Grazing muzzles ( again sorry )

Stinkbomb

Stinkbomb

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Having been reminded of this by a previous post i bring up this topic again...i know this topic has been brought up before during the summer but i am really struggling to come to terms with the idea of using muzzles on my ponios. They are by no means overweight but they do have "some" excess weight
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I know many people swear on them ( cue xxKatyxx!!!! )
The problem that keeps niggling me is that i do wonder whether they affect horses psychologically. What im trying to say is that i do wonder if horses can interact the same with each other if they cant nuzzle/groom etc.. Inky is only young and i worry that using a muzzle at an early age will stop him developing socially with other horses. I am not sure whether i am being totally ridiculous with these thoughts and would value your opinions on this please...
 
As you know I have a Dinky grazing muzzle. It would prevent them from mutual grooming but would not stop them trying and a good rub on the wither is almost as good. Obviously they would not be able to play at the colty games that boys tend to do but again does not prevent them from trying and going through the motions. They would inevitably go through a period of adjustment.

The instructions say that they should not be left on 24 hours a day.
 
I know what you mean! But my problem was the other end of the scale,my horse at 30 developed a cresty neck this summer and was advised by my vet to put on a grazing muzzle, I did and I too worried about his psychological state as he is abit of a stress head!! He was ok ( much to my surprise)
Now he is not wearing one he is back to grooming his field mates, but I did worry about the social side of it as you are. I do think though that their natural instinct will win through when it comes to grooming ect when the muzzle comes off.
Much better than an over weight/ lamanitic pony who then would have no turn out at all !
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My lad has just completed his second summer in a Greenguard mask. His weight has been managed well & he has been able to interact with other horses. I've found no problem with using one at all..... neither has he.
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When I first started using a muzzle Ginger was turned out alone. I truly believe he would have come down with Laminitis without one. In essence, it saved his life.
He has worn a muzzle 24/7 since march. Our problem is that the grazing we have is richer than most would have for a pony, and the area he had was big for one pony.

TBH when he went out with others I didnt notice him missing out on mutual grooming etc. He was out with two others and seemed happy enough.
Recently one of his field mates has been pts. So he's only out with one other now. I'm quite sad in that i enjoy sitting up in the field watching them, drawing or just taking photos lol. Over time I noticed that although Ginger really couldnt give a hoot if he grooms or gets groomed the other horse IS missing out. The other horse was fine when there were three in the field, he didnt bother, but now vies for attention, almost throwing himself at you for a good scratch. I believe if Ginger didnt wear his muzzle the other horse would be friendlier towards him (they have a hate hate realtionship) and not so in-yer- face towards humans because Ginger would be able to interact with him more, therefore satisfying the other horses' want for a good scratch and some attention. As it is, if ginger goes up to the other horse just to say hello he gets chased away. They graze apart, and sleep apart, and I truly think it's because he's of no 'use' to the other horse.

If I had a choice (ie I had access to a piggy paddock all year) he wouldnt wear a muzzle. But I don't have the choice.

Inky is still a baby and needs that interaction with Ty. I think stabling them both part time in the same stable would be beneficial to Inky, and trying to make the grass almost non existent would be even better. Muzzles are handy during the flushes of growth in the grass (ie now) but I don't believe they're a good idea all year round, or all day if it can be helped. Our situation is different in that Ginger came to us overweight and I am very desperate to ensure he doesnt put weight on. He literally balloons overnight
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. I feel very very sorry for him, and do not want to put him through that for another summer, but it has been for his own health, not mental wellbeing. In an ideal world I would have put both as a first priority, but as far as fat ponies go, their health has to come first.
 
Thanks for your replies everyone!!

xxKatyxx - I think you have done extreemly well with Ginger this year and the change in him is remarkable. Its probably because of how well Ginger looked in your last photos that has really made me think about these muzzles. The problem where we are is that the grass is just so good. I have sectioned half my field off but even so the grass just seems to keep growing i just cant get it bald!!! Inky and Ty are in the stable next to each other but they still couldnt see each other ( except over the door ) but only last week me and the OH have cut a big hole in the wall ( kind YO!!! ) so they can see and scratch each other through it!!! I have tried them in the same stable and although they are ok for a few hours after that they just really get on each others nerves. Thats another reason why ive been thinking about muzzles because they would only wear them in the day and would still in effect be able to groom, interact together at night ( thats if grumpy Ty lets Inky!! ) I think i will buy them and try them. I dont have to use them if they dont seem to work but i am really worried that if we have a summer like last year that i will really have problems next year. I can lunge Ty which obviously helps but Inky is still too young unfortunatly!!!

Well done with Ginger your an inspiration to me!!!
 
My only word of advice would be that the dinky muzzles IMO don't really do as great a job as the shires ones. The way muzzles are manufactured means a muzzle for a 17hh horse has a 2.5cm hole, which gives that horse enough to survive on. A muzzle for a 9hh pony has a 2.5cm hole which gives him enough to pig out on. You wouldnt give your 9hh pony the same rations as a 17hh horse. This is a serious misjudgement by the muzzle makers. Don't think for one moment that the muzzles Ginger wore made him lose that weight. i had to adapt them and reduce his paddock and make it as bare as possible. He's wearing an adapted muzzle atm and is out on pre grazed grass and looks nothing like he did back in August. he has a pot belly again, but thankfully not fatty pads. The shires are 10x better IMO but still the hole is too big. My farrier said one thing that brought it home to me.

"shetlands are made to walk 40 miles for a piece of rubbish grass". They werent made to graze on grass, they were made to graze on the highlands and pile on weight to keep them through the harsh winters.

Madhector showed me some pics of the piggy paddock she made. Basically a turnout area covered in bark chip. If i could have made one i would have, and would have given him soaked hay as fibre. IMO every yard should have a starvation paddock like this, so maybe your YO would let you make one?
 
My boy is wearing a muzzle when out at the moment as the gras is so lush - someone forgot today and he was NOT a happy bunny and very very 'skittery' tummy. He stopped to poo 12 times on our hack today and my friend commented he was 'farting poo juice!' lovely!

But, I do also worry about how he feels wearing at as even today with out it on he was not in the herd in the field (its a new winter field so main group with 3 or so new additions) and has missed out on when they sorted the pecking order - I can tell as the 1st 3 days he had quite a few bite marks
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But its that or an uncomfortable unhappy horse with a bloated belly.
 
At the moment one of mine is still wearing her muzzle the majority of the time whilst turned out. I was very concerned about her not being able to interact with the other horses, or eat and drink comfortably but she seems just fine. However we did go through a stage of either hiding at the back of the stable or rearing up when I tried to put the muzzle on but she seems ok with wearing it now. I think it's much better than having to keep my pony stabled most of the summer as we don't have the option of restricted grazing and she puts on weight very easily.
My horse wears his every other night and has always been fine about wearing it and rubs himself on the other horses rather than using his teeth to groom them.
 
one of mine is still wearing a muzzle but only from about 5,30 till the next morning (over night) but i'd rather him wear it than getting ill and when its off he groom's with the other pony's
 
I can understand your concern as worry about putting Will with a large group wearing his muzzle and the fact he cant pull faces and defend himself as well IMO.

I think you have two that get on well and are similar size so it probably worries you more than them. If they can have a scratch thru the hole in the wall I really wouldn't worry, preventing Lami is much more important
 
my weaning had a muzzle n for a while as she was on grazing that was dangerously good while i was finding a new place for my horses.didnt do her any harm.
probably alot less harm than the grass/lami/being over weight would!
my ISH mare wore one all summer-stopped her getting fat and another lami attack,but mean she could stay out!
 
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