Any new developments in grazing muzzles? What's best right now?

[Jambarissa]

Mine is missing a front tooth, one of the middle pair so I thought a muzzle would be challenging. He was very unhappy in the Shires Comfort muzzle, even with the hole made bigger, but has zero hesitation about the Flexible Filly one and has been happy in it for 2 summers now. I haven't made the hole bigger on the FF one.

I couldn't get near him in his stable to put the bucket muzzle on, he was upset enough to swing his bum on me, which is totally out of character, but the FF can be put on while he's standing untied in the barn gangway.

You could look at the dinky rugs muzzle. It covers the middle of their mouth so they eat from the sides.

Cheap and strong construction in many sizes not just little pony.

 

[SEL]

My Easygrazer has just arrived. No import tax, so just the enormous purchase price and shipping cost. It is light and looks comfortable, however it is a very large hole in the middle! It is 2” in diameter. This may account for it being found more acceptable by some peoples horses. I will give it a go on my slimmer Forester.

I got completely stung for import tax!

I also found mine ate too much through it although it was the only one that didn't rub her. Its currently hanging up until she moves onto the winter field because she needs to drop a fair few kg

 

[Surbie]

You could look at the dinky rugs muzzle. It covers the middle of their mouth so they eat from the sides.

Cheap and strong construction in many sizes not just little pony.

Thanks - I tried that, well I bought one anyway - the biggest size is waaaaaaay too small.

The Flexible Filly works so well I will stick with that.

 

[Bernster]

Anyone find they get hot or have trouble breathing in the FF one? Mine can’t have it on in hot weather it seems to make him pant/breathe heavier.

 

[poiuytrewq]

My Easygrazer has just arrived. No import tax, so just the enormous purchase price and shipping cost. It is light and looks comfortable, however it is a very large hole in the middle! It is 2” in diameter. This may account for it being found more acceptable by some peoples horses. I will give it a go on my slimmer Forester.

That would be too big for my pony so i feel better now about not splashing out on one! I hope it works well for you though.

 

[Surbie]

Anyone find they get hot or have trouble breathing in the FF one? Mine can’t have it on in hot weather it seems to make him pant/breathe heavier.

They have good airflow, but when it's really hot it will interfere a bit. Mine's in a sweetitch suit and UV mask too which doesn't help.

Photo below shows how the petals/arms lie with the headcollar.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Can anyone advise on this reply to my size question to Kramer about theirs, I'm not quite sure what they mean!

From the beginnings of the nostril 16cm
From the end of the nostril 12 cm

Any idea?

 

[Bernster]

They have good airflow, but when it's really hot it will interfere a bit. Mine's in a sweetitch suit and UV mask too which doesn't help.

Photo below shows how the petals/arms lie with the headcollar.

View attachment 143107

Yeah mine has a fly mask on too so I think it’s all a bit much. We remove it when it’s hot.

 

[Time for Tea]

Well my new Easigrazer didn’t even stay on for one night on my determined Forester. I think it might if I add a strap at the back and at the front as well. It’s quite soft and I think he just pulled it down at the back on a fence post. It’s not damaged. I think he might have to stay on his own in the bare paddock. I’m worried he is going to injure himself with all these violent removals of muzzles.
The trouble is that means the other two are in a field with better grass but no field shelter. Which is tough at the moment with the flies.
Or they all go in together on the bare paddock! It is difficult!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh No!
That's incredibly annoying. Is it just on a normal headcollar? I've had to put string from the head piece coming between my ponies ears and attached to the front in the middle of his nose/face which has totally stopped him removing it. He was rubbing it off on the floor flipping the noseband somehow over his nose so it hung under his jaw and was then easy to whip off.
Might that help?

 

[Time for Tea]

Oh No!
That's incredibly annoying. Is it just on a normal headcollar? I've had to put string from the head piece coming between my ponies ears and attached to the front in the middle of his nose/face which has totally stopped him removing it. He was rubbing it off on the floor flipping the noseband somehow over his nose so it hung under his jaw and was then easy to whip off.
Might that help?

Thanks for your suggestion. It is on its own sort of headcollar, but that is not going to be enough as it is very lightweight, soft and feeble. It is just two cheek pieces and a throatlash. Comfortable indeed for those who do not own a thug! I think you are right, and he is flipping it off as you describe, or possibly the whole thing over his nose as it is quite loose at the back of his jaw. I need a strap from his poll down to the middle of his face and a strap from the central back of the muzzle up to the throatlash. It is possible to alter, and it is soft, padded, comfortable and with the large 2” eating hole should be acceptable.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks for your suggestion. It is on its own sort of headcollar, but that is not going to be enough as it is very lightweight, soft and feeble. It is just two cheek pieces and a throatlash. Comfortable indeed for those who do not own a thug! I think you are right, and he is flipping it off as you describe, or possibly the whole thing over his nose as it is quite loose at the back of his jaw. I need a strap from his poll down to the middle of his face and a strap from the central back of the muzzle up to the throatlash. It is possible to alter, and it is soft, padded, comfortable and with the large 2” eating hole should be acceptable.

Good luck!
I wonder if you needed to, if it may be possible to put a thin disc of something fitted inside with a smaller hole to decrease the size if you did find it too big perhaps

 

[Time for Tea]

Good luck!
I wonder if you needed to, if it may be possible to put a thin disc of something fitted inside with a smaller hole to decrease the size if you did find it too big perhaps

Thank you! I will see how it goes. Interesting idea but he is such a thuglet it would be vulnerable I think. I shall monitor his weight fanatically. The Easigrazer is nice and cool, which is good.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thank you! I will see how it goes. Interesting idea but he is such a thuglet it would be vulnerable I think. I shall monitor his weight fanatically. The Easigrazer is nice and cool, which is good.

That’s what I loved about it, it looks so unrestrictive
I liken muzzles to covid face masks! Awful to breathe in when hot. It’s a great design.