I am looking for a good brand/type of earplugs. The fuzzy ones my horse shakes out. Does anyone have a recommendation for some that hide well (for show) but stay in and don’t seem to bother your horse? Thanks!
I use ones that are most similar to these:
http://www.petco.com/product/117886/Petco-Sponge-Ball-Cat-Toys.aspx
For shows, I use a black sharpie on the half that may be visible.
The plus side is that for schooling, the bright colors remind me to remove them.
[QUOTE=DancingArabian;7286037]
I use Pomms: http://www.smartpakequine.com/pomms-premium-equine-ear-plugs-7741p[/QUOTE]
My mare hates the Pomms. Shakes her head like crazy. She also shakes her head with the fuzzy ones but I find she does it less. Next ones to try for me are the equi-fit ones:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/t/Product.aspx?p=X1-27721
Sorry not much help… some horses just don’t like things in their ears. Is your horse really that bad without them?
I use the Pomms. They stay in even with head shaking. I tried the sheepskin ones and a few good shakes later I was running around picking them up.
I also use the cat toys and color them black. Almost the exact same thing as Pomms except you get 4 for around $3 instead of 2 for $10.
I use plughz. They’re slightly pricey, but my barn buys the 12 pack that the grooms use communally and they’re they only thing that works for my horse who HATES having earplugs put in or taken out (doesn’t shake when I’m on him, just when they’ve been put in) so I’ve bought a pair for myself. Worth the little extra I pay for the convenience.
[QUOTE=BybeeGirl;7286045]
I use ones that are most similar to these:
http://www.petco.com/product/117886/Petco-Sponge-Ball-Cat-Toys.aspx
For shows, I use a black sharpie on the half that may be visible.
The plus side is that for schooling, the bright colors remind me to remove them.[/QUOTE]
This cracks me up. I have two cats and have these toys for them. I saw someone using them (in grey) this summer at a show and wondered if they were the same thing. For the price, definitely worth a try. Thanks!
[QUOTE=DarkBayHunter;7286074]
My mare hates the Pomms. Shakes her head like crazy. She also shakes her head with the fuzzy ones but I find she does it less. Next ones to try for me are the equi-fit ones:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/t/Product.aspx?p=X1-27721
Sorry not much help… some horses just don’t like things in their ears. Is your horse really that bad without them?[/QUOTE]
She’s not that bad, but as it starts to get blustery outside, she is getting a little distracted - a few others folks at the barn ride with them, bit have the fuzzy ones which she shook out. 
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7286156]
I use plughz. They’re slightly pricey, but my barn buys the 12 pack that the grooms use communally and they’re they only thing that works for my horse who HATES having earplugs put in or taken out (doesn’t shake when I’m on him, just when they’ve been put in) so I’ve bought a pair for myself. Worth the little extra I pay for the convenience.[/QUOTE]
These! I find most horses prefer these by far
My mare hated the pomms… i think they were firm enough to put pressure and make them uncomfortable. Mind you, every other horse I use them on are totally fine. For the fussy ones, I use the Cashel Plugs… I find the contoured fit of these vs the equifit ones stay in a little better and are a +++ on the comfort scale. An added bonus, they come in different sizes, XS-L.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7286156]
I use plughz. They’re slightly pricey, but my barn buys the 12 pack that the grooms use communally and they’re they only thing that works for my horse who HATES having earplugs put in or taken out (doesn’t shake when I’m on him, just when they’ve been put in) so I’ve bought a pair for myself. Worth the little extra I pay for the convenience.[/QUOTE]
These sound interresting! 
They seem to sell them at a tack shop nearby, another reason to go shopping…
And the ones with the string…I wonder what happen when you unbridle and forget to remove the plugs first, will they come out easily?
[QUOTE=hannaht;7288407]
My mare hated the pomms… i think they were firm enough to put pressure and make them uncomfortable. Mind you, every other horse I use them on are totally fine. For the fussy ones, I use the Cashel Plugs… I find the contoured fit of these vs the equifit ones stay in a little better and are a +++ on the comfort scale. An added bonus, they come in different sizes, XS-L.[/QUOTE]
Thanks hannaht I’ll give these a try.
[QUOTE=alibi_18;7288440]
These sound interresting! They seem to sell them at a tack shop nearby, another reason to go shopping…
And the ones with the string…I wonder what happen when you unbridle and forget to remove the plugs first, will they come out easily?[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure I’ve never had the string kind, but it’s a good idea. I think my horse likes that there’s barely a seam on them, but the pomms have a ridge on them.
This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. I hate that everyone seems to plug every horse’s ears now. Come on, work through the distractions and train the horse…especially if the horse hates the ear plugs.
A lined ear bonnet is another option that can help hold their brains in without being as intrusive.
[QUOTE=FineAlready;7289109]
This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. I hate that everyone seems to plug every horse’s ears now. Come on, work through the distractions and train the horse…especially if the horse hates the ear plugs.[/QUOTE]
Give it a break! :rolleyes:
Ear plugs can be a valuable tool in order to train positively and quietly some more sensitive horses in certain situations. It doesn’t mean the horse isn’t trained/being trained properly.
Do you prefer people drugging their horses?
Really ear plugs are bening in the grand scheme of things and can’t hurt the horse in any way.
Everyone I know uses cat toy foam balls for ear plugs. You can buy a big container of them on ebay. Use a Sharpie to color them for shows and leave the schooling ones in the bright colors,so you don’t forget to take them out.
The Equifit ones are by far my favorite. Pricey, but I like the feel and the horses usually do not get them out. I think there is no such thing as an ear plug that will not come flying out with a horse shaking his head as hard as he can. Plughz caused a friends horse to have an allergic? reaction in his ear. Vet said that or an infection, but they never stay in longer than it takes to show/ride and it never happened before. It was odd.
[QUOTE=alibi_18;7289369]
Give it a break! :rolleyes:
Ear plugs can be a valuable tool in order to train positively and quietly some more sensitive horses in certain situations. It doesn’t mean the horse isn’t trained/being trained properly.
Do you prefer people drugging their horses?
Really ear plugs are bening in the grand scheme of things and can’t hurt the horse in any way.[/QUOTE]
Give it a break? I don’t think I’ve ever brought this up here before. And, no, I don’t prefer people drugging their horses. I prefer people TRAINING their horses. A horse that is mildly distracted on a windy day can be trained through the lack of attentiveness.
Masking the training issue (lack of attentiveness) will just result in related problems down the road.
It has been my experience that horses that are always ridden with earplugs tend to LOSE THEIR POOP, so to speak, when the earplugs fall out (which will inevitably happen at some point), especially in a show environment. I’d rather just know that the horse I’m on will be able to take normal noises in stride.
And I say all of this as the owner of a horse that is inclined to be very noise reactive. Working through the issues, which are at their core attentiveness issues, has proven to be much more valuable than attempting to muffle noises. The noise is less than half the problem.
