Cheekpieces are one of the most recognisable pieces of equipment in Horse Racing.
But, what are they? What do they do? And why do some horses need them?
What are cheekpieces?
Cheekpieces are strips of sheepskin which are attached to the bridle, on either side, running, as the name suggests, down both sides of the horse's head.
What do cheekpieces do?
Cheekpieces are designed to narrow a horse's field of vision.
By obscuring their peripheral vision, cheekpieces can help a horse to focus on what is in front of them, such as an upcoming hurdle or fence.
Why do some horses need them?
Certain horses struggle to focus during their races and are easily spooked by their surroundings.
These factors can sometimes hinder performance and by reducing these distractions, it helps horses to settle in a race a little better and maximise their potential.
For example, Majborough, who had thought to have been losing concentration at his jumps in previous races, saw a marked improvement off the back of the application of cheekpieces and landed his first open Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival.
When studying a racecard, horses donning cheekpieces can often by identified with a 'p' next to their name.
