Grazing muzzles

[Annie&Amy]

I'm debating about whether to get one for the spring. I have a 23yr old cob who is a very good doer. Which are the best makes? Do they keep them on generally? Do people leave them on 24hrs or just during day? I can't strip graze as she lives with a 32yr old pony that always needs to put weight on, i don't want to seperate them as they're such good buddies xxx

 

[lillie]

i have a shires 1, i tend to put it on @ night as he wears an equilibirum fly mask during the day & i dont want to overload him!

he has only got it off a handful of times in the 4 summers he's worn 1 & he broke the last 1 due to being bullied in the field last year (it had had 3 summers). some people say they rub & put fur covers on them mine rubs slightly but i managed to adjust the straps to prevent it

 

[samuelhorse]

I have found the 'best mate ' grazing muzzle from Charlies products (lovely helpful friendly advice aswell) is the best muzzle.
All the others have rubbed. Yes it is a bit more expensive, but has a built in break point to the headcollar part and hasnt rubbed my boy even whilst wearing it 24/7.

 

[RachelB]

I like the idea of the Greenguard muzzles (less stuffy, lighter, less to rub as it's easier to get fluffy sheepskin stuff all over a headcollar) but Maiden just managed to eat out of the side of it! She's now got a Shires-style bucket one. She was having it on 12 hours out of 24 but wasn't losing any weight, and my new year's resolution for my horse is to have her lose 50kg before my vet comes to re-assess her lameness in April. So she's now got it on 24/7 and is very depressed and no change yet (two weeks) but my fingers are crossed. I like my muzzle though because I inherited it from a friend and it has a leather headpiece, and my friend had cut bigger "breathing holes" out of the front of it so it's a bit more airy.
I know it feels cruel to put a muzzle on (I feel awful every time I see my horse) but better a muzzle than a laminitic horse!

 

[Spyda]

<font color="purple"> Re: Greenguard Grazing Muzzle: Yes, I had the same problem with it as you! Was really disappointed with it especially since it's expensive. My cob simply used his powerful top lip to push the muzzle to one side and then happily carried on stuffing. Also found getting a suitably snug headcollar tricky, too.

In the end I reverted to a good old bucket muzzle. Was a lot cheaper too! Certainly, it's a lot less attractive and is bulky, but it did do the job well and without rubbing. <font color="purple"> </font>

 

[Nudibranch]

Yes, Greenguards are no good for horses with half a brain! I have been using a Shires one for the last couple of summers, it seems to work the best, she only manages to remove it occasionally and it's soft but tough. I used to use a bucket muzzle but had to tie it to the headcollar noseband and found it rubbed a patch on her nose where she was pushing down to get at the grass.
Whichever muzzle you go for, please don't use it 24/7. I find muzzle and full turnout at night, then strict starvation paddock in the day, works well. You can pick up a small electric fence kit for about £120, I have the smallest Electric Shepherd with 200 metres of tape which is plenty to fence off a corner. It runs on 2 D batteries and has repaid itself many times over the years.

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
Whichever muzzle you go for, please don't use it 24/7. I find muzzle and full turnout at night, then strict starvation paddock in the day, works well. You can pick up a small electric fence kit for about £120, I have the smallest Electric Shepherd with 200 metres of tape which is plenty to fence off a corner. It runs on 2 D batteries and has repaid itself many times over the years.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's all very well if you can use a starvation paddock! I have no choice but to keep my mare where she is, and I can't fence off any of the field for her because she'll jump of barge her way out of any fencing. She's on strict orders to be kept from any strenuous activity for nine months to let her tendon heal. I can't let her keep the weight on as that is also not helping her tendon... I really can't win!

I would much prefer not to have to use the muzzle 24/7 but there's just no other way sometimes. I just hope and pray no interfering walkers come along the footpath next to the field and "take pity" on my horse and remove her muzzle!

 

[samuelhorse]

My boy tolerates his muzzle 24/7 with no problem and even lowers his head to have it put on - so cant be that miserable in it. xx

 

[blackcob]

I also had problems with the Greenguard one until I bought the special headcollar to go with it - the extra strap down the front stabilises the whole thing and means they can't eat out of the side. It has to be done up very snugly too. The nylon bucket style ones like Shires/Aerborn rubbed her like mad, and although I glued sheepskin all over it just got all wet and smelly when she had a drink and chapped her skin instead. Would recommend spending the extra on a Greenguard if the horse is going to be in one 24/7 as it's more comfortable.

 

[dwi]

i have a best friend one. Much better than the shires one because it has a much deeper bucket so its harder for them to get it off. D has only managed to get her bf one off once whereas it took her about 30secs to get the shires one off and I had to make some really serious alterations. I found that I had to pad the entire thing with fleecy fabric from the market to stop it causing serious rubs but rubbing seems to vary from one horse to the next. You can leave them on 24 hours if you have to, depends on your horse, how much grass they are managing to eat with it on, how much it is rubbing etc. It's one of those things that there isn't a hard and fast rule about, you just have to find out what works for you. Some folk think its cruel but its a whole lot better than the alternative of problems connected to obesity

 

[eekmon]

We all use the Shires ones at our yard. They have never got them off unless the velcro is clogged with mud. Also have never rubbed any of ours. We all bought the vile pink ones last summer

My horse looked great with his pink muzzle and pale green fly mask !!

:

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

The greenguard mask, when used with the proper head collar, works really well. Their headcollar has a central strap running down the nose that stabilises everything &amp; my horse gets on with it really well &amp; it does it's job well. Most people don't seem to have the patience to adjust it well &amp; also won't purchase the correct headcollar.

Most of the other muzzles made are little more than buckets with a hole in the bottom. Many people cut the hole larger &amp; mess about with them, In my eyes it just proves poor design to start with. Greenguard are the best &amp; have had vets involved in the designing as well.