Why might a halter be padded?

I'm not talking about "padded" leather halters, but you might see a horse with sheepskin rolls on the cheeks and over the top of the head.

This is done when a horse is being shipped to reduce the risk of injury to the eyes and ears and also to the poll (the way a horse's skull is designed, they can get a concussion very easily from a strike directly between the ears from the top.

The fleece also stops the halter from rubbing during long trips - which is why you'll sometimes see every part of the halter wrapped.