Grazing Muzzles - Opinions please

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piebaldsparkle

piebaldsparkle

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Right I have just started muzzling Sparks at night as despite being on restricted grazing she has ballooned in the last week or two (too much rain and warm weather caused a massive flush of grass). Now Sparks is only out at night (on a restricted patch). Her feed is only chaff and vit/min supplement and she was getting literally half a small section of hay (old but clean 2006 hay) during the day, ridden most days (sometimes twice if I have the time), yet still ballooned, so I started putting a grazing muzzle on her at night, but have increased her hay to 5lbs (double soak 2006 hay).

Now as far as I'm concerned I'm trying to keep her healthy, so why do the the other liveries insist on making me feel bad with comments like 'Ah poor Sparks' or in a pained voice whilst looking shocked and pain, whining 'Ooooohhhhhhhh'

So the question is.....................
 
I'm getting so peed of with all the comments and hands clasped to faces!!!! Think what annoys me most is the fact that these people would be the 1st to tut, tut if she went down with lami.
 
Well you would think so from the flack I'm taking!!!!
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I would use one but brought the green guard for Ty and it's maahoosive on him - wanna buy it? Would be fine for yours!
 
I think you should ditch the muzzle and come for a daily hack with me....... the three hour horror that we did a couple of weeks ago will do it
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You are completely right to do what you are..... you know your horse better than anyone
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Its just ignorance that make people feel sorry for the horse..... what is your alternative.... stable her 24/7 or eat the grass yourself????

Merlin likes a few curves anyway
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on his ladies as well as himself
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I've had those 'aw poor horse' comments before when I've used a grazing muzzle. Ridiculous! You're doing the right thing by your horse.
 
Thanks, would have but, I've got a Green Guard one already and a Shires one in a rather attractive shade of pink!!!! I'm alternating between the two in a hope to reduce/prevent any rubbing.
 
Personally I am not keen on them and would prefer to use other weight management techniques. However I have been lucky enough not to have a horse or pony prone to laminitis so possibly not on a position to comment, and would certainly never criticise anyone else for making the decision to use one.
 
Sorry PS I voted No. But maybe thats because I've never used one. My 17.1 did get laminitus once but the accute one and that was because of lack in communication between me and OH. He had mowed all round the outside of my paddock and about 1 week before unbeknown to me. Then we had some very hot weather so I opened up about 15-20 yards so he could get under a very large tree for shade. Came back in the morning went over and gave him a hug checked water etc., started working could see him all morning thought he was dosing. but after 2 hours I thought he hasn't moved in nearly 2 hours. Went to him in the field he wouldn't move which was not like him. Put head collar on still wouldn't move his legs were just sort of set. OH came over and said whats the matter with him I said I don't know he just won't move backward or forward (this was all in a matter of 12 hours from the night before (he was fine then). I said I'll call the vet. It was a Sunday explained what he was like they arrived within 1 hour. Checked him over and asked if we'd changed anything I said no. OH said you've opened up that piece under the tree. Vet said it's a lot sorter grass all the way round there OH said yes I mowed it about 4 days ago. Vet said he's got that accute Laminitus because putting a horse on to freshly mowed grass will give this sort of laminitus. He asked how far his stable was I said less that 1/5th of a mile up the road. He said he won't make it that far. So we had to reverse the trailer right up to his feet. The vet injected him to loosen his muscles he just managed to walk on to the trailer after the injection took effect. Put him in the stable. Scarrified a small enclosure for him. After 3 days left stable door open so he could walk out onto small scarrified grass and concrete outside the stable door. After three weeks totally clear. I wouldn't normall put a horse on recently mowed grass. I always leave it for about 3 - 4 weeks.

This worked very well.

Too early for wine so have a cup of tea and chocolate cake.
 
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Too early for wine so have a cup of tea and chocolate cake.

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Never too early for wine
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FL this is my last resort!!! I have had her 7 yrs and I normally manage to control her weight with a combination of exercise and strip grazing (she has never had Lami by the way, is just a very good doer). However her patch is on the wet side so have to be carefully how small I go when the ground is wet as it turns to a mud bath!!! I was a bit slow sectioning this year (due to the wet Spring) and the fact that her weight was staying very stable. Then in the last week she has just ballooned (not help by the fact she has been off work too). I just wish all the do gooders would keep the mouths shut (don't they think I don't feel guilty enough already? - Though not as guilty as I would feel if she went down with Lami).
 
What twats. Grazing muzzles are the best things since sliced bread even better then poo pickers
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I could rant about why there good and why these people are idoits - but I won't.

I hardly think putting a muzzle on it the meanest thing you could do.
 
Just ignore them (hard as it is) you're looking out for your ponies best interests! I'm lucky enough to be managing my boys weight without a muzzle, but if it came to it I'd stick one on! Though he'd probably get it off in 2 seconds...little houdini!
 
I think muzzles are a great way of controlling weight gain.....My problem is our little pony hasn't worked out how to use it so he gets bored and mounts one of the 'girls' in his field!!! before you say put him with the geldings, I'm very anxious as they are all big and bossy and would pick on him.

I only put the muzzle on for the first 3-4 hours and because he walks around for this time I figure he has burnt off enough calories!!!!
 
Daisy is in exactly the same situation. She is on restricted grazing and is in during the day to eat soaked hay but still has to wear a grazing muzzle when she goes out. She doesn't have one all the time but its a useful tool. There is loads of grass at the moment. To show you what a difference it has made Daisy was at 593 on the weigh tape a week ago and is now at 555, all because I've had another look at her management and she's no longer bloated on grass. Keep the muzzle on and ignore the rest of them
 
Is it a shires one?? Is the hole in the right place?? I had to modify the hole on Sparks Shires muzzle as due to her roman nose the hole didn't line up with her mouth!!!
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I'm assuming all the opinionated people on your yard don't have good do'ers then! I'm in a sililar situation, my horse just has to look at the grass and he gets fat! These people don't appreciate just how hard it can be to manage good do'ers, especially in the summer. I use muzzles aswell, they are much more humane than stabling 24/7 and alow horses and ponies to live the kind of lives that they should be.
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Most don't, have really good doers, but the one that does kind of then does a stupid giggle then and says I know he should have one on too!!!!!
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.......................Needless to say hers has had Lami before, some people never learn!!!!
 
Absolutely!! my husband tells his clients to go out and buy one when they have an over weight horse that balloons of fresh air or if they are laminitics. Ignore other peoples comments as you are doing the right thing looking after your horses health. Well done you.
 
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