Tight sitting bonnet made of fabric and crochet, which covers both ears and the poll. If a bridle is worn, the ear bonnet sits underneath the head piece behind the ears and beneath the browband on the horse's forehead. Its purpose is to protect the ears from flies, or in some cases from wind. Some riders use ear bonnets to secure special ear plugs they put in their horse's ears to make them less sensitive to noise (although in some equestrian sport, this is not permitted).