Grazing muzzle virgin...questions

[pottamus]

I am giving serious consideration to all solutions/helpers that might assist my horse to not get laminitis again for the longer term. I thought I was doing everything right...riding every day, restricted grass, weigh taping etc but alas he got it again.

So I am considering a grazing muzzle and need some advice on how they work and with what length of grass.
Basically I wondered whether they work best with longer grass (fetlock deep) or should be used on shorter grass.
Also, whilst he has it on is it safe to let him on good pasture - presuming it cuts down the amount they can get in their mouths?
All help and advice gratefully received as my horse is currently going through mental turmoil being confined to a small area and I cannot let him go through this again.

 

[ThePony]

hi,
I would def recommend a grass muzzle. One of my mares has had hers on for about 95% of turnout since the beginning of spring. After a couple of days of sulking, she has got on with it well, and will happily graze and have a drink of water with it on. This is the one we use http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Comfo...zle-(1147).aspx
Shorter grass seems to work better (otherwise she tries to eat like a cow taking side swipes to get a swathe in her mouth - she's just being a pig which doesn't work!). I would still keep him in a paddock with shorter grass. It might be worth while to pop up to check on him at lunchtime for the first couple of days to check he isn't a whizz at taking it off! This has worked so well for us and she will keep it on until the grass properly goes off for winter. It is the first year that despite lots of exercise that she has kept a healthy weight. Despite a small paddock and shortened turn out, without a mask she used to be almost on the verge of colic through stuffing herself so much. This is much better for her, and such a relief as I hate to have to stable her when its not necessary. At least with this she can have normal turnout and keep a good healthy weight.
hth!

 

[Ladylina83]

I use mine on all types of grass and it does the trick tho I have cut a slightly larger hole in the bottom but i've really just made a round hole square so not sure if its made much difference really. I also wrap all the webbed parts in vetwrap to stop it chaffing and you may need a little bit of vasaline on the inside of the bucket part as it can chafe a little at first but other than that they really are a god send ! and give you that extra piece of mind

Some nutter cut all our horses muzzles off in the night once with scissors or something ! the mind boggles

 

[BigRed]

My shetland has worn a best friend grazing muzzle for the last 4 years, he wears it all the time he is turned out. The grazing hole is about the size of a 10p piece. He does not complain about wearing it, he is glad to be out in a big field with his friend. I always understood that long grass is coarser and less "dangerous" than short grass. I think they can eat short grass more effectively through a muzzle, and that is not what you want, you want them to eat less, so I think long grass is better. My pony pushes the muzzle onto the ground and uses his lips to tease the grass through the hole. He is an expert now.

 

[kellyeaton]

shorter grass is better for grazing muzles because it is more sturty if you try long grass it bends and will not get into the hole of the muzzle. Are you sure it is the grass that is causing the lammi and nothing else like feed stress etc?