Grazing muzzle - how long do you keep yours on

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Dab

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As the title really, if you use a grazing muzzle how long do you keep it on and do you find that it helps restrict grazing?

Even though i've had success using cinnamon with my EMS shetland in terms of lami, i can't turn him out 24/7 with the big lad, so i'm considering putting the wee fella in a grazing muzzle and turning out. So just wanted to find out how others cope with using a muzzle and how long you keep them in it.

Any comments greatly received
 
Mine wears his overnight, then comes in during the day.

It does slow down his eating, but doesn't stop it altogether. I'd estimate it takes him approximately twice as long to eat the same amount he would without the muzzle.
 
ANother who muzzles at night and in during the day - although we have had super slimmers on the yard, so we're trying turn-out without a muzzle, while closely monitoring weight. The grazing is quite sparse now.

The muzzle definitely worked for all of ours, (6 horses of all different shapes and sizes)
 
My shetland wears a best friend muzzle. He has the one with four velcro straps to attach it to a regular headcollar. I find he rubs the velcro straps so that the velcro unwraps. I have used cable ties to hold the velcro straps shut. So basically this headcollar is the muzzle headcollar. I never remove it. He has other headcollars that I use for leading him.
 
Thanks Hedwards.

I popped the muzzle on the wee lad this morning for him to get used to it and he was throwing his face into large clumps of grass and looking at me in total disgust (sorry i know i shouldnt laugh but if he could speak a stream of 4 letters words would be issuing forth...).
He has got the hang of it pretty quickly and has even had a drink, so i will bring him in a bit later take it off and turn him out in it tonight. :)
 
My gelding wears his from 7am when he goes out to 7pm when he comes in at night.

He wears a Dinky muzzle (in XL :D) and they recommend that the muzzle not be left on 24/7
 
GingerCat said:
He wears a Dinky muzzle (in XL :D) and they recommend that the muzzle not be left on 24/7
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Thanks GingerCat.

I did wonder about the fact that they advise that it is not left on 24/7, the reason i've read is that equines need to forage (1 1/2 to 2% of body weight per day), but i thought that the muzzles allowed them to graze but just limited the amount of intake per day. Which even if it is left on 24/7 is better than completely removing them from the herd, socialising, exercise and grass, but feeding limited forage (i.e. pony prison).
 
I tried the Greenguard muzzle / headcollar on one pony and he just pushed it around and got at the grass through the sides?! (it was fitted as per instructions). Now I use the webbing 'bucket' type and keep them on 24/7 on the Welsh A and Dartmoor. When they come in I take them off to give them a break. Work / time constraints at the moment limits my time at the yard so they get a check over and live out all the time. When I have more time they are in at night / day depending on weather etc.

I have found that the quick release velcro bit has been rubbing a bit so wrapped some vet wrap around to give a bit of protection padding.

The Dartmoor is definately looking trimmer than a couple of weeks ago when she was only wearing it every other day.
 
Many thanks all, it's good to hear what others do as i've never owned an EMS/lami pony before, and restricted grazing, suppliments, muzzles etc is all new to me, so i'm just trying to find the right balance for the wee man. Your comments have given me some food for thought.
The ex-racer is soooo much easier to manage :eek::eek::rolleyes:
 
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My Section A wears hers at night for about 14 hours then is imprisoned during the day as it didn't seem to matter what type of muzzle I used they all rubbed her with any more wear then that. She could stay in prison but I like her to have the company of my big horse.

She's never had lami and is 12 so must be working.

Oh and I remember a vet telling me about the research relating to only wearing muzzles part time and I think they can almost make up for the restricted grazing with the muzzle on if they are turned out part of the day without it but still on good grazing. Hence the prison (Paddock paradise styleee turn out).
 
Dab said:
Thanks GingerCat.

I did wonder about the fact that they advise that it is not left on 24/7, the reason i've read is that equines need to forage (1 1/2 to 2% of body weight per day), but i thought that the muzzles allowed them to graze but just limited the amount of intake per day. Which even if it is left on 24/7 is better than completely removing them from the herd, socialising, exercise and grass, but feeding limited forage (i.e. pony prison).
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I leave mine on 24/7 (as agreed with vet). So long as theyre eating and drinking the vet said it was fine. I do bring my mare in and give her feed to make sure she gets her vits. I was watching her yesterday eating and i was very suprised at how much they can get through theyre muzzles.
 
Thank you for posting this too - I am so relieved to hear that many of you keep the muzzles on for either the whole day or the whole night. I turn my section A out in a 4 acre field every morning wearing his muzzle, then bring him in to the starvation paddock at night with a slice or two of hay. He's still not skinny but he's definitely keeping the weight off.

I worry about him being in it all day though, especially as I literally have to pin him down to get it on and he hates me doing it to him. I have to keep repeating 'it's for your own good', 'it's for your own good', 'it's for your own good'.!!!!

I tried electric fencing but he just charges at it at great speed and brings the whole lot down, so this is the only solution...
 
rosie-ellie said:
I leave mine on 24/7 (as agreed with vet). So long as theyre eating and drinking the vet said it was fine. I do bring my mare in and give her feed to make sure she gets her vits. I was watching her yesterday eating and i was very suprised at how much they can get through theyre muzzles.
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Many thanks, and glad to hear that was on your vets advice. I might just do the same and see how it goes. :)
 
I'd go with 24/7 certainly if you don't get rubs. My vet also said was fine 24/7 but then we got the sore bits. They can certainly eat and drink enough. In fact now I think about it my vet friend's mare (kept near mine) wore hers 24/7 since hers didn't rub.

