Earplugs for showing?

[Koda]

Hi

Does anyone know if earplugs are allowed for showing?
Specifically, any rule against them for working hunters in either Balmoral or Dublin?

Thanks guys! You always have the answers lol

 

[3bh]

Yes totally legal and I can tell you from a ride judges perspective (as i see into the ears quite well!) that a horse without ears plugged is rather the excpetion than the rule - I personally can't stand them except for evening performances/indoors, but most people seem to use them as standard. Also - nothing scarier than ride judging a horse and seeeing a plug working its way out and feeling that tension bubble up in the strange, unknown horse you are sitting on!!

 

[Koda]

Thanks for the reply! Funny you mention indoors and evening performance because it was both those exact things that happened 2 weeks ago, which sparked this earplug idea for me. In fairness, my horse is always very well behaved, but the poor creature just seemed to find the noise very uncomfortable, hence why I am thinking of them for the bigger shows with more noise.

Also thinking I should groom with a radio on, maybe to get used to more background noise...?

 

[bliss87]

Yep my horse has them in soon as you arrive at the show, our pony only has them for evening performances

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

I am clueless but will make an effort to watch some WH at Balmoral next week to see if I spot any rogue earplugs escaping.. the showground is a tiny distance from my house!

 

[Koda]

So they have a tendency to fall out a lot then? hmmmm Can't imaging that would be fun half way round jumping my course! lol

 

[showjump]

Yes we use them for horses that need them. Saw some great ones at badminton gel balls made by avcallo (sp?)

 

[Gracie21]

OOO this thread is interesting, I have a panicky little show pony that I think would benefit from them!

 

[AFlapjack]

I think my lad would also benefit from them but doubt I'd ever get them near his ears!!

 

[Koda]

Just ordered these:
http://www.tailoredequestrian.com/plughz.html

will practice with them a bit at home, see how horsey likes them and how secure they are. If they fall out or some other issue, I've only wasted a 20...nothing major.

Thanks guys!

 

[TarrSteps]

We used to use those foam cat toy balls. At home we used the neon coloured ones so if a horse shook them out we could find them again. They don't seem to make them anymore though - probably some health and safety issue!

There are also sheepskin ones some horses prefer so don't panic if the ball ones don't do the trick. You can practice with an ear cover the first couple of times until the horse gets used to them. Most are surprisingly good about them!

 

[Koda]

Hiya

by ear cover, do you mean a fly fringe for instance?
Do the plugs fall out a lot?

Thanks

 

[TarrSteps]

Well yes, but if you notice, the ones most competition horses wear don't have an tassels/fringe.

No, not the modern ones. But some horses fuss a bit until they get used to them and owners are sometimes a bit squeamish about putting them in firmly at first so it saves you having to get off and clean them before reinserting if they come loose the first time or two.