SO1
Well-Known Member
I have been having some issues with fitting Bert's flexible filly muzzle. I think it is his head shape. I now have the head collar in cob and the muzzle in small and medium.
He has a non standard head size he takes a cob head collar he has a wide head and noseband size but quite short in length and his muzzle is tiny.
He is eating out the sides of the muzzle and the muzzle is getting clogged up with mud so much so he cannot eat out the main hole.
The instructions on the video for fitting are different from the sheet that came with the muzzle. Instructions for muzzle say rears fins need to one hole shorter than the front ones. Thinline video say side fins need to be one hole shorter but does not mention rear fins being shorter. I have fitted using the video but will need to email thinline to check which is correct video or instructions with muzzle.
I think possibly the muzzle is fitted too low which enables him to eat outside the sides.
The main issue now is the mud and if I fit the muzzle so he can only eat out the hole if the hole gets blocked by mud then he can't eat at all.
He has 3 fields to access one has long old grass and whilst very wet not muddy. 2 fields are grazed down with some shorter grass coming through and the horses are spending time moving between fields. Bert wants to be with the others so I think the problem is when they are grazing in the sparse grass fields the mud is clogging up his muzzle. I don't think it is just because he is eating out the side.
If he was just grazing the sparse grass fields I would not bother with the muzzle.
A new horse has joined the herd so he is having some time without his muzzle to make friends.
The mud issue clogging up his muzzle has only started last week as the horses seem to be spending less time in the long grass field and more in the sparse fields and it has been very wet.
He was perfect weight before they opened up the rested field which timed with him needing 2 weeks off work due to lameness shortly afterwards at which point started with the muzzle and on soaked hay. Now back in work.
Is anyone else finding the muzzles are getting full of mud? I appreciate most people may not be muzzling at this time of year due to less grass or not having a combination of fields.
I am hoping once he is back in normal work for a few more weeks he will be perfect weight again with being able to feel ribs etc. But will want to restrict grass when it is high in sugar to prevent laminitis. I know even if he is perfect weight too much sugar is risky. I managed to prevent Homey getting laminitis in the 15 years I had him and hope to do the same with Bert.
I am quite paranoid about laminitis after knowing several people who lost horses to it including youngsters.
He has a non standard head size he takes a cob head collar he has a wide head and noseband size but quite short in length and his muzzle is tiny.
He is eating out the sides of the muzzle and the muzzle is getting clogged up with mud so much so he cannot eat out the main hole.
The instructions on the video for fitting are different from the sheet that came with the muzzle. Instructions for muzzle say rears fins need to one hole shorter than the front ones. Thinline video say side fins need to be one hole shorter but does not mention rear fins being shorter. I have fitted using the video but will need to email thinline to check which is correct video or instructions with muzzle.
I think possibly the muzzle is fitted too low which enables him to eat outside the sides.
The main issue now is the mud and if I fit the muzzle so he can only eat out the hole if the hole gets blocked by mud then he can't eat at all.
He has 3 fields to access one has long old grass and whilst very wet not muddy. 2 fields are grazed down with some shorter grass coming through and the horses are spending time moving between fields. Bert wants to be with the others so I think the problem is when they are grazing in the sparse grass fields the mud is clogging up his muzzle. I don't think it is just because he is eating out the side.
If he was just grazing the sparse grass fields I would not bother with the muzzle.
A new horse has joined the herd so he is having some time without his muzzle to make friends.
The mud issue clogging up his muzzle has only started last week as the horses seem to be spending less time in the long grass field and more in the sparse fields and it has been very wet.
He was perfect weight before they opened up the rested field which timed with him needing 2 weeks off work due to lameness shortly afterwards at which point started with the muzzle and on soaked hay. Now back in work.
Is anyone else finding the muzzles are getting full of mud? I appreciate most people may not be muzzling at this time of year due to less grass or not having a combination of fields.
I am hoping once he is back in normal work for a few more weeks he will be perfect weight again with being able to feel ribs etc. But will want to restrict grass when it is high in sugar to prevent laminitis. I know even if he is perfect weight too much sugar is risky. I managed to prevent Homey getting laminitis in the 15 years I had him and hope to do the same with Bert.
I am quite paranoid about laminitis after knowing several people who lost horses to it including youngsters.
