2006-09-20 22:48:04 · 20 answers · asked by cayococo_06 1 in Sports ➔ Horse Racing
It stops them getting spooked when they are put into the stalls
And to those who have answered that they DON'T blindfold horses.
THEY DO IF THEY HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING THEM INTO THE STARTING STALLS.
2006-09-20 22:51:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean when loading, or when racing?
Nervous horses are blindfolded when being loaded into the starting stalls as it can help calm them down. Horses are naturally claustrophobic and the stalls can be a scary place for an inexperienced animal. Some horses dislike being blindfolded and it can make them behave even worse: I have seen plenty of horses rear up and throw their rider after being blindfolded.
Horses are not blindfolded when racing, they either wear blinkers, visors or eyeshields - there is a slight difference between each piece of "headgear". The main purpose of these aids is to help the horse concentrate on what is in front of him and therefore go about his job well instead of worrying about what the other horses are doing.
2006-09-21 06:08:11 · answer #2 · answered by PNewmarket 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Race horses are taught to run. After that, they are taught to run faster. Unlike a pleasure horse, no time is wasted on teaching a race horse anything he doesn't "need to know."
The only thing a race horse needs to know is to run, run fast and run faster. Meanhwhile, he is still a horse and horses spook at things the don't understand - like starting gates, hot walkers, crowds and unfamiliar sounds. Blindfolding them makes them easier to handle when they are amid strange sights, sounds and smells.
2006-09-21 18:00:38 · answer #3 · answered by north79004487 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they get scared when they go in the starters box. By blindfolding the horse, they calm them down.
2006-09-21 05:56:11 · answer #4 · answered by gr_bateman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They're only blindfolded when going into stalls if at all so they go in calmly and don't hurt themselves. Some then have blinkers when they're racing so they focus on the track and don't get spooked by their surroundings
2006-09-21 06:07:15 · answer #5 · answered by Sophie H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well they don't actually blindfold them I think. When racing they use 'blinkers' which I think forces the horse to only see ahead of it, so it won't get distracted.
2006-09-21 05:52:46 · answer #6 · answered by shiva40us 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its to stop them getting distracted by all the pretty girls dressed up to the nines.
Horses ae intelligent. If they knew what they were being asked to do they would rebel. So they are blindfolded to allow the jockey to have more control
2006-09-21 05:56:12 · answer #7 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Believe me, if you saw some of the jockeys who ride these horses, you'd want to be blindfolded too.
2006-09-21 06:05:06 · answer #8 · answered by KingCucamonga 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They dont blinfold them, they blinker them. To block out the other horses and riders to stop them getting distracted.
It is to help the horse see in a straight line too.
2006-09-21 06:54:02 · answer #9 · answered by The Good, The Bad and The Crouch 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually those are not blind folds, they are just equipments meant for horses so that their focus on the race track are retained. It is a horse's nature to be easily distracted whenever it sees a female horse or another stallion which they think would compete against them over a territory or another female horse. They naturally freak out
2006-09-21 06:07:30 · answer #10 · answered by Bartypurple lass 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