word of warning - Lycra hoods

ester said:
it depends, I read it as the pony went through 2 lots of eleccy fence before she reached any wire.
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So did I but if the hood was caught on the wire then it makes sense that the wire pulled the hood off - a totally predictable outcome when anything catches on barbed wire, indeed the injuries may be worse had the horse not been wearing the hood! Perhaps its believed that the hood had slipped and caused the panic in the first place?
 
Mine was a snuggly hood turnout hood which attaches around the girth and was considered a good fit. I watched my horse belt around the field blindly and fall over at speed, missing a wall by inches and managing to not break any legs by some miracle.
This was mine, the day before the incident after which I binned it. I can see their appeal as they do help with the mud, but frankly I'd rather he be muddy. A forum member lost her horse to a similar accident. I hope your friend's horse recovers well.

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Poor poor horse and owner.
I left one on overnight before a show once, and was horrified to find it completely over one eye and half over the other in the morning. Pony was in a cow court and is a sensible sort so just looked a bit sad and confused in the morning with no harm done. I won't use any hoods now.
 
I had a similar thing happen to me,I bought a sweet itch hood in the summer and it just looked like a fly mask really same mesh over eyes just a more heavy duty material, put it on my mare and saw her roll in the field she got up and nearly fell over, she then started to spin round hence bumping into my other horse who then kicked her, by now I managed to get to her and got it off her head, luckily she was fine kick did no damage I think he was just shocked at her bumping into him, on closer inspection of the thing it had the middle section in between the eyes covered over with material under the mesh, so of course when it moved on her face the material went over her eyes, I managed to cut this section off so still use it and its been fine, I have always thought the hoods are not ideal for turnout for this reason.
 
ester said:
it depends, I read it as the pony went through 2 lots of eleccy fence before she reached any wire.
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Sorry, obviously wasn't clear enough. She went through two mains electric fences, then head on into a post which had barbed wire attached. On this occasion barbed wire stopped serious injury in that the hood caught on it and was pulled off when she pulled back.
 
cheeryplatypus said:
Poor poor horse and owner.
I left one on overnight before a show once, and was horrified to find it completely over one eye and half over the other in the morning. Pony was in a cow court and is a sensible sort so just looked a bit sad and confused in the morning with no harm done. I won't use any hoods now.
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As an (ex) stable manager at many shows, I cannot tell you how many times, I went into stables and put back these awful things to were they were supposed to be. Most horses/ponies just standing there looking bewildered, but one or two going round in circles, not at all happy. Not nice to see horses/ponies, either with over one eye, or in some circumstances, do not ask me how, both eyes covered.
 
My two both go out in lycra hoods every day, they are made for turn out and as long as they fit properly are fine. I have used them for years and never had them slip. I also use hoods over night fleece ones and again no problem,
 
VFS Lady Grey said:
My two both go out in lycra hoods every day, they are made for turn out and as long as they fit properly are fine. I have used them for years and never had them slip. I also use hoods over night fleece ones and again no problem,
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The level of risk would be unacceptable to me. Even if they fit they can get caught on something and twist, or even just twist if the horse rubs itself on a leg or some object. Funny how everyone managed fine without them before they were invented.
 
Never worth the risk but as an aside, I find the more I put on my chap (rugs/hoods etc) the more itchy horse is and the more likely they are to scratch/damage rugs/themselves and roll to try to cool off in mud and stop the itching.

Amazes me how many people say their horse is mud monster or rolls in puddles, possibly horse is mud monster but also consider possibility horse is too hot/itchy (Lycra would make me itch like crazy) My retired mare has never been so clean since retired, she is only ever lightly rugged in worst weather, when naked she rarely if ever rolls in mud/wet !
 
