Sheepskin cover for cheek pieces

[mydogs]

In my reading to understand the face more, I am trying to figure out why riders don’t put a sheepskin cover or some padding over the cheek pieces on their bridle. But, when shipping long distances in a trailer, sheepskin will be put on the halter.

Obviously, the bridle would need to be readjusted to fit the cheek piece covers.

I see that this is available to be purchased, but I don’t see it very often, or at all, in the dressage ring. I’ve seen jumpers put sheepskin on the noseband & some riders put padding under the chin or over the crown piece. But it seems the cheeks are often ignored.

EDIT After reviewing the USEF rulebook, it looks as though it is not allowed.

Then, would it not be appropriate to school with the sheepskin to provide comfort as often as possible and then remove the sheepskin for shows?

Here is an example of all parts being covered but the cheeks.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/10…g?v=1504301563

[csaper58]

The sheep skin on the cheek pieces would block the horse’s view of what is behind him. like blinkers on driving horse.

That would be against the rules in most equestrian mounted competitions other than racing.

The sheep skin would also be dangerously close to contact with the horse’s eye due to the brow band. Halters do not have brow bands.

[mydogs]

@csaper58

The sheep skin on the cheek pieces would block the horse’s view of what is behind him. like blinkers on driving horse.

That would be against the rules in most equestrian mounted competitions other than racing.

Interesting. I just read the rule book and that seems correct.

Darn. Then, I guess that changes my question up a bit. Will edit the original post.

[csaper58]

@mydogs

In my reading to understand the face more, I am trying to figure out why riders don’t put a sheepskin cover or some padding over the cheek pieces on their bridle. But, when shipping long distances in a trailer, sheepskin will be put on the halter.

Obviously, the bridle would need to be readjusted to fit the cheek piece covers.

I see that this is available to be purchased, but I don’t see it very often, or at all, in the dressage ring. I’ve seen jumpers put sheepskin on the noseband & some riders put padding under the chin or over the crown piece. But it seems the cheeks are often ignored.

EDIT After reviewing the USEF rulebook, it looks as though it is not allowed.

Then, would it not be appropriate to school with the sheepskin to provide comfort as often as possible and then remove the sheepskin for shows?

Here is an example of all parts being covered but the cheeks.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/10…g?v=1504301563

What would happen if you schooled in blinkers at home and then took those off at the show?

The same thing could happen using fleece. It would depend on the horse’s confidence.

If the cheek pieces are causing irritation look at

1. The length of your brow band. The cheek pieces should lie on the flat hair covered area not the bald skin close to the eye or bony protuberance of the TMJ.

2. The quality of the leather the cheeks are made of. Where it contacts the horse the cheeks should be hand rubbed to a smooth surface not rough/suede. The edges should be beveled.

3. The cleanliness of the bridle, and horse. Sweat and dirt on the inner surface will cause the cheek pieces to irritate the delicate skin of the face.

[Halt_Near_X]

Sheepskin during trailering is to prevent rubs, but generally bridles are not on for long enough (and the leather is soft enough) that bridles don’t rub the same way.

And sheepskin over the noses on jumpers is usually about creating a shadow roll. I don’t know 100% what that does, but it’s like blinkers in that it limits their field of vision. Although some people may use it for comfort, but they are changing the function of the bridle when they do so, and–like adding blinkers–that’s not something most people necessarily want or need to do.

I think the question of the horse’s comfort in the bridle is being addressed more by anatomical bridles than by the idea of adding sheepskin to everything and changing the function.

[mydogs]

Thanks everyone! Those are some very interesting points!

[MissAriel]

In the Fairfax bridle research they didn’t indicate the cheeks being one of the locations for significant pressure. In fact, when I look at my horse’s bridle, I could easily slide my fist under the cheekpiece, although it would pull upwards on the bit if I did.

[Scribbler]

I have never seen a horse have any discomfort at all from a snaffle bridle properly adjusted, with or without a loose cavesson nose band, if the browband is long enough that the whole contraption isn’t being pulled up against the ears and eyes. The same for riding in a Western bridle.

As far as I can tell, snaffle bridles only start to exert pressure on the head if the noseband is tight (especially a crank) and especially if there is a flash. Then the whole bridle is dragged down the horses’s face. I bought a second hand bridle where the cavesson noseband was actually stretched out of shape and droopy from so much use of the flash. I’ve been oiling it and rolling it up different ways to try to get ride of the droop.

If horse comfort is priority number one, take off the flash, leave the noseband loose or take the noseband right off, and make sure the browband fits.

In any case, if horse comfort is priority number one, there’s no mileage in putting sheepskin on the cheek pieces, but then strapping the horses’s mouth shut with a crank and flash.

If you feel you need a crank and flash for performance, but also feel horse comfort is a primary priority, well you’ve got a conundrum, for sure. I’m not sure I’ve got a solution for that.

[skydy]

I noticed some fleece cheek pieces on the bridle of a horse in the junior (or children’s?) jumpers at Penn. National. They effectively functioned as blinkers, so apparently they are allowed in the jumpers at some level.

Here is the horse at 45:34 https://www.usef.org/network/coverage/PennNational17/