Calling all muzzle users!

SavingGrace

SavingGrace

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Just pondering if you could answer a few questions for me!

How long do you muzzle for?
Which type of muzzle do you have?
Does anyone muzzle 24/7 (apart from when in to be groomed/ridden/checked over)?
 
My ponies wear Greenguard muzzles, the longest they have them on is 12 hours at a time. I am more than happy that they can graze, drink etc. They tend to come in most nights so don't wear them 24/7.
 
I turn out during the day muzzled and then bring in pm to a stable with small paddock - hardly any grass and feed a soaked haynet. I would turn out overnight, but I worry that over the night time period a muzzle may become caught on something or come off.

I use Roma and Shires muzzles, the Roma muzzle is softer and doesn't come quite so high up the face as the Shires. The Shires muzzle is harder wearing, but may be more prone to causing rubs because of this, although well padded it should be fine. I think that the Shires muzzle may be harder for the horse to remove if he is good at getting them off. I also cut sections out of the nostril area to make them less claustraphobic.

I know it isn't recommended to leave them on 24hrs, and I wouldn't be comfortable doing so, but there are people who do if needs must and their horses seem to be okay.
 
Hollysmum said:
Just pondering if you could answer a few questions for me!

How long do you muzzle for?
Which type of muzzle do you have?
Does anyone muzzle 24/7 (apart from when in to be groomed/ridden/checked over)?
Click to expand...

I muzzle for around 12 hours during day when hes out and he comes in at night
Have a shires muzzle and added sheepskin around edges as it rubbed
No - not sure i would like to leave it on for that long.
 
I do mine the other way around - out wearing the muzzle at night, in during the day. He does get quite hot under the muzzle, that's why I do it that way round.

I use the Shires one, a size too big, with extra padding fitted to the inside of the bucket bit. He's 11hh yet is wearing a cob size as the pony one was too small and the bucket bit rubbed his face.
 
George is muzzled all day, we did try a greenguard one but he didn't get on with it, kept breaking it and it rubbed badly. So then went onto the shires type one and that seemed to suit, and like others have said one size too big seems to stop rubs.

Unfortunately the most recent one I bought he completely trashed in 3 days (I don't think he liked the fact that I bought him a nice purple one :D) so I splashed out on the more expensive best friends one - same sort of design, but does seem much sturdier.........I hope!
 
The NEW greenguard muzzle is the best.
I've tried several including the shires/roma one and the older style Greenguard one too.

Mine go out for 12hrs in them. This may be more than recommended but if fitted correctly they don't rub plus its better than keeping them in a stable to stop them eating.

The new Greenguard ones are expensive but at the same time an investment as they will last for many many years. I used a shires one last year but it was only fit for the bin at the end of the season...but then again it was only £15.
 
I have the Best Friend, haven't tried any other, because this one seems to be the only one with a breakaway system (as least here, in the Netherlands). Horse got used to it within 5min. and does'nt mind wearing it.
 
One horse in each style of Greenguard - the new design is far harder to get off!

Muzzled whenever at grass - around 12 hours a day. Never muzzled 24/7.

We initially used a bucket type muzzle but horse hated it - was in a really foul mood and didn't manage to eat anything so not acceptable to either of us :) Both boys quite happy in their Greenguards :)
 
Re the Roma muzzles - I've just found that the hole in the bottom has ripped open completely making the muzzle useless - after a weeks use! Will stick with the Shires I think.
 
1. Muzzled whenever turned out, 7 - 8 hours
2. Shires pink one customised using bits from greenguard headcollar (so some good did come out of trying that expensive darn thing)
3. I have used it 24/7 when we had strangles on the yard few years back, the horses had to be quarantined where they were. Was having kittens in case he got it off, hence the customisation !

Lami trust says a muzzle restricts approx 40% of grazing but I reckon its less, but my old man (32) had it off to a T!
 
1. Muzzled for around 12hrs a day
2. Dinky pony, not as restrictive as the Shires one and doesn't rub at all. Might have to use the Shires one when the grass really starts to come through though.
3. Haven't even muzzled 24/7, is something I've pondered but not sure its a good idea.
 
Mine wear a muzzle all year, we're a beef farm and our grazing is quite lush.

They come in every night, so that gives them a rest.

I use the bucket type muzzles, I've tried the Green Guard but couldn't get on with it.

Def buy a size too big.
 
Ours has a Shires pink nylon grazing muzzle with vaseline rubbed round the edges to stop the rubbing! She usually has a headcollar over the top and her forelock plaited round it as we have a youngster in the field who is a pro at pulling muzzles off!
She wears hers whenever she goes out so maybe 2 hours a day but when she is going out overnight she will be muzzled then too.
She can drink and graze happily (as well as voice her opinions!) so happy to leave it on her.
K x
ETA she is a 14.2hh Sect D X and wears a Cob size which is fine for her.
 
Mine is muzzled pretty much 20/22hours a day. Everyday from March to Oct. She is very skilled at eating with it on. She was eating hawthorne hedge the other day and has hoovered up the nettles I cut down and left to wilt whilst wearing it. Obviously it doesn't rub or I would have to have a rethink. She lives out. Isn't bothered about having it on. Comes to me in the field to have it put on. Only once in 3 years has it come off.
Mine is a shires. Like some other posters I had to go up a size. Normally she wears cob sized everything but the cob sized rubbed. Since going up to the full size bingo no rubs at all.
The only other thing she gets is a vit supplement in a tiny bit of chaff.
Her weight is kept under control rather than coming off.

Dengie website someone did some research on how much their grazing was restricted. It was supposedly something like 50-75%. I can't believe it's that much in my mares case or she would surely be a skeleton by now.
 
Mine wears a 'dinky rugs' muzzle during the summer when hes turned out during the day (approx 7hrs).
I've just bought a 'best friend' muzzle for the height of summer as he's got a bit too effective at eating with the other muzzle - of which he wears away the web strap so have to buy a new one yearly (not that I mind as I prefer the dinky rugs muzzle as it never rubs, is lightweight and isn't as restrictive over their noses.
My pony is a Shetland and wears a dinky rugs medium, and a 'pony' size best friend muzzle (although looks quite large on him but means I can add extra padding as I've heard these do rub)
My mums 17hh warmblood is in a dinky rug XL. And wears as per longs regime
 
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