sonjafoers
Well-Known Member
I've just put my mare into a grazing muzzle due to the fact she is looking like a beach ball on legs already, and the plan is (was) to have it on for 12 hours during the day and off overnight. However she isn't grazing at all and I'm a bit stressed about it
She has a Dinky muzzle which fits well and had it on for just over an hour on day 1, 3 hours on day 2 and day 3 which was yesterday 4 hours in the morning, a 2 hour break for riding & to have her feed and then 3 hours again later. I have put it on again this morning.
She isn't even attempting to graze, I watch her from a distance and she is just standing looking around but not trying to get it off. I'm giving her treats through it & poking grass through but when I take it off there's not even a tip of grass in there & it's completely clean so I know she isn't eating.
My mini has the same one & I'm not even sure it reduces his grazing at all! He is constantly eating in his even managing to get leaves off branches & eat twigs so I expected my mare to be the same.
I've searched on here & other forums and have read that some horses just don't take to them at all and owners have to give up. Has anyone else experienced that? I'm happy to persevere but am slightly worried that if she goes such long periods without eating it could cause some digestive issues/ulcers regardless of how unhappy she will be.
How long do you think I should continue?
She has a Dinky muzzle which fits well and had it on for just over an hour on day 1, 3 hours on day 2 and day 3 which was yesterday 4 hours in the morning, a 2 hour break for riding & to have her feed and then 3 hours again later. I have put it on again this morning.
She isn't even attempting to graze, I watch her from a distance and she is just standing looking around but not trying to get it off. I'm giving her treats through it & poking grass through but when I take it off there's not even a tip of grass in there & it's completely clean so I know she isn't eating.
My mini has the same one & I'm not even sure it reduces his grazing at all! He is constantly eating in his even managing to get leaves off branches & eat twigs so I expected my mare to be the same.
I've searched on here & other forums and have read that some horses just don't take to them at all and owners have to give up. Has anyone else experienced that? I'm happy to persevere but am slightly worried that if she goes such long periods without eating it could cause some digestive issues/ulcers regardless of how unhappy she will be.
How long do you think I should continue?