Any recent experience with Noise cancelling ear bonnets? Woof wear seems to make economical ones, but not sure if it is worth spending more. This is not for showing, but I do like pretty things.
It will be used for a large eared red mare who is just a little too noise sensitive indoors to be a reliable lesson horse. She also hates her stubby forelock touching her ears, so I am hoping it helps with that too.
I used one on my mare for 9 years. It was an Equifit. It wore really well. All I did was rinse it occasionally. The down side was that my mare (a very smart and wily Appaloosa) figured out how to remove it and her bridle whenever she thought she was done. Nothing I tried kept it on when she wanted it off. There were several times she got the bonnet and bridle off in busy indoor rings or while cantering. Fortunately, she never took advantage of the situation and just continued on her merry way. I did learn to never say “good girl” while riding. That seemed to be her signal that the ride was over.
That is hilarious! I would love to have seen her in action.
My mare is very noise sensitive. Tried using ear plugs for a month, but she hates them so much. Got the Horze Supreme Silent ear bonnet on Amazon, $27. Wasn’t going to pay $50 - $129 for some brands as it’s just neoprene ear covers. It definitely helps, but even the earplugs don’t cancel 100% of mystery sounds. After a jump lesson, she shook/rubbed her head on her foreleg so the bonnet was partly off. I reached down and took if off fully. She only spooks in place, and did that twice while we were waiting to leave the ring, so again it does help reduce some of the triggers.
This is a concern as this mare loves to rub her head. I wonder if there are different attachment methods or if a bridle like a micklem would make that less of a risk? (She will also need a new bridle as I think the one she currently wears will be too snug in the browband with anything under it.)
Keep in mind this is for a lesson horse. That sounds more complicated than I would like, but it is an option.
It is difficult for the large eared ones. So many more options for a decent fit on smaller ears. I showed my young horse in dressage in an xL Le Mieux (a size I don’t think they make anymore) after he grew out of the Kentucky soundless ones and they started perching up on his head (Kentucky bonnets are my favorite in general but the stiffer ears are not forgiving on size). I made a strap for it out of show number laces, tied in on the off side and a safety pin on the near side. I wrap around the throat latch. I have not met a soundless bonnet that was not easy to remove both bonnet and bridle with just the right shake. But perhaps it’s worse for me because I use ergonomic bridles that fit more loosely at the poll. Nevertheless, the shakes never unload a bridle without a bonnet or with one with regular ears. I 100% prefer ear plugs. And then normal bonnet if there are bugs.
A soundproof bonnet made an immediate difference to my guy. The few times that I’ve forgotten to put it on for an indoor ride I’ve generally regretted.
My first one was a BR one that was cheap enough to use for a trial. But the ears were a bit small, so I upgraded to the LeMieux Acoustic Ears. They have a size chart on their website. The piece that lies against the poll is much wider than the BR one, and it’s never come off, not that my guy really tries.
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