Grass muzzle (tell me good things please)

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jennifer83

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I have invested in a muzzle for my hippo/cob. I put him out in it for the first time to day, I have never felt so guilty in my life. I know i would feel worse if he died of any fatty eat all the cakes illnesses, but my god it was heart breaking watching the poor bugger trying to eat.
Please tell me they work it out in the end? and he will almost grow to love his muzzle.
On a more sensible note... If any one has a green guard please can they tell me how their horses reacted to it. And how long did you leave it on for? can it be left over night? Are there certain months you leave it on for, or just for the spring/summer?

Many thanks
 
Don't have a green guard muzzle, but have used a shires muzzle. When I use it I leave it on during the day, then remove it at night (when they eat less and the grass is lower in sugar).

I usually poke a carrot up the hole in the muzzle to let them know they can still eat. They soon figure it out.
 
my fell pony has worn a greenguard muzzle for 4 summers now, the last 3 summers she has only been turned out for 1/2 days or overnight, this summer she has been turned away ( vets advice due to lameness issues) and has worn her muzzle 24/7 sinc April with no problems :)
 
My mare is having her first summer with one and I know the guilty feeling! It does get easier though!
She used to go mad having it on, now puts her nose down for it as she knows theres normally a goodie waiting in there. I have two, one which I have cut a bigger hole in for when the grass is really short.
They do get used to them and its worth it when you start seeing a difference to their bellies!
Good luck
:):):):):)
 
I detest them! I had 3/4 grueling days with my cob trying to put the dam thing on him, each time with a fight. I decided after the fourth day enough was enough and started bringing him in during the day on soaked hay and i scoop of Bluechip lami-light and turn him out at night when grass sugars are low on strip grazing :)
 
Mine has a Shires muzzle. He hates it and I felt so mean to start with but he did get used to it (though he still hates it). The first time I put it on he just snorted so I shoved pony nuts and bits of grass up there, which he wouldn't eat. I gradually increased the amount of time he was out in it, though to begin with he just stood around neighing and looking offended.

He did work out how to eat with it on but nearly drowned himself the first time he tried to drink. I stopped worrying in the end and just left him out all night in it. He coped :)

I've watched him in the field a few times when he has it on. You can see him getting annoyed with it but I like it - without it on he stands in one spot, eats everything he can reach then moves one step forwards. With the muzzle on, he has to actively walk around the field to find grass he can eat through the muzzle hole. So, not only is his grass intake reduced but he's also getting more exercise by walking further. However, he has worked out how to get it off but I suppose while he's doing that, he isn't eating at least...

He usually has his on overnight and he's stabled with soaked hay during the day. You can use them whenever you like, though if mine was out 24/7 I'd want him to have a break each day from it. I started his in about April, maybe March, and he still has it on sometimes now. Next year I'll probably start in March and go through to Aug/Sept. I don't always use it though, depends on the type of grass he's on.
 
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I have a greenguard muzzle with the head collar, my mare has worn it now for nearly 2 years. At first she would give me that look but I honestly dont think she minds now, she puts her head into it. I've never left it on overnight, my mare wears hers for 5-6hours every day whilst turned out, she then comes in and has soaked hay.
 
My Fat Haffie has a greenguard on most days, but during the day only. At night she is in a semi-starvey paddock and muzzle-free. She's been wearing it for 3 years now, just during the Summer, but I may put it on her in the Winter as well this year if she does not shift more weight. I have modified it with a small sheepskin pad on the front of the noseband so it does not rub.

She hates the mask and I feel so guilty but every time I put it on her I have a little chat with her (yes, and with me!) and say that I know that she hates it but she would hate the pain of laminitis even more. It doesn't help much though, any more than it does when she comes flying up to me if I go up during the day, hoping I might take it off.

You are doing the right thing though and it has to be better than standing around for hours with no food at all and without other horses or, even worse, getting laminitis. :(
 
We've used a shires muzzle on our welsh cob this summer, I know the feeling - I felt so very guilty and he just looked so hurt at me with those big dark eyes. But - how much worse would I feel if he got laminitis that could have been prevented! We put it on in the day and took it off at night, we spend quite a bit of time over the first few days breaking off long grass and poking it up the hole in the middle for him to get the idea how to eat with it. He didn't like drinking in it though for quite a while, and as soon as we took it off he would go and have a long drink. He did get the idea in the end, but just took time. I sewed some soft fleese material around the edges as it started to rub him, and that did the trick. Stick with it, I know mine is so much happier outside when he can be, that's got to be better for him to be turned out, even if he has to wear the evil muzzle! xx
 
Both my ponies have webbing 'bucket' type muzzles and get along fine. The most recent addition didn't think too much of it the first time I put one on her but as she was turning rather tubby it was for her own good and I don't have the ability to bring them in early to shorten the time they are out at grass so once they are turned out in the morning about 7am they are then out until about 6 / 7pm. Having muzzles on them makes me feel a bit better about them being out so long (did try strip grazing / starvation paddocks but they both jumped out :rolleyes:).

