Best grazing muzzle for a small pony

[NinjaPony]

Currently, my welsh A (retired apart from ground work due to arthritis and a dislike of children) is out in an approx. 15 acre field, with 8 other horses. This is their winter field, and he is already looking quite round enough! I am concerned that when he moves onto the summer field he is going to balloon! I don't want to restrict his turnout if I can avoid it as he is really happy in the herd and moving around lot has done his hocks a lot of good. The last time I tried a grazing muzzle he went bonkers, rearing and so on but I think I might try again... So, can anyone recommend me a decent grazing muzzle that won't rub his soft pink nose to shreds, that he can get some grass through so he doesn't have a mega tantrum but will prevent him exploding? Or any other method of trying to keep his weight down... he is already on minimum hard feed and soaked hay....

 

[LauraWheeler]

Merryn gets realy stressed if I use one of those bucket type muzzles on him so last year I splashed out on a greenguard one and he excepts that realy well. It allows them to graze abit more naturaly and probably feels less clostrophobic (sp?)
Unless the pony needs meds or suplements I would cut out hard feed altogether. If he realy needs feed I would get unmolassed hifi. Even the chaffs approved for laminitics, (happyhoof, hifi light ect) are covered in molassis

 

[Warrior_princess]

I like the greenguards better than the bucket muzzles. Theyvare expensive but do the job. I have a pony greenguard muzzle for sale if you are interested? My mare has had it on a few times but its still in excellent condition x

 

[spacefaer]

Another vote for green guard

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Dinky pony muzzles

 

[NinjaPony]

Thanks, I'll have a look at both but if I decide to go for a GG I will pm you warrior princess as I'd rather not pay full whack if I can avoid it... He is on Hifi unmollassed already to get his supplements in him and is actually looking good at the moment, it's a shame they have to change fields.... Most important thing is that he is comfortable in the muzzle and doesn't get horribly rubbed...

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Another vote for Greenguard, just be sure to spend some time seeing that it is fitted correctly. Most problems people have is when they haven't taken the time to adjust & fit it properly.

 

[OldNag]

Dinky.
Mine could get bucket muzzles off, and they rubbed.
Have been using Dinky ones now for 2 seasons and they are great.
They do eventually wear through though.
But to me they are so light, they don't rub, they stay on and they work well so I don't mind buying a new one each year.

 

[sarahann1]

Another vote for Dinky here, though I've also used the shires ones without problem.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

dinky rugs are the best for a welshy A Its what I use, they do how ever do wear out end of season but they fit well and dont rub.

Greenguard are too heavy and cumbersome for these little heads. I dont rec a green guard for a welsh A

mine though will rub on a tree till she gets it off so now i strip graze her but they are great muzzles and cheap at the price

 

[Mrs B]

Another Dinky vote. At our yard, they're on a Welsh A up to my IDxTB: they're light, fit well and the horses can still trickle-feed. Yes, they do only last about a season, but at £19 plus P&P that's not a problem.

They can rub a little on the chin for the first week until the skin hardens, but I minimise this by slathering the area in cow salve (available at Countywide).

 

[ester]

Sadly Frank has half chewed through his new dinky over the last 2 weeks so it could get expensive :eek3: it hasn't rubbed at all though and he learnt to use it quite quickly but I've had to buy him a shires bucket one too (the new ones have lots of fleece and padding so I don't think it will rub badly.

There are 3 greenguards on the yard - they seem really cumbersome, they can eat a fair amount with them on and they all rub unless having had extra padding sewn on - and they are expensive to have to modify yourself!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Very glad to see this thread… we've got a little 8.5hh miniature horse who needs a grazing muzzle so she can go out a lot more. At the moment she is on house arrest for 12 hours a day and then out on very restricted grazing. She is a little ***** though and can break through any fence she comes across so it would be far easier for her to have a grazing muzzle and her be out with the other horse. Her owner has assured me she doesn't get laminitis or is even prone to it because apparently "miniature horses don't get it". However, I am NOT relying on this piece of information and am going to go out all guns blazing to ensure she isn't struck down!!

 

[NinjaPony]

I think I'll go for a dinky one then! Thanks everyone, it's very helpful to get tried and tested opinions