Horse Blinkers Explained: Types, Fitting and When Your Horse Needs Them
Horse blinkers are one of the most recognisable pieces of racing tack, and one of the most misunderstood. Put simply, blinkers limit what a horse can see to the side and behind, so it concentrates on what is in front of it. Used well, they can turn a horse that wastes energy looking at everything into one that runs straight and listens. Used badly, they can upset a sensitive horse or hide a problem that needs a vet, not a hood. We have been making saddlery in South Africa for 35 years, so here is our practical guide to the types of blinkers, how to fit them, and how to tell whether your horse needs them at all.
What Are Horse Blinkers?
Blinkers restrict a horse's field of vision. They are also known as blinders, blinds or winkers, as the Wikipedia entry on blinkers explains. On a racehorse they usually take the form of a fabric hood that fits over the head, with a cup on each side of the eyes. On a driving horse they are leather pieces fixed to the cheek pieces of the harness bridle. Either way, the aim is the same: block the view to the side and rear while leaving the horse free to see forward.
A horse's eyes are set on the sides of its head, giving it a very wide field of view. That is a survival tool in the wild, but on a racecourse it means the horse notices the crowd, the rail, the horse coming up on its outside and anything moving at the edge of its vision. Blinkers narrow that picture down.
Why Racehorses Wear Blinkers
Blinkers are mostly used on race horses to keep the horse focused on the path ahead and limit peripheral vision to avoid distractions. In practice, trainers tend to reach for them when a horse:
- loses concentration during work or a race
- shies or drifts away from things it catches out of the corner of its eye
- is distracted by other horses, the crowd or the rail
- needs a little sharpening up to give its full attention to the job
What blinkers will not do is fix pain. A horse that throws its head, hangs to one side or refuses to settle may be telling you about its teeth, back or feet, or about the fit of its saddle or bit. Rule those out with your vet, farrier and saddle fitter before you add a hood to the equation.
Types of Horse Blinkers
Blinkers come in a few distinct styles, and the right one depends on how much you want to limit your horse's vision, and why.
Full Cup Blinkers
Full cups block most of the view to the side and behind. They are the strongest standard option and suit a horse that is easily distracted by everything happening around it. A related style, the visor, has a small peep hole cut into the back of each cup so the horse keeps a sliver of rear vision.
Half Cup Blinkers
Half cups are shallower, so the horse keeps more of its side vision. They are a sensible first step for a horse trying blinkers for the first time, or one that only needs a mild reminder to concentrate.
Closed Cup Blinkers for Injured Horses
A closed cup covers one eye completely. These blinkers are made to order with the closed cup on either the left or the right eye, and are used for injured horses or horses that have lost an eye. Always follow your vet's advice on when and how to use one, and see our veterinary range for other recovery supplies.
Sheepskin Cheek Sleeves
Sheepskin cheek sleeves, also called sheepskin blinkers, are the mildest form of blinker. Soft fleece sleeves wrap around the cheek pieces of the bridle and fasten with Velcro, partly screening the view behind without a hood. They are ideal for helping a horse to focus, particularly in show jumping (not competition legal) and racing, and come in black or white. Because they fit straight onto your existing bridle, they are an easy way to see how your horse responds. Browse our bridles, or read our guide to bridle types if you need a new one.
Blinkers With Ear Pockets
Some horses cope with what they see but not with what they hear. Our blinkers with ear pockets have built-in ear covers that muffle crowd and commentator noise for sound-sensitive horses. They are normally supplied without eye cups, but can be made up with cups on request if your horse needs help with both noise and vision.
Driving Blinkers (Winkers)
Many horses and mules working in harness wear blinkers fixed to the bridle itself. These square leather winkers sit on the cheek pieces and keep the animal focused on the path ahead rather than on the vehicle behind it. A good harness bridle has moulded winkers that do not touch or irritate the eyes. You will find ours with the rest of our harness gear.
Cotton or Mesh? Choosing a Racing Hood
For racing hoods, the main choice is fabric. Our cotton blinkers are made from breathable cotton and come in 15 colours, so you can match your racing silks or stable colours. The Air Cool blinkers use an air cool mesh fabric instead and come in black, navy or white. Both are available with half or full cups, both have adjustable elastic closures that ensure a great fit for every horse, and both are machine washable at 30 degrees, which matters when a hood comes back from the track covered in sweat and dust.
How to Fit Horse Blinkers
A badly fitted hood is worse than none at all, because cups that sit in the wrong place either rub the eye or fail to do their job. Work through these checks every time:
- Centre the cups on the eyes. Each eye should sit in the middle of its cup with clear space all round, so the cup never touches the eyelashes or the eye itself.
- Check the hood lies flat. It should sit smoothly over the forehead and behind the ears, without twisting or bunching.
- Adjust the elastic closures. The hood should be snug but not tight. One that slides will pull the cups out of position; one that is too tight will rub.
- Fit the bridle, then check again. Put the bridle on over the hood and make sure the headpiece has not dragged the cups off centre.
- Look for rubs. After the first few uses, check around the eyes, cheeks and ears for any sign of rubbing.
Introducing Blinkers to Your Horse
Never let race day be the first time a horse wears blinkers. Put them on at home in a quiet setting, lead the horse around, and then work it lightly so it gets used to the narrower view. Some horses accept them straight away; others become sharper or more reactive than you expected, which is exactly what you want to find out before a race.
Remember that a horse in blinkers cannot see you coming from the side. Approach from the front, speak to it as you move around its head, and take extra care in busy yards and at the start. Blinkers are working tack, so never leave a horse unattended in them in the stable or paddock.
Blinkers vs Fly Masks
Both fit over the head, so they are easy to confuse, but they do very different jobs. A fly mask keeps flies away from the eyes while the horse sees through the mesh. Blinkers deliberately restrict vision for work or racing. A fly mask belongs in the paddock; blinkers belong on the track. Our fly mask guide covers turnout protection in detail.
Blinkers and Racing Rules in South Africa
Horseracing in South Africa is regulated by the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa, which publishes the Rules of Racing and a National Equipment Register. Rules can change, so if you own or train racehorses, check the current requirements with your trainer or the NHA before you change a horse's gear.
Find the Right Horse Blinkers at Solo Saddlers
Solo Saddlers has been making saddlery for 35 years, and our team includes riders who specialise in racing, so we know what this tack has to do on the day. Our blinkers come in cotton or air cool mesh with full, half or made-to-order closed cups, alongside ear pocket hoods and sheepskin cheek sleeves, and our Air Cool blinkers are proudly made in South Africa. Browse the full racing collection or our horse clothing range, and if you are not sure which style suits your horse, get in touch and we will help you choose.
