How long do you keep your horses' grazing muzzles on for?

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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Do you put them on during the day, or during the night for example, does your horse live out 24/7? Or do you take them off for short periods of the day? Do you feed hay?

Just wondered what other people's routines were like and if I'm being too anti-grass...
 
Quick call the RSPCA - mine has his on 24x7 !!

My mini has his on 24x7 in the summer months. He is much happier with his muzzle on and being turned out with my others, than if I had to limit his turnout (which would mean being on his own). He doesn't have it on at all in the winter, and in the summer it is checked daily for any rubs. He has dinky muzzles and so far I have found them to be the most comfortable for him and they have never rubbed.
 
Lol. You'd be surprised how often I'm told I'm cruel! Obviously never seen a laminitis attack!

I don't have a choice about in without muzzle or out with... My shetland is claustrophobic and won't stay in a stable! The one I use is the Shires Nylon one and has never rubbed x
 
I'm another one who should have the RSPCA knocking on my door! chuckle.

My mini wears hers 24/7. She has, as yet, never had laminitis and I would like to keep it that way!
 
I'm so relieved you guys have said that. I've been keeping my mare's on 24/7, with a tiny nibble when she's finished her breakfast/supper. She grazes most of the day in it, so I wasn't too worried, but now she has really started to drop condition. I called a nutritionist the other day who recommended I change her balancer to a more high protein one, which she gets twice a day with a good helping of speedibeet, but I wondered if I should be brining her in to give her hay - that would make things a bit tricky as have no stables built yet! Plans have gone in though...

Farrier was out today and said her feet look great but she could do with some grass! Don't know what to do - perhaps add some oil in her feed? Help!
 
My 11.2 wears hers pretty much 24/7 during the late spring/summer and autumn but not in the winter. On a daily basis she has a break from it when I take her in and let her roam around in a grassless enclosure whilst I do the field chores etc.

She has EMS and if she didn't wear this muzzle and if I didn't follow a strict management routine including specific supplements she just wouldn't be sound and healthy as she is now. She foundered in all four feet and it was a challenge.

She is used to the muzzle and it is the best one which works for her , I have tried a few. She doesn't get frustrated, it allows her to trickle feed beautifully.

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Phew I leave my little ones muzzle on all the time at the moment - he's looking ok now but farrier said he's had so many similar ones get lami so to "get te muzzle on him!" he looked so miserable to start with but he's got the hang of it now :) any tips to stop them rubbing?
 
My little fatty wears his 24/7 and is on restricted grazing too! unless he comes in to be brushed/worked etc.

My mare usually wears hers 24/7 too but i've managed to keep her weight down with restricted grazing and exercise this year so shes not needed it
 
Orchardbeck said:
Farrier was out today and said her feet look great but she could do with some grass! Don't know what to do - perhaps add some oil in her feed? Help!
Click to expand...

Perhaps try muzzling her during the day and taking it off for a few hours at night when the sugars are lower? Why did the farrier feel she needed more grass, rather than higher protein feed or supplements?

xx
 
Emshooper- I don't know. I said that i'd just swapped her on to the higher protein balancer, he said she just needs a bit of 'Mr Green' and it will sort her out. He recommended putting her in a small paddock or a garth for a while.I wonder if he was politely telling me that i'm starving her, and she looks poorer than she should. However, this was a different Farrier to usual too, so he didn't see what a fatty she was this time last year...

He just said to keep an eye out for the signs -i'm obsessive already! She also has magnesium each day.

She definitely looks poorer than your pony Texel, but sheis also lacking muscle. And she is 22, but usually doesn't look it. Maybe i'm developing some sort of body dismorphia, but for my horse's body, like an anorexic?!

I have left the muzzle off tonight as a trial, it's going back on in the morning though. Thank you all for your replies, its very helpful.
 
My two fatter ones wear them when they are out. The shires one, in biggest size to help prevent rubs.and I've lined it with girth cover too.
They come in for between one to six hrs per day with hay
 
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