Cattle wear hats to prevent rope burn | Urban Wildlife

(WMC-TV) - Just inside the Fayette County line, there were about 18 cows with funny hats on their horns. 

A nearby farmer said the hats are to prevent rope burn. 

Apparently, these particular cows are used for roping practice.  After many, many roping sessions with cowboys and their lassos, the animals can get severe rope burns that have the potential of getting infected. 

So, these are not really hats at all.

They are special rope burn preventing wraps that are placed around the cow's horns to keep them happy and safe while they are being roped and pulled by the head in whatever direction the cowboy decides. 

Reminds me of a football term: Facemask.