Ok, the information I am going to provide as to why I am asking this question, has no historical significant what-so-ever.
I was playing The Witcher 3.. and.. there is a horse riding mechanic in the game called "Horse Fear". it is a meter measuring how frightened the horse is in-game from by-passing enemies. If the meter reaches its limit, the horse panics and throws you off.
Blinders can be bought to make the horse less afraid of these foes.
But, I have seen some TV-shows set in medieval times, working horses seemed to be using blinders as well. Why?
Just in general of horses, why do they use blinders? Side question; who came up with the idea of blinding horses?
Blinders, or blinkers, don't completely blind the horse- it just limits their field of vision to what is in front of them.
This is a horse's field of vision. Blinders limit the horse's ability to see behind them and to the side of them. It helps keep them focused on what the driver or rider is asking the horse to do.
Now, (this was quoted in "Contributions to Natural History"), one General mentioned that he believed blinders to be "dangerous absurdities" and he thought that the horse's ought to be trained better. You can read more about that here
Anyway. This is the earliest blinder-type-thing that I could find. It's a Roman parade piece that would limit the horse's vision.
