Greenguard muzzle - safe to use overnight?

[motherfox]

Does anyone use the greenguard grazing muzzle overnight. My mare is far too fat for this time of year and is at the moment out in day with the muzzle on and I take it off late pm. I need to still cut down on the amount she eats and am thinking of the possibility leaving her in during the day (without mask of course) with hay and out overnight with the muzzle on. She hates being in overnight and calls to the others who are all out so it is not an option to leave her in overnight.

[nappy-R-us]

my cob, socks, wears his 24/7 at moment. I haven't had a problem and my friends two poines do as well

[chev]

It should be fine to use overnight. Grazing muzzles are not really designed to be used 24/7 though, and doing so should be avoided if at all possible.

[shandy84]

Nappy-R-us what breeds are the ponies? I was told the greenguard wasn't a brilliant fit for ponies and rubbed would you say this is right? Can they still yawn? Sorry wierd question seems to be all my filly does and wouldn't want to restrict it.

[chev]

I've heard a few people say the Greenguard rubs. It's horrible to fit (you have to soak it in hot water to make it pliable and then mould it to fit your pony) and once on it's actually quite hard, so rubbing isn't uncommon. I've heard even more people say their pony pushed it to one side and gorged themselves anyway. My pony broke it. In several places. Very quickly. :mad: When I sent the one I had back the makers were great - no hassle at all, I got a relacement (my choice - I could have had money back but I'd borrowed it :eek: ) and they wanted to see exactly how it had broken so they could improve on it.

They did say it had been designed more with horses who are not generally out in mind, so that when they get to go out and eat grass it's a bonus - not like my mare who is out anyway and just got cross that she couldn't eat as much as she wanted.

Not sure about the yawning! I didn't see my mare yawn in it, but then she doesn't yawn much anyway.

More people have recommended the best friend; being softer, it doesn't seem to rub as much, although it rubbed mine :rolleyes: . Having said that, she does have a very petite nose and ordinary headcollars often rub too - so she may well be an exception.

I'd avoid bucket muzzles - they prevent eating altogether, and restrict drinking in some cases too. I tried one in desperation. Poor mare stood eyes wide and ears out sideways without moving, at all, for ages... so we gave up.

Greenguards seem easier to fit on bigger horses. Trying to bend it to fit small muzzles can be extremely trying. I've seen one fitted very well on a friend's IDx and she swears by it - no rubs or escaping or anything.

I know people think I'm lucky having a good doer... but it's a real headache trying to keep her healthy, love her.

[shandy84]

I will look into getting the best friend and look into its fit etc and see if I can find anyone who has one already.

I wouldn't want to get her a bucket one as she's not a particulary good doer it's just our grass is sooooo nice, we're going to top it the weekend before we move in in order to minimise the risk.

I found out the other day that my filly is a wanna be houdini as she managed to remove flyfringes rugs etc even with all my attempts to keep them on her.

[nappy-R-us]

Well my cob is 15hh and I have to admit the little plastic thing that is supposed to fit over the nose band of your headcollar went straight to the bin! As it did for my friends ponies!

I just attached all the buckles to the head collar and ignored the plastic thing as with it I couldn't get a fit!

My friend has a welsh section D and a Welsh Section A and they both are using one.

Mine hasn't rubbed my horse but then he doesn't object to it and is therefore not trying to get it off with his legs or by rubbing it on the ground as I have heard some people's horses do.

I just stayed with him the first time I turned him out wearing it and picked grass and "poked" it through the vents in the mask. Didn't take him long to adjust his grazing habbits to use it!

Stops he eating privets and brambles too!! Bonus!