Are gazing muzzle cruel.

[Ish2020]

This is the only title I could think of. I constantly seeing grazing muzzle ads on Facebook the funny thing is that the horse are in a field with knee high grass on the Facebook ads I have always want the traditional way of getting a horse to lose weight but I have noticed a lot of people seem to be using them as a easier way to get a horse to lose weight ( I am not taking about horses and ponies with laminitis) . I would personally be worried that a horse would get stuck on a fence. What you’re opinion on gazing muzzle.

 

[Flame_]

I think they are, but I can't stand frustration and they strike me as super, super frustrating. I hope I never have to deal with lami again but if I do it would always be on a small, bare paddock with soaked hay rather than these things.

 

[Mule]

I think its cruel (albeit not done deliberately) to let a horse get obesity related laminitis. Considering that its such a painful condition using a grazing muzzle in an attempt to prevent obesity is ok by me.

 

[Shay]

Laminitis is cruel. If a grazing muzzle is the only way to protect them then its fine with me. Horses need to express natural behaviour - be outdoors, be in a group. Its more cruel (IMO) to keep them stabled all day or isolate them away from others.

They have safety break points if the horse gets caught.

 

[doodle]

For Minto he could either stand in his stable 24/7 or go out in the day with his pair bond in a muzzle. They would not be separated at all. We tried. Even just by a bit of electric tape. Sultan was 35 and needed grass. Minto has had laminitis and couldn’t have the grass Sultan needed. I never saw him being frustrated in it and he worked out how to eat through it immediately. Probably more cruel for him to get laminitis again or be shut in 24/7 (he also had mild arthritis and as such was semi retired).

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I would think it similar to a slow feed hay net to some extent. Limits the amount they can eat at once.


I think it's better to give them breaks and not have one on 24/7. Maybe off when they come into their stable for a few hours or paddock. Or maybe just my thought as anything left on my horse runs him in no time!

A friend uses one on her native. Otherwise he'd be restricted to a small paddock and at least with the muzzle on he can move around more in the field with the herd and participate in natural grazing habits.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I don't like them, I imagine no one really does but sometimes (like Kamikaze says) its picking the best of the bad options.
I'd pick a muzzle over keeping in for long periods of time.

 

[Summit]

I suppose it depends if the grass blades are long enough to get through the muzzle or else I could imagine it’s very frustrating

 

[pixie]

My old boy gets stiff if he's inside. He also has cushings. A grazing muzzle allows him to be out in a big field 24/7 with his fieldmates. He gets plenty to eat (welshie, so he lives on fresh air!).

 

[ycbm]

I have to admit I hate them. I watch horses with them on pecking like hens to get food. But I have a horse who might need one soon if I can't get her weight under control
.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I can't stand them. I have seen a lot of teeth damaged by them.

When used on long grass they are tolerable. But using them on short grass must really infuriate the horse!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I hate the idea of them, but then I have never dealt with a horse that was using one. If I had, and could see that the horse could cope, then I may well not be so anti them.

I can tweak my neds access to grazing by shifting leccie fencing fairly easily, though

 

[HashRouge]

I hate them, but at the same time they really do have a time and place. If the only way a horse can be kept a healthy, sensible weight AND have decent turnout is to wear a muzzle, then I would choose a muzzle every time.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I don’t like them but DP has EMS and can’t tolerate grass from March to October so for him it is a lifesaver. He isn’t fat, is exercised regularly, goes swimming, is relatively fit and has never had laminitis but if he gets his muzzle off his whole body swells, his sheath goes from normal size to that of a small honeydew melon and his insulin goes through the roof. I would rather allow him movement in the field in a muzzle with his herd than on a tiny bare postage stamp on his own without one.

His EMS cannot be reversed, it is in his genetic make up and his older sister had to be PTS because hers was unmanageable. I don’t want the same thing happening to him so a muzzle really is the only option during the summer months.

 

[Winters100]

I hate them and I think that they are cruel. But I think it crueler to keep a horse inside for many hours or to let him become obese and sick, so to me they are a necessary evil in some cases. There are other things that I would try first, but if all else fails then I would, and have indeed in the past, use them.

 

[scats]

I hate them, BUT, I don’t feel anywhere near as bad with the flexible filly! Girls seem absolutely fine in them, not distressed (unlike the Shires ones, they are noticeably unhappy with) and no rubs, sweaty faces or constant snorting or itching. I’d highly recommend people give them a try!

 

[doodle]

I really don’t like them and if I could have avoided I would have. He couldn’t do more work due to the arthritis. He couldn’t have the same amount of grass as sultan as he would have got laminitis. He wouldn’t stay on the other side of the fence to his buddy. Sultan had limited teeth and was skinny. He also would not be separated. No win situation. The muzzle meant they could be out together grazing. Minto never hen pecked they ground and his teeth didn’t come to harm. I however wouldn’t have wanted it on 24/7. They both came in at night at year which suited both. After we lost sultie I was able to restrict Mintos grazing and was able to do away with the muzzle.

