It’s pretty stupid when you think about it… haha
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I mean, I make ear bonnets for people, and while there are practical uses, its also just really fun to have a personalized one and I think it looks sharp with a coordinated tack look. I’ve only had an issue with the bridle coming off once, but in that situation it was coming off with or without the bonnet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with people enjoying a bonnet, any more than some buying a cute saddle pad for fun.
I’ve actually being thinking about playing around with a no-slip version, though, to see if I can make a decent version since I personally don’t like the throatlatch string.
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I’m not saying don’t do it as a fashion statement, I’m saying since they are continuously a safety issue, maybe people should re think using them just for fun.
If a fashion item caused, say, your saddle pad to slip, or your excess stirrup leather to come out of the keeper, whatever. But when a fashion item causes horses to lose the only way we have to catch them, and then sometimes result in a bridle caught in a horse’s legs, I think we need to rethink use of that fashion item.
If I hadn’t heard over and over again “the bridle came off because of the bonnet,” I’d feel differently.
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I might too, but honestly I’ve seen plenty of bridles slip off without a bonnet as well, so I don’t agree that they are a safety hazard any more than any other piece of tack is. I’ve seen worse wrecks from reins getting caught in legs (with the bridle still on), feet getting caught in stirrups that should have released but didn’t, boots coming loose, etc. Implying people should stop using bonnets is a bit much.
Also, I kind of take offense to you blowing them off as just a fashion statement. I’ve made some bonnets for people that have done everything from making some smile or laugh for silly ones, to serious gratitude for more meaningful ones (like one for someone who lost a parent to cancer). Maybe it seems stupid to you, but it can be something meaningful to others, or give a bit of inspiration or get you in the right frame of mind for your ride. I dislike calling it nothing but a “fashion item”. As I said before, too, they have lots of practical uses as well.
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I said that too until I was trotting down the centerline at the old grass dressage ring at GMHA — the one at the bottom of the XC field. I had a big horse fly follow me around the entire test, trying several times to bite right behind the ear. My horse hated it. Judges were sympathetic but it was costly in terms of my score.
I try not to use fly spray unless I absolutely have to for the environmental impact. It kills more than biting horse flies.
Bonnets do make the bridle fall off easier though, absolutely.
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The bridle being caught in the horse’s leg was a freak occurrence.
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Yep, here we have gnats that will literally bite the insides of the horses’ ears bloody if there’s no barrier. I actually dislike the ear bonnet look but do use a plain brown one when the gnats are bad. If something was eating my ears I would also have a hard time keeping my head still and concentrating on my job. I need to look into the braiding idea though!
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If we’re going to talk about potentially problematic equipment in these scenarios, the running martingale definitely didn’t help matters when the bridle came off. I don’t think the bridle would’ve gotten caught up in Carrots’ legs (or at least not been there anywhere near as long) had the running martingale not kept the bridle attached to her as she was bolting.
I don’t have a problem with running martingales as a tool when they’re used appropriately but there were multiple factors that made the situation worse than it might’ve been had it just been a plain bridle setup with nothing else going on.
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Yet another horse thing where you do you, no reason to insist others do it your way.
Even if people use them because they like them, why not?
Signed, someone with a horse that does not like bugs even thinking about landing on their ears, but also does not think a human should be allowed to put bug spray on those same ears.
I guess I need a sign to wear while I ride - Yes Really, My horse does need an ear bonnet.
Continuously ?
That is a stretch.
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I think the jump crew member that could’ve died because of an ear bonnet might have a reason why not.
I am confused, do we know the bridle came off because of an ear bonnet, or are you assuming that?
The jump crew member was trampled because the walked in front of a scared horse.
So weird to be on a rampage about an ear bonnet.
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What an excellent horse to continue without panicking and still jump.
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It’s a pretty remarkable display.
I know of another one some years back who had the same thing happen in the Grand Prix in Wellington, but the bridle came right off. Somewhat incredibly, the rider managed to steer the horse around the rest of the course clear until he got to the very last jump and did not quite manage to guide the horse over it.
It was pretty darn crazy. I’ve seen pictures, but I’ve never seen a video of it.
So now we’re blaming bonnets and running martingales.
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Gina Miles not only lost her bridle but put it back on as well.
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Not actually blaming running martingales, just pointing out that we could probably nitpick every single equipment choice until we get to everyone riding bridleless to avoid this problem 
I was there, I saw it happen, Rowan came off pretty hard/fast and I’m not sure it would have mattered what tack/accessories that he was or wasn’t using when he (unintentionally) had that much leverage on the reins. It was terrifying to watch and I’m glad that everyone is/will be okay.
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Re “Braiding” bridle on, we used to put a string around the crown piece then braid the ends of the string into the first braid behind the bridle path.
Joan from Flatlands
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Yes, let’s add jumping boots to the list! Didn’t Blue Movie panic when she whacked a boot loose? Oh, and bitless bridles! That one grey horse slipped out of its hackamore on course, so can’t use those. I’m being silly about it, but every equipment choice comes with some level of risk. Heck, getting near a horse at all is risky! It’s better to just make educated choices.
The hyper focus on the bonnets is just another human brain response to scary situations (“well that couldn’t happen to ME because I make different choices”). You can’t prevent every accident, especially with horses. And sometimes you have a horse that defaults to Exit Stage Left when spooked, and losing a rider can be VERY spooky.
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regarding a horse If you think it can not happen it will, came home one afternoon to find this
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Aww…cute, silly pony. Hopefully all is well. (Love the dog peeking in the background.)
