Muzzles or stable during the day?

[[105549]]

Hi all,

Just wondering everyone's thoughts, my mare has gorged on the fresh grass and given herself a big grass belly. I do lunge her frequently, ride etc but she was a little bit overweight during the winter period so I'm still working to get that off.

I'm considering buying a muzzle for her to wear during the day, then off about 5pm.
I've been told not to do this as she could get stressed/get stuck on something etc and that just stable her during the day with some wet hay to eat. I always thought being outside with all her friends would be much better than stood in a stall the majority of the day, considering she's been stabled a lot during the horrible winter weather.

What does everyone else tend to do? Another horse on the yard had colic which was put down to feasting quickly on the new field which had lots of long fresh grass. Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing for her, first horse I've had for a year so I'm constantly still learning haha

Maisie

 

[Jools2345]

i always preferred them to be out with company but dentist put me right last week as they can do so much damage to how the teeth wear and grow, so now i would say stable you mare

 

[Rhanna]

I think it depends on your circumstances. Are you around during the day and able to keep an eye on her? I'm not a fan of leaving muzzles on for long periods and I manage my Shetland with a bit of both, some of the day inside, some spent outdoors muzzled. I feel it's important for their mental wellbeing to get at least part of the day out in fresh air and moving.
Another solution would be to portion off a much smaller part of the field with electric tape giving her less to gorge on.

 

[[105549]]

As I work full time I'm able to see her upto 3 times a day depending on my shifts, it's all electric fencing throughout so I couldn't imagine what she would manage to get stuck on. It's a fair point though .

It was a dentist who actually recommended to buy one, only because she's a bit plump and needs to shift off some of her weight.

Thanks for your reply, I could maybe see if I could come to an arrangement with the livery yard to check up on her or to put her inside for a bit!

 

[Rose Folly]

I know muzzles are a necessary evil but I don't like them, and don't use one on my mare any more.

She's a strapping lass anyway, but when she starts to get too rotund I prefer to bring her into our little stable yard for a few hours each day, with a compancion fatty. She can either be in the open loose box or stand out in the yard catching the sun as she prefers. Half way through the incarceration period I either give her a small amount of wet hay, or an armful of cow parsley, which she adores and which grows profusely in the brook 20 yards from the stable and our vet says won't affect her one way or t'other.

The little Shelties who are here by day werar muzzles - their noses are rubbed, and the muzzles are always full of mud, bits of twig etc. I hate them.......