So no I don’t like them, I would rather not use them but in this case it was the best of a list of not ideal situations.

 

[Pedantic]

Choice between stuck in a stable or Laminitis, then has to be a muzzle, just make really sure they know how to drink with it on, I totally hate them, causes sores, risk of getting caught on something, frustrating, but for some its the only option, just has to be managed as well as possible.

 

[oldie48]

I hate having to use one on Fatty but needs must! He doesn't have it on 24/7, when he's in he has small soaked nets and/or zero chop and he's checked every day for sore patches. He's currently out at night with Rose but he'd gone through the electric fencing when I went to get him in this morning, despite it being on the mains. However, he still had his muzzle on, otherwise he'd have gorged himslef silly and made himself ill. He is his own worst enemy sadly.

 

[atropa]

I can't stand them. I have seen a lot of teeth damaged by them.

When used on long grass they are tolerable. But using them on short grass must really infuriate the horse!

Actually its a lot more difficult for the horse to get at long grass through them, long stalks tend to just bend under them rather than poke through the holes like short grass.
I dont mind them, I utilise them where I have to. I have a native and a previous laminitic who cant stand inside for too long due to lameness issues. I would rather have bare grazing or a track but its not an option on my current yard.

Eta i have heard a lot about teeth being injured by them but I have never personally seen it, however I'd not leave one on 24/7.

 

[meleeka]

I’d use one as a last resort (and have done) but I think a bare paddock is a much better solution. I do wish yards would cater for laminitics more, It’s not like they are a minority these days really.

Thankfully I’ve got my own field so I can always find another solution.

 

[Griffin]

I don't like them, I think they must be incredibly frustrating. Personally, I would avoid using them unless I had exhausted all other options and I mean all other options.

I can understand that some people use them because they have no choice in the grazing where they are and don't want their horse stood in for hours. However, I agree with maleeka that it would be nice if more yards were able to cater for lamanitics, I am fortunate that there is a choice of grazing where I am.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Laminitis is cruel. If a grazing muzzle is the only way to protect them then its fine with me. Horses need to express natural behaviour - be outdoors, be in a group. Its more cruel (IMO) to keep them stabled all day or isolate them away from others.

They have safety break points if the horse gets caught.

This, my little ponies are happiest with the horses. They can’t have much grass though. Bucket muzzles were cruel, for them. They were totally miserable and spent the whole time trying desperately to remove them. I now have flexible filly muzzles and they are happy.

 

[IngramsRoughDiamond]

I don't have a problem with them at all, those that 'hate' them do my head in. There are far crueler things than grazing muzzles. Laminitis for a start.

 

[scats]

I don't have a problem with them at all, those that 'hate' them do my head in. There are far crueler things than grazing muzzles. Laminitis for a start.

You can still hate them but appreciate the need for them. Do I like putting muzzles on my girls? No, I really don’t. Do I put them on to allow my horses to live as normal a life as possible with plenty of turnout and avoid lami? Yes.

 

[Mrs B]

No. The alternative is worse.

 

[SEL]

I don't like putting one on, but I have an over weight PSSM horse who is on minimal exercise due to injury. She also pulls up electric fencing posts for entertainment.

She knows the muzzle means she can join her friends on the grass so sticks her head in it happily enough. It's a greenguard and she gets more than enough through it. Off at night on a well eaten down track.

I'd love to be able to build a non grass track system but my euromillions lottery ticket only won £2.50 so a way to go....

 

[GinaGeo]

A muzzle has proven essential for the management of one of mine. He has EMS and has previously had laminitis.

My other horses require ad lib access to forage. So they have different dietary needs.

I have two options. Mickey lives in a stable, by himself on rations. Or goes on the track, by himself with rations. Both options result in a very miserable pony.

Or he lives on the track where the others have ad lib access to hay. He wears his muzzle overnight to reduce his intake and has it off during the day. He lives with his friends, doing horse stuff, and the muzzle means he eats when he’s hungry and not just because there’s food in front of him.

He can actually eat very well through it, and doesn’t seem to find it at all frustrating, although he is very used to it now. It just ensures he takes normal mouthfuls and not the massive ones he takes without it ?

 

[holeymoley]

Having gone through the rollercoaster of rotational laminitis, no I don’t think they’re cruel. I’d love my horse not to have to wear one but unfortunately it’s either that or he has no grass/turnout. With the flexible fully one he eats as a normal horse does, he doesn’t struggle at all, it just limits the amount he gets in his gob at a time!

 

[Goldenstar]

I won’t use them , In desperation I tried with Fatty but he just used to march up to Tatts and Tatts removed it it also rubbed him .
It would have to be the only choice for me to try again and happily there’s lots of ways to reduce grass intake that does not involve using a muzzle .

ETA used properly they are not cruel though I just don’t like them as a management tool .