Anybody but me thinks horse bonnets are just plain fugly?
They make a horse look poorly bred with clumsy head. They must affect horses’ sensitive ears and I am pretty sure they mess up horses’ sense of hearing and space awareness.
I understand how they are used by some to keep ear mufflers in. If necessary?
But as a fashion statement?
My two sensitive flowers will meltdown if there is a fly near their ears. They are in fly masks for turn out (on wears his mask in his stall even) and wear bonnets for riding everyday. Fly season coincides with show season, so we rock the bonnets and the horses are doused in fly spray. Shows cost enough money that I’m not risking my horse getting mad about a fly while we are in the ring.
ETA: my horses have wispy forelocks that just look ridiculous braided so the bonnet hides that as well.
I’ve never had a horse seem to have difficulty hearing or with spatial awareness because it had a regular bonnet on. (The ones with neoprene ears are designed to block sound so presumably they are more effective.) Some horses seem to like them and others don’t, so that’s what I go by when deciding whether to use one.
I love 'em and my jumper seems to love 'em. She wears fun wacky ones every day I ride her and nice conservative ones that match her saddle pads at the shows. They keep her sensitive ears fly-free and don’t seem to keep her from hearing my whispered prayers to save my butt when I miss a distance. I don’t know about “space awareness,” though. She doesn’t hit her head on anything, so she must be pretty aware of her space.
And, personally, I think she looks smashing in them!
I also think they are really funny-looking and can’t get used to them. I know they are de rigueur in the jumper ring now, but you asked for opinions.
[QUOTE=Dewey;8924869]
I also think they are really funny-looking and can’t get used to them. I know they are de rigueur in the jumper ring now, but you asked for opinions.[/QUOTE]
I think it’s silly for something to be de rigueur unless it serves a practical purpose, such as keeping flies out, or muffling crowd sounds and other noises. I think the ear nets look silly, but if they are serving a practical purpose then I’m all for them. They’re like bling. I like my tack to be as plain and “classic” looking as I can afford, but that’s just me. 
[QUOTE=kinscem;8924638]
Anybody but me thinks horse bonnets are just plain fugly?
They make a horse look poorly bred with clumsy head. They must affect horses’ sensitive ears and I am pretty sure they mess up horses’ sense of hearing and space awareness.
I understand how they are used by some to keep ear mufflers in. If necessary?
But as a fashion statement?[/QUOTE]
I guess you havn’t seen these…
https://ear-me-now-fly-bonnets-for-equine.myshopify.com/products/
[QUOTE=csaper58;8924903]
I guess you havn’t seen these…
https://www.ear-me-now-fly-bonnets-for-equine.myshopify.com/products/[/QUOTE]
oh my god
Fly bonnets have been the biggest blessing for my last horse and my current one. The former used to get driven nuts by gnats and such even with fly spray or spot on fly treatment. For my current horse, they really help him focus when we go outdoors. He’s still a baby so anything I can do to remind him that “helloooo…I’m up here on your back so it is time to pay attention to me” is helpful. Insofar as looks go, however, I’ve never found them distracting per se…only when they’re outlandishly ugly colors or something.
My horse must wear a fly bonnet for every ride in the summer or he absolutely loses his marbles. I also think they look great, but even if I didn’t I would use one for the benefits they provide.
I used to put them on one of my jumpers to hide his unshaven ears. It worked like a charm. 
I had a hunter who was very sensitive to flies and schooling in an ear bonnet made him much much happier.
I also had an ear-sensitive horse (who had been roughly ear twitched before I got him) and he WOULD NOT LET YOU TOUCH THE EARS. EVER. He would wear a bonnet. He got terrible gnat bites inside his ears. So the way we got swat in there was to put the swat inside the ear part of a bonnet, but the bonnet on, kind of smush the swat to his inner ear, and ride until he sweated so it melted in. Worked a charm.
I had a bridle come off because of one, never happened before but I stopped using it. I think they are weird looking but help with flies so willing to go with it.
[QUOTE=cuatx55;8926344]
I had a bridle come off because of one, never happened before but I stopped using it. I think they are weird looking but help with flies so willing to go with it.[/QUOTE]
I really can’t imagine how a properly fitted bridle would come off just because of a bonnet. If the horse was rubbing on something?
I like them because it means I can have a well turned out horse without clipping ears. I live where black flies rule in the spring, followed by mozzies and deer flies. I HATE walking that 10 acre field looking for fly masks after they’ve been playing.
I use them too because when the bugs are awful, the horses are too busy shaking their heads and not focused at all.
We call my young jumper’s bonnet his “thinking cap!”
To be honest, I mostly just have it because he looks really cute in it. It doesn’t seem to help or hinder his performance but it really draws attention to his cute face.
I did like the look of them on one team’s horses at a hunter pace. Four-member team, the horses’ ear bonnets and saddle pads matched their riders’ shirts, all the same color. As part of the team colors, I thought it was a good idea for that occasion.
I think many of them look sharp and love them on jumpers. Alas, I show hunters so don’t get to do all the fun color coordinating of my attire with my saddle pad and ear bonnet. I love jewel tones so I’d likely sport a navy blue theme. If it hindered my horses performance I wouldn’t use one. What csaper58 is a hideous version but humorous.
AmmyByNature - would you be able to show us some pics of your horse’s fun bonnets? I love seeing colorful/crazy/silly ones!
To answer the OP: Visually I prefer the look of a horse without a bonnet. However my horse has absolute meltdowns if bugs are anywhere near her precious ears or face and it really helps her. When I compete I match the bonnet to my shirt. Buuuut I do get a kick out of the fun and wacky bonnets people wear for fun, though! Some are really cute and creative. Hoping some people post pictures of theirs in this thread!
[QUOTE=GoodTimes;8926377]
I really can’t imagine how a properly fitted bridle would come off just because of a bonnet…[/QUOTE]
right, you would think so right? sigh. Never had a problem for years until I did. It was one of those new monocrown bridles with a lot of padding so it may have changed the fit. Regardless, didn’t feel like revisiting that.
