Grazing muzzle - argh

[jesterfaerie]

I am in a bit of a pickle with my pony and his grazing muzzle.
He is living out 24/7 but I am beginning to stable him during the day and he goes out in a big field with his muzzle on at night as I am unable to fence him into his own little paddock.
When he has his muzzle on he doesn't attempt to graze and just stands there all depressed whilst he has it on.
Granted the grass is short and my dad keeps telling me not to have it on him as there isn't much in the grass at the moment but because the field is so big, surley he is suceptable (sp?) to eating enough in order for it to have an effect?

Yes the grass is short, but he doesn't even try to eat.
And it is getting to me a bit now, so I need to be told to carry on using it!

It just made me wonder as yesterday he barged me out of the way, escaped from his stable and into the field and ate as much as he could then trotted on in front when i caught up and ate soooo quickly again! Thankfully he didn't colic but he acted as though he had been starved for the past year!

Should I carry on using this as he is very fat and it is the only method of grazing control which I can use.
His behaviour made me think twice that is all.

 

[shellonabeach]

I had exactly the same problem last year. I opted to cut the hole a LITTLE bigger.

Being as mean as I am I fed him some dry chaff with the muzzle on and he proved to me, and himself, he could eat with it on. I also liked to give him a treat through the hole in the mornings when I put his on.

I think the depressed starved look is normal and was told my boy was grazing happily when I was not around!

Also remember that long grass will bend and not poke through the hole. As long as you are certain the grass is not so short he can't get anything then I would keep an eye on him (and ask others on the yard to keep an eye out) and continue as you know you need to!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

If you have one of the shires ones, you can cut the hole a bit bigger. Ours spent the first two days of wearing his galloping round like a nutter, until I cut the hole bigger, then he was fine.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Katy, yes mine is a shires one and I mat try and cut the hole a bit bigger for him. He is just such a different pony he goes into the field and is so depressed, he doesn't even roll now because of it, poor lad.

 

[Wooleysmum]

It takes a wee while to get used to it. My cob used to stand all depressed looking but I hid behind a wall and he started to eat. Actually he has not had the thing on this year yet as the grass is too short. It be an inch away from his mouth to work and grass that is not too short. A geedy pony will get the knack!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

What you are describing is one of the reasons I won't use a Shire muzzle or the Aerborn model. I don't think horses can really get much grass at all if any. I by far prefer the Greenguard. They are more expensive but my lad gets on well with it, he still gets grass but doesn't get a bloated belly.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

I looked at the greenguard but it was so pricey i didnt want to risk wasting themoney if he managed to get it off.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Yes the is exactly why I didn't buy the green gaurd one Katy!

Well my lads field can be seen from my house, and I watch him and he doesn't eat so I do know he doesn't do it when I am not watching, as he doesn't know I am watching him, or at least I don't think so.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

where the ruber thickens on the bottom of the muzzle, round the hole, just cut round that. we found that sufficient to stop him sulking and he eats happily now.

 

[custard]

I had to poke grass through my chaps muzzle til he got the idea, he can manage very well but didnt like the greenguard, got his nose thru the corners.

Even though the grass is short it is still growing, its just the horses eat the new shoots as fast as they appear.

Before all these things came on the market i had one made up. I bought a leather muzzle like the shires one and had the local Timpson shop rivet a circular plastic drain cover to the bottom. Dont laugh it worked very well!!

 

[pottamus]

You really do need to check that he can reach the grass with it on...if the grass is too short he won't be able to get anything and if it is affecting his personality then that is no good.

 

[AmyMay]

It took Amy a short time to get used to hers.

However, does he really need it on now?? There's not really much in the grass.

 

[1CTrenowath]

Slight hijacking of thread, but anyone had problems with talented horses rolling and getting the whole flaming kit and caboodle off? Pony literally walks out, rolls and gets up minus his (greenguard including special headcollar). ID gelding has a greenguard headcollar with the shire bucket muzzle stitched on (you would think this would be impossible to remove) and he puts up with it for about 10 minutes.... And yes this is in summer with nice stalky grass about 2-4 inches long. Greenguard muzzle no good for big boy as his nose is just tooo big!!!

Any suggestions.....

 

[jesterfaerie]

Amy he does need his intake reduced in order to help me shift some of his weight and he has a massive field to himself and his field mate so he has the oppertunity to have like three times more of his intake than he should.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Amy he does need his intake reduced in order to help me shift some of his weight and he has a massive field to himself and his field mate so he has the oppertunity to have like three times more of his intake than he should

[/ QUOTE ]
Not disputing that at all - having lived with a 'fatty' for 14 years I know how difficult it can be. However, it's not the quantity - but the quality of the grazing that does the damage. All I am wondering is if he actually needs it on at the moment as the grazing will not be particularly nutritious at the moment.

The other thing to consider is that as he is out overnight - you can't actually see what he's doing, so may well be happily grazing in the dark. My mare wore a muzzle all last summer (except when she was at stud) and it really revolutionised the way I was able to manage her. However, she only had it on in the day time when she could be kept an eye on. I don't like horses turned out in headcollers, and must admit that the idea of a muzzle does worry me slightly as they do have the ability to get caught up in them.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Those of you mentioning problems with your horse either removing or getting around the Greenguard muzzle need to spend some time fitting it properly. When it's properly fitted it works great. If you have to start cutting holes in or enlarging holes in the other ones, as you seem to be saying, they must be wrongly designed. Greenguard is made in consultation with vets etc & is a far superior muzzle, when you take the time to fit it correctly.