> Just curious--what's the purpose of blinkers? > V
Traditionally they are used to keep the horse focused on his job and not distracted or spooked by what is going on around him. Personally, I don't like driving with blinders/blinkers/winkers and never have. When I drove at different events, a lot of the other drivers felt like I was just an accident waiting to happen because I didn't use blinders. I felt much more secure knowing I had a horse that was solid no matter what was going on around him and that I didn't have to shield him from outside stimuli. Sometimes I think it was also just a tradition - competitive driving is a very traditionalist sport. I know drivers that were marked down for wearing helmets instead of pretty hats. -- Laree
