Grazing muzzle recommendations

[benson21]

I am thinking I need to try a muzzle for Donovan. Grass in the field us quite lush and plentiful and I really dont want any more weight on him. Can anyone recommend one for me? I have never had the need to have one before and I read so many stories about them working their way off or tearing.

 

[Surreydeb]

I would be interested in this as I am thinking about getting one for my cob.

 

[suestowford]

I've tried Greenguard, Shires and Dinky rugs muzzles. Out of the 3 the Shires has been the most hardwearing, the Dinky Rugs one fit the best.
Greenguard frightened the bejasus out of the pony and I couldn't get it near him.
Dinky Rugs one has webbing mesh at the bottom of the 'bucket' bit, mine chewed through that in just a few weeks. Shame as it was a beautiful fit and didn't rub at all.
If you buy Shires my top tip is buy the size above the one you think you need. They come up quite small in the bucket bit. And if you have extra room you can pad it out with strips of sponge and fleece. I have found it takes about a year for the rubber base to wear away (the eating hole gets bigger, and bigger!).
I got a brilliant tip on here about keeping a muzzle on, to plait the mane over the headpiece. Even my little Houdini can't get out of that!
eta, my own top tip is to put a bit of hay in the bottom of the bucket, then pony may put his nose right in making it easier for you to get the muzzle in place.

 

[threeponies]

My Highland wears the Greenguard muzzle, this will be her fourth summer in the same one I think, and it's still going strong. She has only managed to remove it once which was my fault as I didn't fix her big bushy mane properly. I tried the Shires one and she got it off every time, as did my Shetlands.

 

[Sophstar]

Pony is in a greenguard as he HATED shires...felt incredibly claustrophobic in it and wouldn't eat...he's now a master at the greenguard and if i plait his mane into his forelock, he has only managed to get it off once *touch wood*

Cob is in greenguard through the day and then best friend muzzle at night. He's muzzled 23 hours a day Greenguard it took him a couple of weeks to realise he could eat, only convinced when i put him in the hay field to realise grass comes through the bottom when u try! He is a master at the best friend muzzle which he prefers and though they are more expensive than the shires they are far stronger and sturdier, and only now in the third summer he has almost eaten through the bottom. u do need the size up so mine wears a full size. His nostrils get rubbed and sore for the first week but then the skin seems to toughen up when its smothered in sudocrem every night and i put the greenguard on through the day as the bucket types can get very hot and uncomfortable to wear in the heat.

i always say to make a muzzle a positive experience..my pony puts his own on and cob nickers when it goes back on..i always put a piece of carrot at the bottom and then feed a few bits through the hole. when they are muzzled they only get carrots when its related to the muzzle...very few arguments then!