I used one once to try and stop my old horses mane being rubbed out, luckily they are at home as only an hour after turning them out spotted he behaving oddly - just stood not eating (very odd for him!!) went out and it had moved - only a bit - but it covered both his eyes, luckily he's just stood waiting for rescue and it hadn't rubbed.
I'm suprised they are even sold anymore given how many problems there are with them - even in the stable I wouldn't put one on.
Perfectly good hoods that just come up to the neck.
 
I've lost count of the times I've seen horses completely unable to see in field and stable or have swollen eyes because of these things.
Hate the damn things. I'd like to see them prohibited.
 
Meesha - mine is a hairy yeti ATM, and not wearing rugs much at all, and be just LOVES getting a good thick lather or mud on him.

When I start riding him again in the new year he's going to get a shock when I take all his hair away and rug him, mwah ha ha! :D
 
Ooohh stencilface u evil women (love the laugh) ! One of mine is clipped and rugged but I still had to scrub mud off ears and face today before could ride but only took couple mins, retired mare as always came in totally spotless and shiny even though rarely if ever groomed, barely even any mud on white feathers ...
 
I used to use these all the time and was lucky nothing ever happened to my boy. Then one day the one on my friend's gelding slipped and damaged his eye ... The night I cut all the heads off my snuggy hoods and only use the remains as a second skin under a neck rug for those really cold nights on fully clipped horses.
 
That's why I'll likely full clip him, I just hate wasting my time scrubbing off mud, and on a grey it's just much nicer! Although I best not get ahead of myself, he'll probably go lame again before then :rolleyes3:
 
Humm lots of horses at the yard have these on for turnout and touch wood so far no one has had a problem. i always thought they looked worrying but the clay mud which sets like concrete round ears tempted me. but after reading this i think i will see if i can alter them so they just cover ears - that way they would get rubbed off perhpas but not moved over eyes - just need a bit of elastic and velcro....
off to do some DIY
 
Had a terrible experience with a hood getting pulled over the horse's eyes. He ran blind through several post and rail fences, leccy tape, hedges with wire in them, barbed wire. Thankfully he finally stopped but the damage was done, he never recovered
 
I have a snuggy hoods headless turnout. Only got it this week but it is doing a pretty good job at keeping all but the face mud free (much better than my neck rug was managing) so I can recommend them as an alternative. So far anyway...
 
How awful! I've used mine a few times but after reading this I will be cutting the head off! All I use it for is the day before a show so I don't have to wash his mane :) thanks for the heads up and very sorry for all horses injured or worse with this hoods, thoughts are with u xxx
 
MissTyc said:
I used to use these all the time and was lucky nothing ever happened to my boy. Then one day the one on my friend's gelding slipped and damaged his eye ... The night I cut all the heads off my snuggy hoods and only use the remains as a second skin under a neck rug for those really cold nights on fully clipped horses.
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Did this work? I have a turnout hood with a head but not sure I want to put it on after reading this. Did the material fray at all and does it still stay up without the head to hold it on?
 
Good old fashioned elbow Grease!! Brush off or use a damp sponge to remove the muddy bits from face/neck rather than risk injury with these "trendy hoods" stop being lazy ladies!!!
 
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pinkypug1 said:
Good old fashioned elbow Grease!! Brush off or use a damp sponge to remove the muddy bits from face/neck rather than risk injury with these "trendy hoods" stop being lazy ladies!!!
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This, several times over! I hate these things, along with those bleddy awful 'onesies' for horses, If you want to dress up a horse, get a Breyer one!
 
pinkypug1 said:
Good old fashioned elbow Grease!! Brush off or use a damp sponge to remove the muddy bits from face/neck rather than risk injury with these "trendy hoods" stop being lazy ladies!!!
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Indeed!

Tinypony said:
The level of risk would be unacceptable to me. Even if they fit they can get caught on something and twist, or even just twist if the horse rubs itself on a leg or some object. Funny how everyone managed fine without them before they were invented.
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What really concerns me is the fact that some people, who have so far had lucky escapes are still justifying their choice to use the blimmin' things and are prepared to risk it, just to save a few minutes' brushing.
 
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