For horses with light skin, blue eyes, or a history of eye and facial problems, sunlight is more than a nuisance. Relentless UV exposure can drive sunburn, weepy eyes, and serious conditions like equine cancer. The Equine Sun Visor is a patented, made-in-the-USA UV mask built to shield the eyes and face from that exposure while still letting a horse see, breathe, and graze normally.
Hand-sewn from durable, purpose-sourced materials, the visor blocks 99.9% of direct UV reaching the eyes and surrounding tissue, while its mesh provides up to 80% UV block across the face. The patented wrap-around design shades the eyes from every angle and even doubles as an umbrella in the rain, so protection holds up through a full day of turnout.
Equine Sun Visor began in 2009 when Yvonne and Dale Cates bought their first paint foal. The horse carried extensive white hair and pink skin around the eyes and face, and their veterinarian warned that this left him vulnerable to eye and skin cancers. Unable to find adequate UV protection anywhere on the market, the Cates family worked with several veterinarians to design their own mask. After friends asked for the same thing, they brought it to market, and it went on to earn a patent and trademark.
Today the visor is used as supportive care for a wide range of light-sensitive horses: those prone to sunburn on the nose and face, and those managing uveitis, conjunctivitis, head shaker's syndrome, equine cancer, or recovering after eye surgery. More than 10,000 customers worldwide rely on it, and it has earned endorsements from equine ophthalmologists and veterinarians.
Every visor is hand-sewn in the USA from the most effective, durable materials the company can source. The standard ESV pairs a blue visor with gray mesh, secured by a single throat latch, and is hand-washable for easy care. Sizing spans the full range of horses, from Large Pony and POA through Arabian/Cob, Average, Thoroughbred, Large, and Standard Warmblood, with ear options for a single opening, two ear openings, or full ear covers. Horses that need extra coverage can step up to the ESV Plus or ESV Maxx for nose covers and soft sheepskin-style edging.
The visor blocks 99.9% of direct UV reaching the eyes and the surrounding tissue, and its mesh provides up to 80% UV block across the rest of the face.
Horses with white hair, pink skin, or blue eyes are most at risk from UV exposure. The visor is also used as supportive care for uveitis, conjunctivitis, head shaker's syndrome, equine cancer, and post-surgical recovery.
Yes. The patented wrap-around design shades the eyes from harsh light while preserving vision and airflow, so horses can see, breathe, and graze normally throughout the day.
Sizes cover the full range of horses: Large Pony/POA, Arabian/Cob, Average, Thoroughbred, Large, and Standard Warmblood. Ear options include a single opening, two ear openings, or full ear covers.
The standard ESV provides core UV protection for the eyes and face. The ESV Plus and ESV MAXX add features such as a nose cover and soft sheepskin-style edging for horses that need broader coverage, including those managing head shaker's syndrome.
The wrap-around visor doubles as an umbrella in the rain, so it keeps protecting a horse's face in changing weather, not just on bright days.
Each visor is hand-sewn in the USA from durable, purpose-sourced materials and secured with a single throat latch. Care is simple: it is recommended to hand-wash the mask.
The patented, trademarked design has been sold since 2009 to more than 10,000 customers worldwide and has earned endorsements from equine ophthalmologists and veterinarians.
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