grazing / grass muzzle help please

[samcrob]

Here is a picture of dexter from today:

I'm slightly worried that he is on the porky side. I've never had any experience with a grazing muzzle and wondered what fellow HH's would recommend? I did a little search and the green guard one seemed to come up with good reviews, would you agree or disagree? any advice or recommendations good or bad would be appreciated.
I wouldn't be so worried but they are still in the winter field atm and about to go in the summer field anytime soon, which has very lush long grass. YO has started to strip graze it so they don't go straight into it but were worried he might balloon when we move them over completely.
Also how long would you recommend leaving it on/off for? would you leave it on for 24 hours then off for 24 hours or on at night off in day or vice versa?!
Thanking you in advance if you have read this far and (hopefully) reply! xx

 

[EgerdenFarmStud]

I don't think he looks too porky!! But if he is due to go onto good grass a muzzle might be a good idea...My mums cobs have to wear muzzles some of the time and we just got a cheap one from the local tack shop ( no idea of make etc ) It does the job perfectly... They are in the starvation field in the day without muzzles, then at around 4 or 5pm they get to go onto some nice grass for a couple of hours with muzzles on...This way they are slowly eating the good grass down so that when thats gone they can use that as starvation field and I'll let the one they use now rest for a while... ( am I making any sense atall? )

Anyways, they work well for us, and it means that they can be out and enjoy the sun for as long as they like without us having to worry about laminitus or just general fat bellies!!

xx

 

[samcrob]

Thanks EFS, it just makes me feel guilty putting it on him, although i know its for his own benefit!

 

[EgerdenFarmStud]

Thanks EFS, it just makes me feel guilty putting it on him, although i know its for his own benefit!

If you get one that has soft padding around the nose it should be fine - as long as it doesn't rub him and he can still eat a bit he has nothing to complain about - I'm sure he'd prefer it to being in all summer in pain from having lami?? I felt bad at first, but now the boys r used to them they are fine with it, they still get to eat and I think they are actually pleased to get onto the longer grass so don't mind having their muzzles on!

xx

 

[night_mare]

he doesn't look fat but where i am the grass is coming through really well the last week or so and my pony is starting to put on weight so am having to take precautions to prevent him getting fat.

personally i don't like the greenguard muzzles. when i used the greenguard one years ago they could move it so they could still eat normally and if i did it up so tight they couldn't move it then it rubbed.

i prefer the shires ones that are like canvess and cover over the whole bottom of their nose and have a rubber base with a hole in the bottom like this - http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=493&cat=742&page=1

a lot of people at my yard use these and like them.

 

[teddyt]

No horse should have lush grazing, so any precautions you can take to reduce grass intake are wise.

If you do decide to use a muzzle please train the horse to gradually get used to it. Too many people just put i on and leave it on, for hours on end. As with anything (saddle, bit, etc) the horse has to get used to it gradually - even more importantly because it needs to learn it can still eat and drink. Also, if the grass is too long then the grass cant be pushed down to poke through the holes, so the horse cant actually eat at all , the grass just gets flattened. so this needs to be considered.

Im all for muzzles if it means th horse can be outside with freedom and a reduced risk of laminitis and obesity but they must be used sensibly.

 

[samcrob]

Thanks night_mare, i did like the shires ones as you don't need to use them with a headcollar unlike the g.guard ones.
And teddyt thanks for your wise words, I will let him get used to it gradually and as part of the summer field is being strip grazed as we speak there will still be some shorter areas that i hope he can much at!

 

[RSL]

I wouldn't go with the shire one, rubbed my lad raw and the velcro doesn't last long!