What do you think about Grazing muzzles?

[Trewsers]

Question in title really, I have a connie x who is an extremely good doer and its coming up to the time of year again when normal summer turnout will begin. She will be turned out from 8am until 4pm daily - she was last year and had no problems (although she did put a little bit of weight on - but I wasn't working her as hard as I am now). My concern is that I want to prevent the onset of any problems such as laminitis - when the vet vetted her, he wasn't sure if she'd had it before (something he checked out regarding her hooves). I don't know what to do - should I ask the vet to look at the pasture she's going to be turned out onto to see how lush it is? Should I buy a grazing muzzle? Or do you think she isn't at risk? I really want to prevent this terrible thing - its too late when she's grossly overweight and suffering. Are the muzzles safe? ie, can they get caught on anything? Any info much appreciated.

[horsey_woman]

I thought they were great.. Annie my 12.3 could go on a big field for part of the day with it on, and off it came at night when she was on her starvation paddock.

One time we got her in and it had rubbed her so very raw under her chin a massive patch was bleeding... I will never use one again.

She had a soft fabricy type one too.

I would rather section grazing off for her.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

They have muzzles where the pony can still eat grass (very little though) they can get like a couple blades at a time. i dont have experience with them but when i went to Kentucky they said in the spring and summer ALL horses have to wear a muzzle because of how rich and green their grass is. They just wear the ones where they can still eat just a little bit through so they are happy.

[Trewsers]

Thanks for the reply horseywoman, trouble is on my yard I can't have her in a sectioned off part - I just have to go where ever the yard owner sees fit - its a big yard and we all have to fit in - thats why I was thinking about the muzzles. Thats what I wondered, if they would rub. My only other option is to put one on her and then take it off half way through the day - hopefully it won't rub then cos it won't be on for long enough - that is always assuming that I can get out of work....:)

[Trewsers]

Sorry jumpingislife, didn't see your reply until now!!! Yes, I thought you could eat through them - just a little bit. Storm would hate wearing one mind you - I bet she'll never forgive me:p

[horsey_woman]

My mare did only have hers on for part of the day.

[Mimi + Me]

Never had to use one myself but my mare who only has to look at grass :eek: to put on weight, has just moved to a large field where she is living out 24/7. The grass hasn't been a problem up till now but I'm gonna have to keep a close eye on her when the spring grass starts coming through.

I personally don't like the look of them, I used to share a horse who had one and it looked to me like something Hannibal Lecter would wear! Also it must be really frustrating for them but still, better than getting laminitis.

If the worse comes to the worse I'll just buy some electric tape and try sectioning a bit off and see if that works - I'd only use a muzzle as a last resort.

[Trewsers]

Yes, they are a bit Hannibal Lecter!:eek: I just don't have the option of putting electric fencing up and sectioning off - Yard owner wouldn't allow that. Only other thing I can think to do is turn her out at 8am and come out of work at lunch time and bring her in - I think that is prob going to be the only option for me this summer. Just not much fun bringing her out of her field full of mates and through the other 4 fields full of geldings, foals and god only knows what (ah, sweet memories of last summer:p :D )....

[Jessey]

I have heard of lots of people who have had sucess with them, I would rather use one than have them in for most of the time, if obviously you can get one that fits well etc and won't rub and such.

J x

[Mehitabel]

i prefer them to restricting grazing entirely or leaving the poor horse in all day in summer. muzzles can get caught on things, but if you get the ones that attach to headcollars, and use a field-safe headbcollar, you are as safe as it is possible to be.

[martini55]

I swore by my muzzle last year, don't have access to restricted grazing so the only way forward was to invest in a muzzle. Got the best friend deluxe muzzle and it stayed put and kept the weight off. Horse was happy out in company and I was happy she was having grass restricted (she's laminitic).

[eventerbabe]

Bonnie's best friends muzzle is what has kept her alive over the past 18 months. i can't reccomend them highly enough. i've recently invested in one for toby aswell because my farrier says that he's already seen too many horses PTS from laminitis this year, so i'm taking every precaution with both my 2 to prevent them getting laminitis.

restricted grazing is all very well IF they will stay in it. a 4foot leccy fence wasn't enough to keep Bonnie confined :rolleyes: and stressing them out can also induce laminitis (its just a vicious circle). my plan for the summer is to pen off our 3 acres and keep them grazing on relatively small areas during the day, then a larger paddock at night (with muzzles on) as sugars are lower in the grass at night.

[atillathefun]

I have bought a Greenguard Muzzle as it reduces the grazing by 80% it doesnt look as restricting as the others but I know a lot of people have said they do get them off. I prefer the way there are lots of gaps for grass to come through instead of 1 hole I also think that if they drank the material ones would get one which I would think makes them more likely to rub.
He hasnt worn it yet I bet he will never forgive me! I will of be using it on a fieldsafe headcollar.
I think its kinder than fencing him in as he would then be on his own which I wouldn't like also in hot summer he wouldnt be able to get in the shade.

[janette carter]

I tried first the Shires one last year but Buffy got really stressed out in it. As soon as you went out to catch her she would start whacking you with her head in an effort to get you to take it off. Knocked me and my daughter over so it was a no no - also it rubbed her under the chin.

Beware. These muzzles are popular and a lot cheaper than the Best Friends but they do narrow in on the muzzle (another pony got rubbed at our yard). I think the BF's are wider but couldn't swear to it.

Buffy wore a Greenguard for the rest of the summer but managed to get it off several times despite Greenguard headcollar and by September was taking it off so regularly I gave up. She also developed the knack of pushing it to one side so she could still get a sizeable mouthful. On the plus side she was a lot more relaxed in it.

As she is sweet-itch as well I couldn't face another summer with hoods, masks and MUZZLES:( . so we have moved to a yard with individual 24/7 turnout and this year will experiment with strip grazing/restricted hours.

It is very difficult if you are on a yard with a lammy potential and all the others just want their horses on as much grazing as possible.

[Bay Mare]

Not used one myself but know a few people who do use them (mostly the Greenguard ones). It's very important that they fit correctly and that you check the horses but nobody that I know has had a major problem with them.

[Trewsers]

Thanks all for the input on the different muzzle makes - eventerbabe, will def look for a best friends one. I'll see if Robinsons have them. I think it would be the best answer rather than having to bring her in early, doesn't seem fair dragging her home leaving her friends etc, specially not in nice weather.

[Jo F]

I was able to leave my boy out in the paddock with his friends all day with his shires muzzle on. He obviously got enough to eat as he certainly didn't starve and was happy to have it put on. It goes without saying that you must check it every day and preferably take it off for a fair proportion of the day either when the pony is in it's stable or on a bare paddock.some horses hate them and get distressed others are fine with them, it doesn't matter how they look, better that than in terrible pain with laminitis.