Do all horses work out how to use grazing muzzles in the end?

Aragon56

Aragon56

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 February 2002
Messages
443
Location
USA
Visit site
My mare just can't work out how to use her grazing muzzle and I'm not sure what to do! She just stands there in the field looking pitiful after a few attempts at eating the grass. The grass in her field is quite short, but she can't even work out how to eat longer grass with it on either.

I don't want to leave it on her for too long in case she still hasn't figured it out after a few hours. Getting weight off her is so difficult, she's already in a starvation paddock, comes in for a few hours in the day and eats out of a tiny holed haynet. I've tried feeding her bits of grass through it, not sure what else I can do though? The muzzle is a Shires one and I've already cut a slightly bigger hole in it, because the hole seemed to be too high up when I first fitted it.

Any ideas?
 
They do usually get there eventually, you do have to stick with it. Try not to let her see you watching, my friends pony quickly realised that if she was watching him stand pitifully by the fence she'd take pity on him and remove the muzzle till one of the other girls videod him eating in it!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Try not to let her see you watching, my friends pony quickly realised that if she was watching him stand pitifully by the fence she'd take pity on him and remove the muzzle till one of the other girls videod him eating in it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine did the pitiful look too
smirk.gif
But I was mean and left it on! She also tried flinging it off with some interesting headbanging moves. I took her to some perfect grass - lush and about 3 inches long so it pushed up through the hole without too much effort - that made her try a bit harder.

If you don't have access to any grass that yummy, how about trying to put some pony nuts, bits of carrot or similar in a bucket or on the floor that she might try harder to hoover up through the hole?
 
Try poking it up the hole for her, but watch she doesn't get you fingers! We did this with ours and yes, you do need shortish grass for them to get it 'easily' to begin with, but ours managed fine once we had sat with her and got to the point where we were shoving it in at ground level - and away she went with it. The three ponies all did the 'I'm going to starve to death and get the authorities in just before I do' routine, which I ignored.

Keep telling yourself it is absolutely for her own good and stick the drama, pitiful looks and 'dejected-meandering-around-the-field-in-depression' out!

She WILL get the hang of it. Once she does, you'll be the one who is depressed at how much the little devils can actually hoover up in them - and likely sorry you cut that hole bigger! I bought a new one today as the old one is worn out! Tip - I cut out the bottom row of webbing off the front four holes on the Cob size muzzle to facilitate breathing. I don't know why Shires leave them so enclosed
frown.gif


Mine are from Westgate, I believe and slightly more open anyway. They have the round hole in the bottom.
 
We have a 27 yo pony who really knows how to make you feel guilty. At the old yard he was in a huge field that I was not allowed to section off so had to have a grazing muzzle on. He never ate when he knew anyone was looking, just did a few feeble "attempts" & stood there looking pathetic. But he didn't know that I could see the field from my bedroom!
 
There is only one real problem with grazing masks & that's the horse owners! If the horse isn't grazing within a few minutes they pusy foot around & eventually take the muzzle off & then seek excuses as to why their horse doesn't get on with it. Also pushing bits of grass through the muzzle is also a waste of time.

Put the mask on & leave the horse alone to sort it all out. They aren't stupid, they will not stand there & starve they will eventually get on with the job of grazing. Some take to it immediately, others take longer. My horses & others on our yard use Greenguard & all of them eat fine through them.

Additionally, you should not have to make holes larger. If you do this then why bother using one at all! Greenguard are the best, they are expensive but designed far better than other muzzles & once adjusted correctly they do a great job.
 
Thanks, theres some good ideas here! I'm definitely going to persevere with it as the yard I'm at doesn't allow strip grazing so this is the best solution. The hole in the Shires muzzle does look too high up, its nearer their nostrils than it is their mouth. There wasn't much room for maneuver once it was on so I thought it was best to cut a bigger hole for her to get used to it. If its too big in the end I'll buy a new one as they're not too expensive.

I'll also try getting her to eat some feed in a bucket, I'm sure she'll work out fairly quickly how to use it then!
 
Toby_Zaphod, I'm not seeking excuses as to why my horses isn't getting on with it, I'm trying to find a solution for it!

I made the hole bigger because in the Shires muzzle it does seem to be positioned too high up, nearer their nostrils. The new hole is still only about 7cm across so not massive. If its too big in the end then I'll buy a new one, its no big deal.

Also I've heard mixed reviews about Greenguard which is exactly why I didn't go for one, I'd sooner buy a cheaper one for now to see if it works at reducing the amount she eats in the field.
 
The hole in the shires one does seem to be in the wrong place for some horses, I had to adjust the hole in mine for my mare. I have tried the greenguard one but she kept managing to remove it! I have used it with success on others though.
 
I read some advise on how to introduce the muzzle and my lad took to it great, I cant remember where I found them, online somewhere, but they were very good, just advising to put a treat in it first and then always let them have access to grass the min it has been put on. Obviously he would rather not have it on, and did do the sad eyes at first, but in the end he started eating fine with it on, prob took a few weeks for him to fully accept it! Good Luck, not the nicest thing to have to do, but for the best and you will see results in the end x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top