I have a model of a cart horse with a straw hat. I always assumed that it
was for flies, like today's "fly bonnets," which are mesh masks that protect
the ears and face. Show hunter/jumpers have the hair on their ears (natural
insect protection) trimmed, and the little ear covers help keep the bugs out
(in addition to hiding cotton).

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Deb Fuller
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 8:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Straw horse hat

Wow. I've never heard of or seen hats for horses. Learn something new every
day.

Does anyone have a picture of this? A poster on the website thread below
mentioned that he had seen pictures of hats on civilian horses.
I've never seen or heard of them in a historical context.

Today, we sometimes use "fly fringe" which have fabric covers for the
horse's ears and a crocheted fringe that hangs down over his forelock to
keep away the flies. This only works so well as some flies will bite through
anything, no matter how much flyspray you put on it. The show types use them
to hide the cotton that they stuff into their horse's ears to muffle the
crowd noises.

I think I would go completely overboard with a straw horsey hat tho'.
I would be too tempted to make it match my straw bonnet by putting flowers
and pretty ribbons on it.

Deb

On 1/25/06, Barbara Hass <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/printthread.php?t=10980&page
> =3&pp=10 I found this web site for reenactors which has a discussion 
> of hats for horses -- some seem to think the hats were more for mules.
>
> Interesting topic hard to search!!                      Barbara Hass,
> retired reference librarian.

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