Posted 2014-12-19 2:12 AM Subject: earplugs for horses
Expert
Posts: 1409 Location: Oklahoma
Noise really bothers my horse. Was thinking about trying some earplugs. Has anyone used them and which ones are the best or is there just one kind? I already know bout the tampons.
Posted 2014-12-19 3:19 AM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981 Location: North Dakota
I have heard the fluffy ones are not so great. Most of the mounted shooters I know (including myself) get the little cat toys at petsmart that look like soccer balls. They're a whopping $0.99 each and function exactly the same as the $9 plugs.
Posted 2014-12-19 7:59 AM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Expert
Posts: 2276 Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :)
I've used them at the standardbred track. The ones we use are soft ball and are attached to a string and connected together so you can just pull them out. All the horses that needed them had no problem with them. I'll see if I can find what I'm talking about. http://www.bigdweb.com/Pull-Out-Ear-Plugs/productinfo/11741/ cat toys are cheaper but I like the safety of, they have a clip so they don't fall off and they have a string so you don't have a problem getting them out. I had one that just used foam balls covered in panty hose and sewn...I was always afraid to put them in deep in case I cohldnf get them out and she lost them a couple times.
Be careful with the ball types or cat toys ... they would expand too much and hurt my mare's ears - making it a horrid experience to get them in and out! The one's above don't expand but stay nicely in the ear. Good Luck!
Posted 2014-12-19 7:16 PM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5409
We use the same ones that SaraJean posted the link to for my husbands heeling horse. We used to use the cat toys but these keep out more noise and they have the string so you don't lose them if they happen to come out.
Posted 2014-12-24 12:38 AM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4273 Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon!
I tried the ones like Sara Jean posted but they were too big and stiff. They didn't go very far in and the string annoyed my horses. The cat toys work. I found some at the feed and farm store in town that I like best. They come in black or brown and are soft and fluffy. The fluff let's me get ahold of them to pull them out if i need to and I can roll then down into the ears and roll them out. They were in the English section.
Posted 2014-12-24 3:17 AM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Expert
Posts: 1409 Location: Oklahoma
my next question is do horses usually accept ear plugs pretty good? My horse is not touchy at all around or in the ears. Thinking that maybe I need to try at home first or a few times for them to get used to them?
Posted 2014-12-24 6:16 AM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
Turnburnsis - 2014-12-24 3:17 AM my next question is do horses usually accept ear plugs pretty good? My horse is not touchy at all around or in the ears. Thinking that maybe I need to try at home first or a few times for them to get used to them?
My mare broke her trophy halter when I went to try them on her. She just about flipped over. I had the vet check her ears since it was such a violent reaction but they were clear and fine. She's not even sort of ear shy either, loves ear rubs and scratchies, just will not tolerate anything getting stuffed in them.
Posted 2014-12-26 9:57 AM Subject: RE: earplugs for horses
Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576 Location: ND
I would definately use them for a few days before you use them competing. Every horse I've used them on is different. DO NOT leave your horse tied when you put them in just in case they do get upset or surprised. The typical reaction I get is just head shaking and as soon as I get them focused on loping circles or doing something that ends quickly.
earplugs for horses
