Grazing muzzle - possible issue?

muddygreymare

muddygreymare

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Right so I now have a grazing muzzle for my mare. I put it on her for the first time tonight and it fits fine and I fed her some treats through the hole and she can eat fine through it. She was rather stressy and was trying to get it off, waving her head about etc. I would have thought this would be normal for a horse that's never worn one before but had comments that she was too stressed and to take it off and not use it.

I was going to try and put it back on tomorrow for another couple of minutes but do it in the field this time, and see how we go. Does this sound like a good plan, or shall I try a different tactic. I know its early days so I did expect her to stress a bit, but not to the extent she did as usually she's a really calm, lovely mare even in strange situations and just gets a tad jumpy etc. What would you do?
 
As long as she can eat I'd battle on. Alot will worry thinking ....OMG I cannot eat !!!! but they soon figure it out . They get the hang of them quickly. Id put it on and potter around just to keep an eye on her. If you have some pasture mix you could scatter some on small grassy patch in field so she gets the hang of snuffling around. Has she a muzzle due to weight issues ?
 
Unless she is pawing at her face, rubbing on fences, throwing herself in the air - I would leave it on. She might just need a bit of time to accept it. Sit and watch her for an hour either in the field if she will leave you or from the yard if she won't. If she is stabled at night then morning will be your best time to see if she is going to settle with it as she will be keen to eat.
 
Just re read this and thought - no wonder she was stressy it sounds like you had it on her in her stable or in the yard. If you put it on, lead her out and let her eat she may just munch away no problem!
 
Ignore the person who said it was cruel. Laminitis will be far worse.

If you try it in the field you might find that she adjusts to it more quickly I've never seen a horse that wasn't annoyed to be wearing one, you just have to be hard hearted.
 
That's what I thought. I only did it in her stable as she'd just been worked and it was more convenient to do it there :) That was my thoughts Wellsat, I'd rather her be slightly grumpy than be overweight and at risk of Lami! Will try again tomorrow in the field and see how it goes. Fingers crossed she'll eat with it on and not try to kill it :p
 
My mare charged around the field in a rage flinging her head around when I first put hers on :D
The whole idea was that when I let the old pony out for some grass she can stay with him but be muzzled, she can't be bothered eating through it anymore so after 5 mins she brings herself back into the electric paddock and I take it back off! She follows me round while I poo pick while he's out having grass instead :)
 
My girl was very unhappy with her muzzle to start with and refused to eat the first few hours in field. When she realised it wasn't being taken off she did start to eat and she's not had it on every day for last few weeks.

They do take some getting used to for horses and owners but the thought of her possibly getting very overweight and laminitis spurs me on.

I'd stick with it - if you can put it on when she's in field on a day when you can watch her I'm sure you'll find she'll soon settle down.
 
Speaking from the perspective of nursing my lami mare - put it on & leave her to get used to it! She'll be much more unhappy with lami; in pain & cooped up in her stable.
I will be buying one for my mare for when she's ready to go out again & she WILL be wearing it - if I have to duct tape it to her head! :p
I can't see how one would be cruel. She was probably just putting on a show, hoping you'd feel sorry for her & take it off. I know my mare will try that trick with me. But when she realises it's not working, she'll give up. It's been the same story with lots of things.
Persevere & good luck :) xxx
 
Stick with it and remember why your doing it. I always give a little treat just before it goes on. They are very positive about the muzzles. Looking back it took my boy about 3 days to get the hang of it, nearly gave up but stuck to it. I have to say though they are still fat, once they get the hang of them they become adept at getting as much grass as possible from them so do not cave in. Good luck
 
Big Fuzzy was the same - totally unamused, very stressed & unhappy. Either stood at the gate for ages, or was pawing at the ground, stamping her feet, tossing her head, or sulking in the far corner of the field on her own.
I persevered daily over a week & I think it took her 6 days or so of wearing it for 12 hours at a time to learn to eat with it on.
I shoved grass up the holes in it (its Dinky Muzzle) & eventually had to put her in a paddock with complete electric fence round it so she could not hurt herself.
She's fine now & tho not 'happy' she does manage to eat :)
 
Put it on, turn out in a safe field, electric fence better than post and rail in case of trying to remove it on fence, and go away. Don't watch, it will only bother you. She may sulk and stand looking hard done by. She may try to remove it, trying various methods, she may stand by the gate calling. But when she's hungry and realises it's not coming off she'll get on with working out how to eat with it on. Probably take 2 or 3 days to completely get used to it but persevere, they are life savers for many horses, and ignore the idiots in your yard, it's not their horse at risk.
 
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