Tack checks at dressage (ear bonnets)

[GreyDot]

Does anyone know why you have to remove ear bonnets at tack checks for dressage shows? I know that you are allowed acoustic ears in BD so what are they checking for?

 

[rara007]

Ear plugs

 

[GreyDot]

When I was watching the tack checks, they were looking in the ear bonnets and not the horses ears. Will have to ask a steward next time.

 

[humblepie]

I would have also said looking to see if the horse's ears have been trimmed nowadays.

 

[ihatework]

Ear plugs

 

[humblepie]

I think with furry unclipped ears, would have to stick a finger quite a way down the ear to find the ear plug. Could be interesting with a 17.2 warmblood - stepladders needed? (p.s don't have a 17.2 warmblood or otherwise).

 

[ycbm]

Acoustic ears on the hood or plugs in the ears.
.

 

[Goldenstar]

Tbh I could get earplugs in Skys ears ,a stranger would never get near his ears .i have mused about this, what would they do ?

 

[leflynn]

Acoustic ears are BD legal these days (mine have passed tack checks too)

Checking for plugs or extra padding in the ears

 

[humblepie]

Checking to see if washed behind his ears.

 

[kathantoinette]

And also checking that hair inside the ears has not been trimmed as this is no longer BD legal.

 

[Leandy]

Ear plugs are not allowed so that is what they are checking for.

 

[rara007]

At FEI you’d be followed back the stable to remove them with the steward still there. They can get quite grumpy about your responsibility to make sure your horses accept the tack checks and if you’re deliberately awkward you’d probably get a yellow card. A horse just not wanting to stand still but reasonable efforts made they’ll do their best and probably let you go. If the horse is un-examinable or you don’t make reasonable efforts to allow the inspection then you start hearing and seeing more of the stewards quote quickly. The bit is checked with a finger in the mouth but the ears is usually a visual check. It’s you or your groom that loosens the noseband(s) as requested and removes the ear covers, not the steward.

 

[humblepie]

At FEI you’d be followed back the stable to remove them with the steward still there. They can get quite grumpy about your responsibility to make sure your horses accept the tack checks and if you’re deliberately awkward you’d probably get a yellow card. A horse just not wanting to stand still but reasonable efforts made they’ll do their best and probably let you go. If the horse is un-examinable or you don’t make reasonable efforts to allow the inspection then you start hearing and seeing more of the stewards quote quickly. The bit is checked with a finger in the mouth but the ears is usually a visual check. It’s you or your groom that loosens the noseband(s) as requested and removes the ear covers, not the steward.

My current horse needed to be identity checked / passport checked at a championship. Going down to where they were being checked horse got a bit wound up by something - chap doing the check stayed well back and said fine. Could have been any brown horse ?.

 

[rara007]

Where as at FEI you can be thrown out if you can’t scan it and take it’s temperature, before even going to the stable!

 

[humblepie]

Where as at FEI you can be thrown out if you can’t scan it and take it’s temperature, before even going to the stable!

He's easy normally, had ID scans and been drug tested, it was just this one occasion and it still makes us smile. The guy was sitting down have a cigarette and it was a bit like he looked up, large horse, won't get too close!