Grazing muzzles and pollen allergies

[holeymoley]

I have tried a grazing muzzle on my boy before, the nylon type with the hole in the centre. It was absolutely no use a he just stood stalk still in it and couldn't get any grass at all. He is in a small fenced off paddock at the moment but out of curiosity , I'm wondering whether I should buy a greenguard muzzle as I've heard these are much better. However , my boy has a pollen allergy during the summer and gets a supplement in his feed for this, but does rub his nostrils on his legs if he's itchy. In the height of the summer he also wears a full face fly mask which covers the nostrils and seems to help.

So , before I splurge out on a greenguard muzzle , would it be a waste of time with his allergy? My idea is that he could go out in he big field with the muzzle on , to rest his little paddock at some point.

 

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I have used the Greenguard muzzle for over 4 years on our 11hh pony mare and had no problems with it, it works well and she can graze continuously and I know it is limiting her intake of grass/hay.

The key is to get your horse used to it over time. I found the front section rubbed sometimes but this was easily prevented with vet tape and a sponge, you can see the purple wrap in the photo.

She doesn't need it in the winter and in the spring and summer she does have a day off when she is placed in a sandy paddock.

I expect if your horse needs a nose net for his allergy you should be able to attach it to the noseband.

 

[holeymoley]

Thank you for the photo, it looks like his full face mask with nose net would fit over it nicely.
Also another question, do you need the greenguard Headcollar ?

 

[SO1]

My pony has the bucket type muzzle and interestingly since he has been wearing this he has not had a problem with pollen allergy I think the muzzle stops so much pollen going up his nose.

 

[STRIKER]

Put vaseline in nostrils stops the pollen entering up the nasal passage and also the itchyness

 

[holeymoley]

Thanks, thats an interesting point to consider.