Grazing muzzles- I am feeling cruel!

McNally

McNally

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For two reasons i bought and put on my poor horse a grass muzzle last night- he is very miserable about the matter and i feel quite guilty!
Firstly he is huge and obviously i dont want an obese horse especially as he has joint problems so its double bad for him.
Secondly he cribs and windsucks and its getting to the point i'm fixing the new fencing that cost us so much in time and money 6 months ago daily. Yesterday he broke a section in such way that my shetland pony was able to squish through cutting himself in the process so its a real problem. (electric with wooden posts but there is an area ow wooden by a foot path gate which i cant electrify)
The muzzle fixes both problems but......
1. Flies he swings round to bite at them on his sides etc
2. Mutual grooming, he loves his grooming sessions with his friends
3. heat- surely they cant be comfortable esp when its hot muggy weather like we are having?

Do i persevere? do most horses accept their fate after a while? ;-)
 
They certainly do accept and with time get better at getting a lot of grass through them. It took nearly a week for my boy to , get used to it, I nearly gave up but for health reasons I stuck to it. Dont feel guilty its for the best. If the muzzle is a bit bigger than you need then it stops any rubbing but also allow more room for air to circulate. Good luck x
 
That makes me feel a bit better! thank you.
I bought the biggest they had but he's a 16.2 hulk so i probably cant get one much bigger! It seems to fit ok.
I like the green guard ones but they are a bit pricey!
 
I felt very guilty when I got my pony one.. She sulked for a couple of days but they get used to it :)

Could he not wear it during the day then have it off for night time? Or off for an hour or two in the evening so he can have a scratch with his friends etc?

I was ill not long ago and couldn't make it down to see to my horses for a week, so my friend was sorting them for me. They had put her grazing muzzle on and just turned her out in the field and by the time I got down there to bring her in it had rubbed her chin raw, so keep a very close eye on it as I can imagine she was rather uncomfortable.. :)
 
you shouldnt feel cruel, its for their own good. what is cruel is someone who continues to allow their horses to get to the point where they are really suffering because they think its cruel to not let their horses graze.
 
Tough love I'm afraid you are doing it for his own good. I know how you feel put 1 on my girl this summer I've never had to worry in the 10 years I've had her. She would just stand at the gate all day and sulk! Wouldn't even attempt to eat. She's been wearing it since April and has only just started to eat with it bless her.
 
Given the options, you have done the right thing. It's not permanent. Certainly you wouldn't be wearing it for 12hrs a day straight off if ever at all.

You train them to use it, they get used to it, and reap the benefits.

Until such a place exists where all types of horses are catered for so that they can roam without the good-doers getting fat, then it's your next best thing.
 
Until they get used to it I know what you mean by being cruel when they look all miserable, but stick with it as it is indeed a lifesaver. Our NF mare was so adept at using it she could get hay out of a haynet. I did find in time they rub and so bought 2 and lined both.
 
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