Good advise which muzzle to choose for the fatties

My cob spent a couple of years in the Best Friend muzzle however it highlighted how they must be the most uncomfortable ones to wear when it's hot (on the odd occasion:rolleyes:)or if they suffer with the pollen. He was much happier in the greenguard as his nostrils could actually have fresh air rather than a heavy muzzle on top and it doesn't gunk up with dried up snot after a day of summer nose clearing!
 
I'd agree with their choice, too. I tried the Greenguard, as I wanted them to have more air around their muzzle and be able to yawn, itch themselves etc.I had the same issues they did with both ponies. Henry's chin was so sore he stood and starved himself. The smaller size he just flipped to one side (the pony one is useless!).

So, I went back to the Best Friend/Shires style. I have to clean it out daily, but rubbing is minimal with these on my two and they eat happily.
 
Bottom line being choose what suits your horse, and they're all different ;)

My cob couldn't tolerate a bucket muzzle, as he hated having his nostrils covered - he was far happier in a greenguard. Having said that, I agree with the fact there's still some fairly big design flaws.
 
This has been very interesting for me, as I made the mistake of dashing out & buying the first grazing muzzle I found in my pony's size when she came down with lami, despite the fact that she was facing 2 months' box rest. But it made me feel better as I suffered badly with huge amounts of guilt, bordering on depression.
Now I'm not sure if I've chosen the right one :-/ She doesn't seem to like it much, but I'm not sure if it's the muzzle or if she's just mardy 'cause she can't stuff her face.
But tbh, I've been restricting her grazing rather than muzzling her for the most part. In winter, her paddock was too small to worry about grass & she was fed a measured amount of hay.
However, I would like to be able to put her on more grass so that she's not bored, which I think is happening when her allowance of grass has run out. But she's particularly greedy & I worry about her managing to eat too much round a muzzle. She currently has a heavy rubber bucket muzzle (can't remember the name) & having read the article, I'm liking the "freedom" of the Greenguard, but do feel my girl would work out how to stuff herself round that one..
What do you guys think? Can the heavy rubber ones be made more comfortable? Are the Greenguard ones effective enough at reducing grazing? Or the Best Friend ones mentioned?
Or am I better off strip grazing still & feeding a bit of hay, & trying to find other ways of entertaining her?
I've also been restricting my big girl out of fear that she'll end up the same & am starting to wonder if I am being justifiably careful, or if they're suffering for my paranoia..? :-/
Sorry, this ended up being longer than I expected.. Tea & biscuits for everyone who made it this far :D
 
Very interesting read as I've just bought a Greenguard one ready for when my mare is allowed back out. (managed to get a second hand one off ebay for a very good price :) ) Having read up lots about them I will def be sorting some extra padding for the strap under the chin as this seems to be the main culprit of any rubs. Maybe we should start a muzzle review thread lol
 
My pony has had to wear a muzzle for the last 3 years. She wears one from approx April to October when turned out,either all day or at night. It would be a fair statement that she doesn't like wearing one and it took about a week to start grazing with it on. I use an old fashioned plastic shires one which I tie onto her headcoller. The rigid plastic keeps the muzzle away from her face and it doesn't rub.
 
I tried my horse in one last year - he has slight pollen/breathing issues so I went for a greenguard one. Within 3 days he had open wounds all over his face :(

I need a muzzle for him this year, so after searching around found one made by Dinky rugs ... they do a full sized horse version, looks open at the nostrils, comes fleece lined already. I have one on order - would be interested to hear if anyone has used one on a big horse and how they found it?
 
I'm thinking about getting one of the Dinky muzzles for my pony. He's currently in a Best Friends one with padding all the way round which works fine but he's so clever and gets used to eating through it really quickly. I thought if I alternated it with a Dinky one which has a hole each side of the bottom rather than one in the middle it might slow him down a bit more - maybe or maybe not :rolleyes:
 
ihatework said:
I tried my horse in one last year - he has slight pollen/breathing issues so I went for a greenguard one. Within 3 days he had open wounds all over his face :(

I need a muzzle for him this year, so after searching around found one made by Dinky rugs ... they do a full sized horse version, looks open at the nostrils, comes fleece lined already. I have one on order - would be interested to hear if anyone has used one on a big horse and how they found it?
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My mare has one of these and she has never objected to having it on. The nostrils are uncovered and she went straight to drink and graze in it no problems. Also it does not rub.

One of my liveries has the old style greenguard, and he is very happy in that. I think you have to be careful not to fit them too tightly as they will make the lips sore. I fit his so that there is a cm gap between his lips and the muzzle. He eats and drinks well in it and it has not rubbed.
 
I bought a Greenguard for my retired horse last year. Once adjusted correctly the fit was fine, but it did take a while to get the adjustment right. The plastic straps holding the muzzle to the head collar were stiff and would push the buckles open, so I electric taped all the straps flat and over the buckles which did the trick. Horse kept it on all summer and it worked really well.
This year it is rubbing a bit, the noseband lining has worn and is now rough, so covered in duck tape to provide a smooth surface. Also brass fitting rubbing one side of his face despite fitting remaining the same. More electric tape!
He couldn't cope with the nylon bucket type muzzle, would just stand and weave. But the Greenguard allows him to eat enough to keep him happy. Even if I had to buy a new one each year to deal with worn edges rubbing, it is still much cheaper and healthier than getting laminitis and the veterinary care required. He also has COPD so the last thing I would want it to have to keep him in.
Like other users, I could do with more sizes being available, certainly a cob size.
 
