Gazing muzzle dilemma

[bz88]

Hi I have a good doer that I just moved to out at night routine in summer field. We have sectioned off a fat patch in main field for three good doers including mine which hasn’t been fertilised and is now significantly eaten down but not quite yet for my liking. All three are muzzled. Mine however been taking his muzzle off every night from past week. Its thinline muzzle and I have plaited in so in the morning head collar is on but muzzle itself is not on. At that point I’m about to give up. He’s very clever and I’ve seen him looking for it with his foot to step on and yank his head up. Muzzle is fitted correctly. He’s in his ideal weight although as expected tummy has gotten bit rounder but I can still feel his ribs even see them when he’s in motion, has no fat patches and still looks good. Has anyone successfully kept good doer on the grass without a muzzle? He’s in full work 5-6 days per week mostly hacking. I do school, jump and do poles too. I know my pony well and he’s generally good with his muzzle and I know he’s struggling with muzzle now hence taking it off. He did have tmj issues last year caused by muzzle on too long grass, has been on bute and even steroids injections were suggested by vet.

 

[SEL]

I have one who absolutely can't cope without (insulin levels just get too high) & a native who is fine - she gets fat but her insulin is normal. That one I just try and work as much as her list of ailments allows.

 

[JenJ]

Hi I have a good doer that I just moved to out at night routine in summer field. We have sectioned off a fat patch in main field for three good doers including mine which hasn’t been fertilised and is now significantly eaten down but not quite yet for my liking. All three are muzzled. Mine however been taking his muzzle off every night from past week. Its thinline muzzle and I have plaited in so in the morning head collar is on but muzzle itself is not on. At that point I’m about to give up. He’s very clever and I’ve seen him looking for it with his foot to step on and yank his head up. Muzzle is fitted correctly. He’s in his ideal weight although as expected tummy has gotten bit rounder but I can still feel his ribs even see them when he’s in motion, has no fat patches and still looks good. Has anyone successfully kept good doer on the grass without a muzzle? He’s in full work 5-6 days per week mostly hacking. I do school, jump and do poles too. I know my pony well and he’s generally good with his muzzle and I know he’s struggling with muzzle now hence taking it off. He did have tmj issues last year caused by muzzle on too long grass, has been on bute and even steroids injections were suggested by vet.

If the headcollar is still on but the muzzle is off, how is the muzzle being fastened to the headcollar? Usually it's with cable ties - are these all breaking?

 

[bz88]

If the headcollar is still on but the muzzle is off, how is the muzzle being fastened to the headcollar? Usually it's with cable ties - are these all breaking?

Yes I literally seen him doing it. He will step on it and yank his head up

 

[JenJ]

Yes I literally seen him doing it. He will step on it and yank his head up

Maybe it's too big if he's able to step on it?

One of mine managed to snap two of the cable ties last week, but the others all held. I think there are 8 in total? They shouldn't ALL break. Maybe try a different brand of cableties?

 

[Birker2020]

Hi I have a good doer that I just moved to out at night routine in summer field. We have sectioned off a fat patch in main field for three good doers including mine which hasn’t been fertilised and is now significantly eaten down but not quite yet for my liking. All three are muzzled. Mine however been taking his muzzle off every night from past week. Its thinline muzzle and I have plaited in so in the morning head collar is on but muzzle itself is not on. At that point I’m about to give up. He’s very clever and I’ve seen him looking for it with his foot to step on and yank his head up. Muzzle is fitted correctly. He’s in his ideal weight although as expected tummy has gotten bit rounder but I can still feel his ribs even see them when he’s in motion, has no fat patches and still looks good. Has anyone successfully kept good doer on the grass without a muzzle? He’s in full work 5-6 days per week mostly hacking. I do school, jump and do poles too. I know my pony well and he’s generally good with his muzzle and I know he’s struggling with muzzle now hence taking it off. He did have tmj issues last year caused by muzzle on too long grass, has been on bute and even steroids injections were suggested by vet.

The only thing you can do (and I speak from bitter experience having owned a colicky horse who'd lose his muzzle then gorge grass and get colic) was to either reduce time out or strip grazed.

I did find that the adjustment on the strap on the Shires muzzle I used had to be quite short where circled red and this did prevent it coming off as easily although Bailey was insistent it must come off nine times out of ten.
.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Take a look at the Tough 1 Easy Breathe. Used this for years, and only needed to put a cable tie through the velcro quick release to stop him scrubbing his head on the ground. Make sure the graze hole is positioned correctly, and make sure they are not grazing on grass stalks ie after the top of the grass has been bitten off. The lower stalk holds the sugar.

 

[Exasperated]

Hi I have a good doer that I just moved to out at night routine in summer field. We have sectioned off a fat patch in main field for three good doers including mine which hasn’t been fertilised and is now significantly eaten down but not quite yet for my liking. All three are muzzled. Mine however been taking his muzzle off every night from past week. Its thinline muzzle and I have plaited in so in the morning head collar is on but muzzle itself is not on. At that point I’m about to give up. He’s very clever and I’ve seen him looking for it with his foot to step on and yank his head up. Muzzle is fitted correctly. He’s in his ideal weight although as expected tummy has gotten bit rounder but I can still feel his ribs even see them when he’s in motion, has no fat patches and still looks good. Has anyone successfully kept good doer on the grass without a muzzle? He’s in full work 5-6 days per week mostly hacking. I do school, jump and do poles too. I know my pony well and he’s generally good with his muzzle and I know he’s struggling with muzzle now hence taking it off. He did have tmj issues last year caused by muzzle on too long grass, has been on bute and even steroids injections were suggested by vet.

