'A' level that should have been questioned. And as far as keeping their mouth shut, hunters may not wear anything other than a regular caveson, the idea of a hunter is an easy going, enjoyable ride, there fore, no gadgets. This is interesting, tho I do know of horses whom use it like I said for health reasons, I don't think they were supposed to use it, tho it is very possible (and likely if they won) that they had presented the show stewards with a certificate from a vetrinarian or gone to USEF for a paper stating they are allowed to for medical purposes. Hope that explains it :)

Answer 3

its not keeping his mouth shut. Some horses have a disorder that causes their nerve endings to fire randomly - they'll fling their heads like they're getting hit in the face by bugs (this is the over-simplified explanation, btw) and the hairnet interrupts the nerves by touching the skin. Some horses need to have their ears covered.

There is a fancy mesh nose cover made exclusively for this purpose, but the hairnet (nylons work too) is less obvious, not to mention cheaper!

Answer 4

I  have never heard of such a thing, especially in a hunter class.

Do you have a photo?

Answer 5

I'd bet its not a hair net but a 'dust net' or a 'air cover.' (different regions have different terms.)

They do look like hairnets from affar, but they definately are different. These are perhaps closer to the thickness of pantyhose. They're placed over the horse's nose and mouth to help reduce the dust the horse inhales while working in a dusty ring.

Many horses with allergies use them to make their breathing better.

I would bet money that the fact they won had NOTHING to do with the dust-net. :-)

Answer 6

Are you sure that is was an actual hairnet?  Several horses with COPD or allergies may use cloth over their muzzle to help keep out dust or airborne allergens.  Many times its a finely made cheesecloth, and it's often dyed to make it look less conspicuous at shows.

Answer 7

Sometimes nets or even pieces of stockings (panty hose) will be used in this manner.  This horse is probably a "head shaker".  It is a neurological disease that, as far as I know, is incurable.  It is really a terrible thing to see.  There is really no explanation as to the cause of the disorder and there is no successful medical treatment.  Sometimes the net/stocking helps because the behavior is much more pronounced when the horse is working.  It has nothing to do with keeping the mouth closed.  I know someone who paid $50,000 for a dressage horse that turned out to be a head shaker.  However, he was really bad.  He did try to train on him but she was not able to show him successfully.  Some can but it is rare with this disorder.

Answer 8

This is called a muzzle net and is usually used for horses with a condition called Headshaking.

This is a condition that has no definite cause and not definite cure. The trigeminal nerve runs down the horses face and splits into three (hence the "tri"). One branch of the nerve ends in the nose. When this nerve becomes inflamed the horse begins violently and spasmodically shaking its head. Some horses will self medicate by dunking their faces into their water bucket up to their eyes and staying like that. Others will keep their nose pressed against something. Keeping contact on that nerve helps decrease the shock the horse feels.