Grazing muzzles over winter

[MuddyMonster]

Is anyone still using them? And if so, when are you expecting to take them off?

Pony moved into his winter grazing about a month ago & debating when it was likely to be OK to take his muzzle off. He's at a much better weight, has no cresty neck but he does have a few super stubborn fat pads, which are going down very slowly.

He lost a lot of weight over the summer but I really want to make Spring & Summer easier for us both next year so trying to use this winter to maximum effect!

 

[Polos Mum]

Is his weight stable or still reducing? If it's only stable then when you take it off his weight will increase - even in winter! If the muzzle is keeping the balance now.

IMHO if you want to manage spring well then you need him to be a smidge under weight before the grass comes - so while his weight might be good now you might want him to still drop some more before spring.

I have had great success on stubborn fat pads with a magnesium supplement - worth a thought to get rid of them

I presume you've had him tested for EMS? which is classic fat pads.

 

[Michen]

Yep. Fat one is in a muzzle for his daily turn out. I did take it off two weeks ago and he ballooned.

I want him lean going into spring.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Thanks both

He lost a lot over Summer & Autumn. He stabilised at first after moving to winter fields but would say the rate of weight loss has picked up again now.

Underweight come Spring is definiyely what I'm aiming for! H's currently clipped, unrugged, muzzled when turned out in the day with soaked & rinsed hay when stabled overnight. He's in regular work too although winter does have the added challenge of trying to keep up the longer & faster hacks which really helped his fitness and waistline.

He's been tested for EMS & PPID. He was borderline for both & managed as though he's positive for both, if that makes sense?

He's already on magnesium oxide which has definitely helped get rid of most of the fat pads - there's just two super stubborn one's left which are the bane of my life ?

I think my head is telling me to muzzle still - and honestly, pony is not the least bit bothered about wearing it - but I'm questioning myself!

 

[Polos Mum]

If he's a weight carrying type my view is that if I over did it and one of mine was a touch too lean then it would be the easiest thing in the world to get weight back on.

So, for me personally, I'd rather over do than under do the weight loss.

If he's not bothered just leave it on until he's really as lean as you want him to be and then a little more!

 

[scats]

Mine have had their first day out without muzzles today, but I may well stick them back on if I feel I need to.

 

[Gloi]

We didn't use grazing muzzles on the fatties on winter foggage. They usually started to drop weight after Xmas. If you take muzzles off they may look like they are ballooning when they are actually just getting chance to fill their guts with fibre so look at parts of their bodies other than their bellies to check weight loss/gain.