Horsey won't eat his tea

[SDH]

Due a problem with a ligament in his knee, my horse doesn't do much work - just hacking (he is LOU but vet says I am okay to hack)

Anyway, he's been gradually putting on weight, so he is current wearing a grazing muzzle

I have been very slowly increasing the amount he has been doing - so currently its 3 hacks at week, max 30minutes, lots of walking, some trotting and we had our first canter the other night.
But its not enough work for the amount he wants to eat

Anyway my problem is now - that he wont eat his dinner. The only reason he even gets a feed is because he needs Biotin for his feet.
He gets a handful of Alpha-A & a tiny bit of suagrbeet to cover the Biotin.
I've been feeding him this for a year now.
However he has turned proper grumpy since I've put the grazing muzzle on (hardly surprising really!) and refusing to eat dinner

He lives out 24/7. The muzzle is on during day / off at night. I have been trying to feed him in the evening, when i take the muzzle off.
However he is soooo hungry, that all he wants to do is to lunge & attack the grass.
I've tried bringing him to the yard to feed him - but he doesn't seem interested. Any ideas ....?

 

[MurphysMinder]

Is it possible for you to bring him in for a couple of hours before you feed him, then he will be away from the temptation of the grass. I have a similar problem with our cushings pony. She has a tiny feed of hifi to take her mediction but would far rather eat grass at this time of year, so I bring her in and let her stand in for a bit and then she will eat her feed.

 

[Shilasdair]

Rather than putting a grazing muzzle on, can you not restrict his grass by strip grazing with electric fencing?
Or maybe feed him in the morning before the muzzle goes on?
Or go down to his field, take his muzzle off, let him graze for a while, then feed him?

S

 

[SDH]

Thanks for your responses - There is no option to strip-graze on the yard i'm at.
He hates the stable (neighs and wont move from the door .... altho this does mean he doesn't eat anything,

)

Maybe i could try muzzling overnight and not in the day and then feeding in evening after a belly full of grass......
(i like him having muzzle on during day, so people see it and realise i'm doing something about his weight! maybe I should care less about what people think, LOL)

 

[silvershadow81]

If my horse has enough grass throughout the day, she will not touch her dinner in the evening... its a good thing they know when to stop!

Why not try a lick in his stable, where you sprinkle the Biotin over the top and he can lick it off?? Or putting it inside an apple? x