How can i get my horse use to his grazing muzzle?

[welshied]

My cob is getting fat which is obviously worrying he isn't ridden as much as he used to be as he is a headshaker so i am limited to the days that i can ride him, and he is turned out 24/7.
I have tried strip grazing which didn't have much effect to be honest.
He is out with my TB who est most of the grass.
I have tried a grazing muzzle but he doesn't know how to use it and usually just spends the whole time trying to get it off. How do i get him use to it and understand that he can still eat with it, don't know whether he is stupid or lazy.

 

[tikino]

i just put it on them and feed a few blades of grass throught ther bottom and then let them get on with it. he will eat with it whenhe is hungry enought. you will may find he will not graze when you are there so you feel sorry for him and take it off lol. don't worry he will eat i have 2 laminitc ponies out with them on 24/7 with no probs

 

[the watcher]

On average it takes them about 3 days to work out how to get the blades of grass through the muzzle - so persist and your horse will work it out.

 

[Milly-Molly-Maisie]

And you need the grass not to be too long, otherwise it will bend rather than stick up through the hole!

 

[MrsMozart]

Maybe try a different style, e.g. the slots as opposed to the round holes.

Little Lad can't get to grips with it. He just stands round and looks miserable, then is absolutely ravenous when he comes in and the muzzle comes off. Have given up, he's in a bare paddock with a round of hay now; occassionaly I'll put the muzzle on and put him in the big field for a play and a change of scenary.

 

[Fizzimyst]

Can they still drink with the muzzles on? I am assuming they must be able to.........

 

[BigRed]

if he is in a starvation paddock but has a whole round of hay to eat, no wonder he is still fat. Even crappy hay will have feed value. You need to put him in a diet field and weigh his hay and only give him a little bit each evening/morning.

 

[Gorgeous George]

I just made the hole in the bottom of George's bucket type one a bit bigger, it still restricts his intake a lot but he was then willing to give it a go and now doesn't try to get it off.

 

[NeilM]

We had way too much grass last year and H was becoming a round boy, so on went a muzzle (we use a Greenguard). The poor lad looked at us like he was being punished and appeared very miserable. It took him less than 24 hours to get the hang of it.

This year, to stop him becoming a round boy, the muzzle went on a few weeks ago.

After a ride, he is allowed to graze while I have a coffee and then it's put back on. He stands still and is no trouble to put the muzzle on, then off he goes to forage as happy as you like.

 

[welshied]

Tracey01 where have you got the idea that he has a big round bale of hay!?!