I have the Shires one, Has lasted me ages. She can get it off sometimes though which is a pain and I'm not happy about the restriction accross her nostrils (she has mild COPD) But it works well.

Have tried a Grennguard and wasn't keen.

I have been looking at the Dinky muzzles, I wish they had done a review on these, they are in my hometown too so would save on delivery :p

http://www.tackandturnout.co.uk/epa...roducts/DMCLGRAZ/SubProducts/dmclgraz-mi-bk-s
 
LaurenBay said:
I have the Shires one, Has lasted me ages. She can get it off sometimes though which is a pain and I'm not happy about the restriction accross her nostrils (she has mild COPD) But it works well.

Have tried a Grennguard and wasn't keen.

I have been looking at the Dinky muzzles, I wish they had done a review on these, they are in my hometown too so would save on delivery :p

http://www.tackandturnout.co.uk/epa...roducts/DMCLGRAZ/SubProducts/dmclgraz-mi-bk-s
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I like the dinky muzzles but my mare ate through hers literally within a week! The base of them is just reinforced webbing. With shires one I changed the velcro fixing strap for a break away push and click one that came spare with the Best Friend Muzzle.

Maybe the dinky ones are best for dinky ponies and not big strapping mares like mine.
 
The Dinky muzzle is fab- so soft and comfy, apart from the fact all 5 horses I've tried it on couldn't eat a thing :( such a shame it isn't more useful as other muzzles rub!

the shires muzzle works well but it is very bulky, best I've found it the HM muzzle with webbing cut out and melted on the nostrils and chin so it doesn't rub or restrict breathing in hot weather ! it is quite soft too.
 
I have recently had to muzzle my pony as he came down with laminitis and YO will not allow us to restrict grazing. Tried a Roma and a Shires. The Roma gave him sores on his chin and nostril and he ripped it off by hooking onto the side of the gate. The muzzle was destroyed. I bought the Shires and once his rubs had healed turned him out with it on. More rubs on the chin and nose, despite trying to pad it with sponge, sheepskin and using duct tape to try to stop friction. A friend then gave me an old one she had made of rigid plastic. I glued sheepskin round the rim to stop rubbing and he seems to be ok in it. No more nasty rubs and his head is down grazing when he's turned out.
 
NorthDevonTraveller said:
I bought a Greenguard for my retired horse last year. Once adjusted correctly the fit was fine, but it did take a while to get the adjustment right.
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That's what I found, it took careful adjustment over a few days but once I got it right it was fine. Rubbed the chin until I got it right but a tiny piece (about an inch square) of high quality sheepskin fixed that. Yards was under strict instructions not to change it and make sure the headcollar was on the same hole each night.

I used my own headcollar which was lined and soft.

Mine in on a tb who has a tiny nose but I like the fact it is so big and doesn't actually touch him at all until he eats.
 
I went with the Greenguard one, the mark two design. Tried to use the other types but she refused to have it put on she did not like the bucket being around her face, second season with the GG muzzle and all is going well and have no issues with putting it on. Very interesting read.
 
I have Dinky muzzles and think they are great. Yes, after a time the horse can eat through the webbing but I also don't like the idea of the solid plastic bucket thing on the horse's nose. I check carefully for rubs and put fluffy headcollar sleeves on if there are any. Also take them home and wash them in the washing machine once a week. I am surprised that some horses could not work out how to eat with them on as they do seem to have more spaces for eating than the bucket ones. They are expensive but a lot better alternative than the dreaded laminitis!
 
I've got one of the new shires muzzles that's cut out under the chin and comes already lined with fluff, bargain at £17.

In the past I've removed some of the webbing over the nostrils and it's worked really well.
 
If your horse has a companion that does this;

b31d217e.jpg


Adding a browband can help...
 
I prefer the Greenguard muzzle, my horse has used them for 8 years or so & they've been fine. To get the best out of them you need to spend time fitting it correctly & this will take several adjustments over time but it's worth it. If you don't work with it you will get some of the issues people are talking about, eating around the side of it, rubbing etc. My horse has had no issues & has used them for years in fact just fitted a new one as he's worn the other out. :)
 
RobinHood said:
I've got one of the new shires muzzles that's cut out under the chin and comes already lined with fluff, bargain at £17.

In the past I've removed some of the webbing over the nostrils and it's worked really well.
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New shires one?..off to have a browse:)
 
I found the Shires is good as they can still graze a little and drink freely with it, also no need for a headcollar over and quite hard to get off, if you have a little daughter with her pony then they do Purple too! and doesn't chaff :)
 
I have used a few types & the one I think suits my pony the best is the greenguard. It was fiddly to fit & my daughter & I needed to do this together. (It took two of us so we could discuss while fitting & ensure we agreed what seems comfortable for the pony).

It rubbed the pony's muzzle a bit so I have put a sheepskin edging around it. Pony has got used to it now, no further rubbing to muzzle & she eats & drinks happily.
 
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