I put a bit of feed in the bottom of mine when I put it on and my pony can't wait to get her head into it!
 
Sorry to slightly hijack post but DAB where can I find more information about EMS & Cinnamon, ie how much to feed and can you feed it with Magox and where do you buy large amounts of cinnamon from? Does it work with cushions disease?

Just has EMS horse on Metaformin for 2 Horrible months and levels have gone up, so keen to look at alternatives before carrying on!

Thanks x
 
My 32 yr old has his on whilst out for approx 8+ hours, he has worn it 24/7 and the Lami Trust said that would be fine as it restricts approx 40%, just keep checking for rubs, line with sheepskin held on with spur straps or tied on no sewing involved
 
At certain times of the year my mare wears hers 24/7 well more like 22/7 really. I will take it off while I am poo picking or obviously when riding. She comes to me and will have it back on without tying her up. She is very skilled at using it.
She rarely gets it off, only about once a year if that.
How long she has it on for and how many days a week varies with the amount and quality of grazing she is on. I just play it by ear really. If she starts putting weight back on the muzzle goes on more, otherwise it's off.
Currently off all the time but that could change at any time.
It makes my life easier, my mare tolerates it well and doesn't seem in the least bit bothered by it and I like her being out moving about rather than standing in a stable.
I estimate it reduces her grass intake by about a third.
 
canteron said:
Sorry to slightly hijack post but DAB where can I find more information about EMS & Cinnamon, ie how much to feed and can you feed it with Magox and where do you buy large amounts of cinnamon from? Does it work with cushions disease?

Just has EMS horse on Metaformin for 2 Horrible months and levels have gone up, so keen to look at alternatives before carrying on!

Thanks x
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Here is the intersting bit....

Cinnamon can be useful for laminitis-prone horses and those with Equine Metabolic Syndrome. It is believed to help the cells to respond to insulin.

A compound found in cinnamon known as MHCP (methylhydroxy chalcone polymer) is thought to inhibit enzymes that block the insulin response procedure. So far the only studies have been carried out on humans but research has shown that cinnamon can significantly reduce blood sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes (a condition linked to equine metabolic syndrome of horses which is caused by insulin resistance). In the trial, 60 people with type-2 diabetes were given either cinnamon or a placebo. After 40 days those eating cinnamon showed reduced fasting levels of serum glucose by as much as 29% (Khan et al 2003).

Cinnamon has also been shown to act as apowerful antioxidant, which can lead to additional health benefits for the laminitic horse.

Can be useful to aid weight loss when used alongside a restricted diet.
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I bought Cinnamon off of ebay and it comes with recommended dose per kgs of horse, which i have been following, i'll try and find the link later but there are serveal places that sell it in large quants. It certainly seems to help my little fella with controlling sugars. Not sure if it will help with Cushings as that is a different problem.

Cheers
 
One of mine wears his shires muzzle overnight (between 12 and 14 hours) five or six nights a week. The rest of the time, he's out without it. He can eat with it on, but not efficiently. He doesn't gorge when it comes off though. He'll wear it every night when he moves onto better grazing, and go on to the less rich grass during the day. He's a highland though, so he's in work too...

eta - Dab where did you quote that bit about cinnamon from that you have written above?? (sorry if it's there, I'm being slow).
 
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JFTD said:
One of mine wears his shires muzzle overnight (between 12 and 14 hours) five or six nights a week. The rest of the time, he's out without it. He can eat with it on, but not efficiently. He doesn't gorge when it comes off though. He'll wear it every night when he moves onto better grazing, and go on to the less rich grass during the day. He's a highland though, so he's in work too...

eta - Dab where did you quote that bit about cinnamon from that you have written above?? (sorry if it's there, I'm being slow).
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from here...
http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/?p=product&key=0910223948
 
Tigger has his on 24/7 and has for 2 months now. I remove it from time to time for 12 hours just to give him a little break and be able to groom etc but I don't have many other options for restricting him. He copes very well, I sewed in some sheepskin to prevent the couple of rubs he did get which has worked. He hasn't even dropped weight with it on but also hasn't put any on - he had to go out in the summer field with lots of lush grass so it definitely has worked. He eats quite easily through it and I've watched him drink, whenever i remove it I always stop by the water trough to ensure he isn't dying of thirst which he never is!

He also doesn't mind it he puts his head in it every time for me lol I use a shires one for him. My old horse couldn't get on with these the hole was too small for her but the Greenguard worked really well. Trial and error really!
 
elsielouise said:
I put a bit of feed in the bottom of mine when I put it on and my pony can't wait to get her head into it!
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Thanks for this tip, Nemo only had to get a sniff of his muzzle and he would be off up the field so I couldn't put it on. Now, like you, I put a bit of feed in it and he can't get it on quick enough!

However, he has the aerborn webbing one with a rubber mouthpiece and I noticed this morning that the hole has grown. Goodness knows how he has done this, but hole is about half the size again, so I guess he is not being restricted very much at all. Time to shop for a new one...
 
Just coming off now... hopefully for the rest of the summer too!

Shadow wore his from 2pm until 8am when he was in for some hay and a sleep, lots of sheepskin made sure there was no rubbing.
 
My ISH has had his on during the day during the first month or 2 of turnout when the grass was richer. He came in at night for a break from the muzzle, I personally dont like them on overnight, dont like the thoughts of him getting hooked up somewhere which would be my luck, and like to give his jaw rest so he can yawn etc. He has just over this last week stayed out overnight for the first time this year as the grass is a bit sparse now. He comes in on a morning, is ridden then turned out muzzle free.
 
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