Best Grazing muzzle for Houdini Horse?

[Fat Pony]

It’s been a few years since I have used one as my greedy mare learned how to remove them in under 30 seconds. However due to crazy grass, not able to be exercised and PPID I need a solution this year. Sectioning her off separately is not currently an option. She already comes in every day/out overnight.

What can people recommend as a safe option that might stay on longer than it takes me to shut the gate? Currently I have a Shires deluxe with the sheepskin that I am going to try again. Tried green guard many many years ago on old pony but it rubbed her terribly.

The issue is she that used to take them off over the ears so I started plaiting her mane over it. Not deterred, we then progressed to hooking the ring on the trough, or rubbing the nose part on the fence until the Velcro comes apart on the head piece. I don’t want to tape the Velcro as then it won’t be safe if she gets caught. Which she will because she is a total liability/walking vet bill and very determined.

I wonder if the grass was a little easier to get through a different shape or size hole she might tolerate it better?

So hit me with your safe but pony proof muzzle recommendations or adaptations that might work.

 

[Britestar]

I like dinky muzzles.
Small tiny earred welshy is keeping this on, but I know she took all bucket ones off at previous home.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I like dinky muzzles.
Small tiny earred welshy is keeping this on, but I know she took all bucket ones off at previous home.

Sorry to hijack but how robust are these?

Mine can remove the bottom of bucket style one's by standing on the rubber and pulling back It doesn't look like these are one section at the bottom though although he's also broken the Flexible Filly one's too, so I might be being wildly optimistic!

 

[foxy1]

The dinky rugs muzzles are webbing underneath so couldn't be torn in this way muddymonster- there's a pic of the bottom on their website.

 

[suestowford]

I like dinky muzzles.
Small tiny earred welshy is keeping this on, but I know she took all bucket ones off at previous home.

I had one of those. It was the best fit of all the ones we tried, but the bottom of it wore through in four weeks, making it useless as a grazing restrictor.

 

[tatty_v]

I have the flexible filly one with the turnout safe headcollar - never had a problem with him getting it off and no rubs (compared to the greenguard one and the shires ones which rubbed him raw). It seems to be a bit more forgiving than the others too

 

[saddlesore]

Flexible filly

 

[Highmileagecob]

Eventually settled on a Tough 1 Easy Breathe from USA. Had to be plaited into his mane, and a cable tie punched through the velcro easy release, but it saw Old Dobbin through his worst years of EMS and allowed 24/7 turn out. Now I'm struggling a bit as his teeth are not good enough to graze through a muzzle and exercise is out due to old age and arthritis.

 

[Fat Pony]

So we managed to last until 1.30 before she managed to remove it. Her old trick of rubbing on the fence until it came over her ears eventually paid off. I had tightened it all up, so it took a lot longer than previously.

So plan B is to plait it in place tomorrow and hope she doesn’t try her other method of removal. The Velcro is quite strong, so if I can get it to stay on long enough, she may give up. I am just hoping her success today hasn’t spurred her on.

The flexible filly do look good, and great to hear they don’t rub. Just cautious to spend that much if she’s likely to pull the same stunt and remove it. How easy are the head collars to break?

 

[tatty_v]

The headcollar I’ve got is one of these:

ThinLine Flexible Breakaway Halter

ThinLine Flexible Breakaway Halter is designed for a very comfortable and secure fit used with the Flexible Filly Slow Feed Grazing Muzzle

www.comfyhorse.co.uk

So fairly robust apart from the leather headpiece. I’m sure a determined pony could snap the leather if it wanted to though!