Grazing muzzle escape artist

[caradoo]

Hi dip in and out of forum, but not sure I've posted yet. I have a highland mare who can get out of a bucket shaped muzzle in two minutes. She did wear Shires for a few weeks, but then I made a mistake of putting a lighter weight I thought more comfortable one on rather than be over hot with sheepskin. That lasted an afternoon. She has ripped the bottom off two and I'm still persevering with 3rd. Tried all the usual, plaiting into mane, shortened bits, sewn bits together, put rucksack buckles on the (too) quick release velcro, put headcollar on over the top and velcro over rings to tie together. Nightmare. She drags along ground, then paws continually with front hoof catching it on the bottom. Obviously I haven't tried a Greenguard as I'm not sure my stress levels will stand £70 being trashed quickly. Any suggestions, etc. would be very welcome. Also any feedback on Greenguard damaging teeth? At the moment on a wonderful day like today she has been out for 2 hours this morning, is now in stable and I have to go back later to turn her out. This is after a bit of a scare last week when following loads of rain on very dry ground the grass really flushed.

 

[brighteyes]

Can you mow the grass to ground level and/or section off an area? Can you get sheep to compete?

Why is she in a muzzle? Has she got EMSand/or Cushing's?

 

[calmgirl]

I use a shires one but I drilled the hole twice the size.
Still limits the grass but eases the frustration element!

 

[ester]

Hmm, I use the shires fleece one too and the only think I do if I really don't want him getting it off is to put his fly mask on top, because otherwise he can rub a load of grass etc into the velcro. If she is ripping the bottom off I'm not sure what to suggest. Three on the yard are in greenguards and I do think they can eat more in them but they are all horses, the pony down the road is pro at moving it out of the way and eating out of one corner! I'm not sure a dinky muzzle would survive her any better? I did use one but Frank would eat them from the inside .

 

[brighteyes]

The reason I ask is that grass itself shouldn't trigger laminitis unless there's an underlying hormonal issue. We use ours as a preventative measure against obesity. If you have inherited the problem, that's a shame. You might have to sacrifice an area and turn it to dust and confine to that.

 

[caradoo]

Thats what its for brighteyes as a preventative to obesity. I have always been a bit anti and controlled weight through strip grazing or bringing in, she has fortunately never had laminitus, but was persuaded to try one this Summer, successfully at first. We had a bit of a scare last week when she went a bit pottery, raised pulse, but could have been bruised sole, she's barefoot and was dropping on off fore. Vet wasn't sure either. She's fine now, but I'm in livery yard which is lovely and she is out with 4 bigger horses and they mooch about constantly. There isn't an option to strip graze, but also the grass isn't long at all. We've had a difficult year as she was off for 2 months at beginning of year with injury then I was out for 6 weeks in Summer due to back injury. She's living out this year all the time which will be great, she's not rugged at all and has only handful of feed for balancer.

 

[SO1]

I have the best friend have a heart grazing muzzle they are a bit pricey but they do tend to stay on better than the shires and they have an expandable nose which I think makes them more comfortable or you can tighten the nose area as well to make it more secure.

I find the key to keeping it on is to make sure the throat lash is right into the throat grove and on tight.

If the grass is very short she is probably finding it hard to get much grass at all making her more frustrated!

http://www.charliesproducts.co.uk/grazing-muzzles/48-safety-breakaway-halter.html