grazing muzzles - which one?

tillyd

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Fattie (that's a term of affection) is going to be on better grazing this summer and I think a muzzle is prob better for her than having to stay in more. Does anyone know which type is best? And do you feel horribly mean when you put it on? - i am rubbish and a sucker for a sad look...
thanks!
 
i bought the Best Friend one, my little mare detested it, wouldn't even drink, just stood around looking totally depressed and then occasionally scrubbing it along the ground. i persevered until it made her nose really sore, then gave up...
might have to try it again next summer.
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I like the Greenguard one best, but only if your horse is the thick type who won't work out how to eat round the side of it! Sadly my horse worked this out, and also worked out how to stop me from finding out she did it, until I crept up on her one day. Now I use a Shires nylon bucket-type one (I got it from a friend and she had cut bigger "breathing holes" out of the front of it too, which is better).
 
I have a shires one (in pruple of course!) but we don't use it for grazing as we have no need. I think YO was given it and kept it to sell on at some point as it had never been used!

I use it on Dreamer when we are travelling with another horse as he has a tendancy to bite them....just stops any injuries etc from occuring (I know I should stop the bite in the first place but we really had tried everything until this muzzle came along)!
 
Greenguard are well designed & should ideally be used with Greenguards own head collar. Their head collar has a piece of webbing down the nose that supports the mask, others do not. You also need to take a little time fitting the mask properly, keep adjusting it & when that is done it will work well. Many don't take the time to fit them correctly
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I think the Shires ones are horrible, webbing to rub the face terribly & a small hole in the base to eat & drink through that the majority of owners enlarge anyway. If that has to be done then it wasn't designed right in the first place.
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Shires! Have used Greenguard - pony got round it in minutes - and the old fashioned bucket style which also comes off too easily and rubs if you tie it to the headcollar. Shires seems to stay on most of the time and is also the comfiest I've tried.
 
Toby_Zaphod, I have been using the shires one for four years, 2 of mine wear them from 7am to 4 pm even in the winter, None have ever rubbed on them. The greenguard however made my welsh d bleed! Like I said expensive rubbish! But we all have our own opinions
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[ QUOTE ]
Greenguard are well designed & should ideally be used with Greenguards own head collar. Their head collar has a piece of webbing down the nose that supports the mask, others do not. You also need to take a little time fitting the mask properly, keep adjusting it & when that is done it will work well. Many don't take the time to fit them correctly
smile.gif


I think the Shires ones are horrible, webbing to rub the face terribly & a small hole in the base to eat & drink through that the majority of owners enlarge anyway. If that has to be done then it wasn't designed right in the first place.
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Amen
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The shires one rubbed my horse raw within a few hours. I ended up sticking huge chunks of sheepskin on it with superglue, but then whenever she had a drink or it rained the sheepskin got wet and chafed her skin anyway.

The greenguard one works really well but only in conjunction with the special headcollar. It took me a week or two to get the fitting right but it now does the trick. Worth every penny as B has to wear a muzzle 24/7 for several months of the year and I am confident that this one doesn't hurt her.
 
you have to buy the shires one in sizes much bigger than stated so they don't rub. My 13.hh NF is in a large and the connemara X is in a X-large. Have a shetland in a pony size being rubbed to callouses! They are the best - esp value for money. Your horse will eat through the bottom of it within a few months though. I cut the bottom out of it when this happened and attached the greenguard one to the bottom (Leather straps attached to the webbing). Works brilliantly - and he can't get it off. Looks a sight though.

Expect your horse to be extremely miserable for the first few days before he gets used to it. Then he'll be fine about it - mine don't mind at all cos it means they're going out where theres grass!
 
I HIGHLY recommend the Dinky Rugs grazing muzzle. My miniature stallion wore one all day every day while the grass is growing, no rubs, drank happily and so easy to keep clean!

http://www.dinkyrugs.co.uk/23843.html

They come in all sizes and are quite cheap too.

I've got a greengaurd and they are brilliant as well. They do need careful fitting though. I felt it was a bit heavy for Mo's little head so bought the one above and never looked back.

I have seen some really horrible rubbing with the Shires one.
 
I like the look of the Dinky ones. Do any of you leave muzzles on 24hrs? I've been told that ponies/horses simply compensate for the lack of eating, as soon as the muzzle comes off! May need to try a new muzzle this year though, so wondering about how long to leave it on for. Ta in advance!
 
really you shouldnt but theres been a couple of days i havnt manage to get to yard to take it off and shes been fine but wouldnt recommend it
 
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