Blinders

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Blinders, also known as blinkers, are a piece of equipment used on a horse's face that restrict the horse's vision. They usually compose of leather or plastic cups that are places on either side of the eye, so that the horse can not see to his sides. Many racehorse trainers believe this keeps the horse focused on what is in front of him, encouraging him to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. Additionally, blinkers are commonly seen on driving horses, to keep horses from being distracted or spooked, especially on crowded city streets. Many of the riding disciplines, other than racing, do not permit the use of blinders in competition at any time, under penalty of elimination.

In racing, blinkers are usually seen attached to a synthetic face mask, rather than to the bridle. In driving, they are attached to the bridle's cheekpieces.

They are frequently spoken of metaphorically to refer to people with an overly narrow focus or inability to see the larger picture.