The only thing I would say is keep an eye on their chins for sore spots. Both ponies now have a bare patch where the top of the muzzle has rubbed them. I also wrapped some vet wrap around the top of the headpiece just below the ear as it seem to be rubbing one pony for some reason I have never been able to work out. The vet wrap has worked well.

You know its the right thing to do.
 
Bob has a Shires muzzle because he is a fatty-fat-pants and if I brought him in during the day he would damage something (stable or himself, whichever gave way first!). I can't just put it on him, oh no - I don't get away with it THAT easily - I have to put it on under the headcollar. It's a skill but I've got it down to a fine art now. :D

It's for his own good. Not that he would tell you that if you asked him. :p
 
Day 2

Things seem to be getting better (he only nearly drowned once in the water trough ;)
I spied on him from behind the muck heap for at least 30 minutes and he was having a good go at eating. It was only when he saw me, he ran over and pretended he was dying from starvation. I'm so pleased i've bought it. Now he's coming up 20 he really can't afford to be carrying extra weight on his joints.
 
My chunky monkey cob started off with his muzzle on for 12 hours a day and then off at night but found as soon as he was free from it he would literally gorge himself. I would come up the next morning and he would be 4 times the size I left him and looking like he had overindulged to the point he regretted it:rolleyes: He now has it on 24/7 and still carries a bit of a tum but a fraction of the 1 he would have without it. Half of our herd at the yard are muzzled and they are fine. Admittedly first couple of weeks you feel like the meanest mum ever as they watch you walk away with pleading eyes as if they were going to fade away within a day but as long as you make it a pleasant experience of having it on. Every time my boy has his clipped on if he stays in during the days, I put a carrot at the bottom. His face lights up now when I approach with the muzzle as it means 1) he can go out 2) a carrot as a bonus prize:D
 
I have a Warmblood who is a very good doer. He is in at night and out on lush pasture in the day. When I first got him we tried restricting his turnout but he box walked as he doesn't like being in. Then I tried one of the nylon muzzles as I thought it looked kinder than the greenguard ones. He had a major sulk and wouldn't even drink. Then I got a greenguard one and after one morning he was fine - I couldn't imagine not having it now as it means he can enjoy more time out without making himself ill on the rich grass ;)
 
My mums shettie wears his out 24/7. When he was in a smaller paddock and the grass was eaten down a bit we used to take it off at night and then in the morning when it was time to go back on he used to come over to have it put on.
He seems to eat fine.
 
Jazz wears one when she is first moved to a fresh paddock.
Do I feel guilty? No.
Would I feel guilty if she was in 24/7 buted to the eyeballs waiting for the 'end'? Yes.

They can eat enough through the hole, it just takes a little longer and fatties have no patience!
 
I'm with WoopsiiD. Leave it off if you feel that bad. However, I guarantee watching laminitis taking him will destroy you totally.

I have no compunction whatsoever in muzzling mine. It is ME who fails to provide the grassless and stony upland he is designed to 'exist' on, and my responsiblity to ensure he gets the minimum he needs to be healthy whilst maximising the time spent outdoors. I'd love a 300 acre car park with the occasional blade of grass here and there...

I use the Shires type and cut the lower two bands of webbing off between the two cheekpieces to make it less 'claustrophobic'. I also use sheepskin to pad them as he's sensitive and it does rub.

I'm impressed by those 24/7 ers - I wouldn't risk leaving mine and him getting it off.
 
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I have aerbourne one on Samba, at first she used it as a weopan on me and the other horses, she then tried rubbing it everywhere. The just got on with it and was fine. I have put some sheep skin wraps on the cheeks and it has rubbed her slightly, but so do rugs, headcollars, boots etc.


Cons:


She cant groom other horses in the field

It rubs her a bit without the sheepskin wraps

She can pull it off on a fence (its velcro for safety)

New youngster thinks pulling it off is great fun


Pros:

Shes easy to catch

I can put a fly fringe on her (I hate masks)

She doesnt get a sunburnt nose (she has to wear and equilibrium nose net normally)

Shes doesnt blow up ( I wouldnt say she looses weight but she doesnt explode), shes on dairy grass now
 
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