Hi I have a good doer that I just moved to out at night routine in summer field. We have sectioned off a fat patch in main field for three good doers including mine which hasn’t been fertilised and is now significantly eaten down but not quite yet for my liking. All three are muzzled. Mine however been taking his muzzle off every night from past week. Its thinline muzzle and I have plaited in so in the morning head collar is on but muzzle itself is not on. At that point I’m about to give up. He’s very clever and I’ve seen him looking for it with his foot to step on and yank his head up. Muzzle is fitted correctly. He’s in his ideal weight although as expected tummy has gotten bit rounder but I can still feel his ribs even see them when he’s in motion, has no fat patches and still looks good. Has anyone successfully kept good doer on the grass without a muzzle? He’s in full work 5-6 days per week mostly hacking. I do school, jump and do poles too. I know my pony well and he’s generally good with his muzzle and I know he’s struggling with muzzle now hence taking it off. He did have tmj issues last year caused by muzzle on too long grass, has been on bute and even steroids injections were suggested by vet.

Are you sure your pony actually needs a muzzle on this pasture, with your current riding / management regime?
It doesn’t sound like it, not at present anyway, and he doesn’t sound happy with it at all.
Of course good doers can be kept at grass without muzzles!
Thirty years ago they were rarely seen and largely unavailable.
Today - multiple brands, designs, colour ways - be certain it’s to benefit that pony, and not just because everyone else on the yard has one.
obviously, you must monitor your grass quality, quantity, grass growth, and balance against how much work the pony is doing, plus his bodily condition, and adjust management accordingly.
But if he’s as well as you say, then it’s probably harassing rather than helping, and will just encourage him to gorge when it does come off.
A ‘Best Friend’ muzzle fitted with headpiece, over top of a leather headcollar, looping BF head strap round the headcollar crownpiece, worked 100% with a notorious and persistent muzzle-wrecker.
However, I always use the largest size muzzle, so there is plenty of airflow / room, and so the top band comes well up the horse’s face - seems less claustrophobic, and far less likely to be dragged down and off. Also practised by other owners I know, with similar success.
Another laminitis fatty with terrible teeth - badly worn and damaged from inappropriate muzzles - whose owner then bought a ‘Litebite’ muzzle (from the Channel Isles). Taped onto a leather headcollar for fieldsafety, this muzzle is designed as tooth-kind and unobjectionable, and has been a Godsend for that pony - both for his weight and teeth.
Good luck

 

[bz88]

Are you sure your pony actually needs a muzzle on this pasture, with your current riding / management regime?
It doesn’t sound like it, not at present anyway, and he doesn’t sound happy with it at all.
Of course good doers can be kept at grass without muzzles!
Thirty years ago they were rarely seen and largely unavailable.
Today - multiple brands, designs, colour ways - be certain it’s to benefit that pony, and not just because everyone else on the yard has one.
obviously, you must monitor your grass quality, quantity, grass growth, and balance against how much work the pony is doing, plus his bodily condition, and adjust management accordingly.
But if he’s as well as you say, then it’s probably harassing rather than helping, and will just encourage him to gorge when it does come off.
A ‘Best Friend’ muzzle fitted with headpiece, over top of a leather headcollar, looping BF head strap round the headcollar crownpiece, worked 100% with a notorious and persistent muzzle-wrecker.
However, I always use the largest size muzzle, so there is plenty of airflow / room, and so the top band comes well up the horse’s face - seems less claustrophobic, and far less likely to be dragged down and off. Also practised by other owners I know, with similar success.
Another laminitis fatty with terrible teeth - badly worn and damaged from inappropriate muzzles - whose owner then bought a ‘Litebite’ muzzle (from the Channel Isles). Taped onto a leather headcollar for fieldsafety, this muzzle is designed as tooth-kind and unobjectionable, and has been a Godsend for that pony - both for his weight and teeth.
Good luck

Thank you for your reply. I took muzzle off. Grass is eaten down now and actually he’s picking on it rather that gorging. We added additional 10-15 minutes to his ridden routine. To be honest he doesn’t look any different in terms of gain except for bigger tummy when he comes in the morning but as the day progresses he farts it all out and he’s back to normal. He was tearing the field with muzzle on. Was quite aggressive eater with it.

 

[Exasperated]

Thank you for your reply. I took muzzle off. Grass is eaten down now and actually he’s picking on it rather that gorging. We added additional 10-15 minutes to his ridden routine. To be honest he doesn’t look any different in terms of gain except for bigger tummy when he comes in the morning but as the day progresses he farts it all out and he’s back to normal. He was tearing the field with muzzle on. Was quite aggressive eater with it.

Good for you, taken all the stress and urgency out of eating.
muzzles can be life savers in certain situations, but obviously not here.
Just continue attuned to whatever changes in growing conditions, workload etc, and you’ll both be much more relaxed and happy.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I did find that the adjustment on the strap on the Shires muzzle I used had to be quite short where circled red and this did prevent it coming off as easily although Bailey was insistent it must come off nine times out of ten.
.

I agree @Birker2020. Having that strap short is the key to keeping the muzzle on.