Grazing Muzzles - how long do you keep yours on for?

[thespanishmane]

This is the first year i have used one of these, as the cheeky Spaniard has a tendency to get fat on fresh air. He lives out 24/7 and I really dont want to stable him. I also dont want to bore the poor devil to death by leaving him in a starvation paddock. He currently wears the muzzle from 8.00am to 6.00pm, but I am not sure whether to leave it on overnight. He has fathomed out how it works, but HATES it. He is fine to catch when it's on, as he realises he is going to do something, so it will probably come off, but a monster when it's off, as he doesnt want it on!
so, just checking out what you folks do with yours!

 

[Chestnut mare]

Mines on for about 8 hours a day. She won't eat with it on so don't really wanna leave it on any longer than that.

 

[Megibo]

hmm...when my mare used to have one she decided how long it was on for. Usually the amount of time it took for me to put her in the field and disappear from her field of vision!

 

[cptrayes]

7PM to 9 or 10AM Go two in them both eating well and leaving them on, which is a surprise!

 

[tallyho!]

Anywhere between 8-12hrs - can never be totally consistent - work gets in the way. I am "weaning" him off it during June when sugar levels peter off a bit so i only muzzle April & May really.

Oh, I should add - we lost 40kilos! Yay!!! We have a nice round bottom now rather than the rain-gutter

 

[w1bbler]

Used to leave one on all day & off overnight - he seemed to know & the minute I took it off he just gorged himself - I swear he spent the entire night grazing without rest.
Actually seems to gain less weight without one!
I should say though this is a horse who lives out 24/7 rugless & didn't loose any weight over the winter - only small hard feed & limited hay

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Mine has his on approx 7 hours a day.

He has worn it 24/7 due to 1 horse getting strangles on our yard years ago and they had to be isolated where they were, mine was out, I rang Laminitis Trust and they said it would be fine and it was. I use to let him have half an hour with it off while I was there to supervise then I used to put it back on, he was so good, this was for about 3 months ! I was morified but it worked out fine.

 

[chickeninabun]

I've just put mine in her muzzle this morning, as she keeps escaping from her fatty field (due to wind blowing the electric tape down). I was planning on leaving her in it all day, then taking it off tonight and putting her back in the fatty field overnight. Then back with the others in the big field tomorrow morning but muzzled. I can't just turn her out overnight in the big field as she'll surely just gorge herself and end up doing more damage.
I do feel mean tho!