Muzzles

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Janee

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I have been told that when a pony is out 24/7 and it is muzzled for about half that time it will then eat as much grass when the muzzle is removed as it would have done if not muzzled. Hope that made sense, but the jist being no point in muzzling as the overall grass consumption in that 24 hour period is the same.

Does anyone know if this is true?
 
I doubt it will be the same amount as the pony won't be able to eat as much for the time the muzzle is on but for the time without the muzzle if there is lots of grass there could still be too much grass for weight loss.

My pony is muzzled and out 24/7 and wears his muzzle all the time he is grazing because without it there would be too much grass for him, as he could probably eat his whole calerie allowance in a few hours not just because he is greedy but because of the amount and quality of grass and even with the muzzle on he can eat quite a lot of grass.
 
I was told by Langford vets this is the case! Therefore at this time of year when the grass is at its peak our pony wears his muzzle 24/7 when turned out. However we have had one muzzle stolen - in May and for the last 3 weeks (Police are involved) my pony's muzzle has been removed most and hung on the fence which doesn't help. I just put it back on when I visit and if I am very lucky it may stay on. (Wonder what some of you others might do if it was your pony?) The risk of equine metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and laminitis are a concern exacerbated by this irresponsible behaviour. I am not a vet and have to agree with SO1 it would depend on how much grass is available when unmuzzled however if in doubt - muzzle ON!!! :)
 
I suggest you make it harder for whoever is taking the muzzle off to take it off by vet wrapping the velcro and clips on the muzzle.

Do you think it could be one of your fellow liveries removing it?
 
SO1 said:
I suggest you make it harder for whoever is taking the muzzle off to take it off by vet wrapping the velcro and clips on the muzzle.

Do you think it could be one of your fellow liveries removing it?
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That is a good idea thank-you :) Fortunately 2 dog walkers are witnesses to the person removing it. It would make photographing the culprit easier too as it would take longer to remove and give more of a chance! We use a best friend or Shires with a green-guard neck strap with the buckle on the top of his head and a fly mask over the top. He has a head-collar underneath too to prevent any possible escape when re muzzling. She removes the whole lot by loosening the neck strap (throat lash) and pulling it over his ears lock stock and barrel. We are at an absolute loss as for how to stop her doing it. Thank-you for your help though.
 
My girl wears muzzle during day and it's taken off at night. She's lost weight so it must be doing something and clearly she's not eating as much
 
Ok if she is removing it without undoing the clips and is loosening the throatlash part then I would vet wrap clips and whatever it is that she needs to loosen that enables her pull the muzzle over his head. I vet wrap the clips after I had a walker remove my pony's muzzle and it does take a bit of effort to unwrap the vet wrapped areas to take the muzzle off.

If you know what the person is then could you not try and speak to that person and explain to them why the pony needs to be muzzled and how he could die if his muzzle is left off for a long time. Maybe put a notice on the gate explain why the pony needs to wear a muzzle and that you will be observing the field and if you catch who is doing it they will be reported to the police.
 
SO1 said:
Ok if she is removing it without undoing the clips and is loosening the throatlash part then I would vet wrap clips and whatever it is that she needs to loosen that enables her pull the muzzle over his head. I vet wrap the clips after I had a walker remove my pony's muzzle and it does take a bit of effort to unwrap the vet wrapped areas to take the muzzle off.

If you know what the person is then could you not try and speak to that person and explain to them why the pony needs to be muzzled and how he could die if his muzzle is left off for a long time. Maybe put a notice on the gate explain why the pony needs to wear a muzzle and that you will be observing the field and if you catch who is doing it they will be reported to the police.
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The Police are already involved, I have spoken to the person who blatantly denies even entering the field.The Police have already interviewed the WITNESSES (2 retired people), we are just waiting for them to have a talk with the person in question and hear the outcome.

It is raining today so we have left the muzzle off overnight so he can stay warm rather than rug him up with the muzzle on.

It was interesting to see my ponies reaction when she walked past the field today - he turned to look at her and put his ears up. I heard her say under he breath " You've got it off". Yes, we removed it as we were about to go out for a ride!

This is a copy of the framed encapsulated laminated notice on the gate - It has been there since 5th September and the removal continued even after this!

FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUED TAMPERING WITH *** GRAZING MUZZLE.
STOP TRESPASSING AND INTERFERING WITH HIS TREATMENT.
*** IS BEING CONTINUALLY MONITORED ON EXPERT ADVICE FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE.
HE IS BEING SUPERVISED BY OUR VET AND IS WEARING HIS MUZZLE FOR LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL REASONS.

1. EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME
2. TYPE 2 DIABETES
3. LAMINITIS.

THE UNNECESSARY CONCERN THE REMOVAL OF HIS MUZZLE IS CREATING AS WE REPORT BACK DAILY IS INEXCUSABLE.
MY VET IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO KEEP *** SAFE.
IF *** IS FOUND TO HAVE DEVELOPED ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS DURING THE OBSERVATION PERIOD AND HIS GRAZING MUZZLE HAS KNOWINGLY BEEN REMOVED WE WILL TAKE CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE.
AS AN ASIDE THE ADDITIONAL DISTRESS CAUSED BY REMOVING HIS FLY MASK HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY MY VET THIS EVENING AS “MEAN”.

It is sad that a pony left in her care last winter has recently been diagnosed with EMS. There is no accounting for some people's behaviour.

When the muzzle goes back on I will be using vet-wrap as you suggest not because he can get it off - he can't there is no exposed anything he can hook it on - there is electric tape protecting the perimeter of the field and any other places he has been clever enough to use in the past. He is a very clever pony but I have yet to catch him undoing a tight buckle that does not slide, pulling a fly mask, grazing muzzle and head-collar off, picking it up and hanging it neatly on a fence post without losing the "form" of all 3 items together having reached 4 feet over the electric tape with his hooves or teeth.

Thank-you so much for the advice.
 
Follychoppins I feel so sorry for you I know how I felt when a walker removed my pony's muzzle - he too is a clever pony but can't undo the sort of clip that he has on his muzzle. It is so worrying.

YO has now muzzled her pony as well and touch wood there have not been any problems with deliberate muzzle removal since I put the vet wrap on and, perhaps having two muzzled ponies in the field has helped as it now looks more normal.
 
Follychoppins, that must be very stressful. trying to do your best for the pony and some do-gooder interfering.

Just an extra thought, now we are having some awful weather. I don't leave ponies mask on when it is raining, but at what temperature would you consider calories used keeping warm exceed the amount they are able to consume?
 
Janee said:
Follychoppins, that must be very stressful. trying to do your best for the pony and some do-gooder interfering.

Just an extra thought, now we are having some awful weather. I don't leave ponies mask on when it is raining, but at what temperature would you consider calories used keeping warm exceed the amount they are able to consume?
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I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to rugs warmth etc, no rug unless absolutely necessary! My mare is in a rug today at 14 degrees as she is older (20), has arthritis and it's pouring with rain. Were it not raining I would have the muzzle on my plumper pony but I am not mean. Basically if I need a coat and am feeling chilly the muzzle comes off. In the summer if it was warm and raining I would leave it on. This time of year it can get colder overnight and it is not fair he cannot get the fibre he needs to stay warm. Making a pony tucked up is not a good idea. Hope that helps.

As for the stress, it is not good :(
 
I think it depends on how much grass you have in the field and how hairy and fat your pony is. Fat is insulating.

My pony is unrugged and wearing his muzzle I am mean - it has rained alot and they do have shelter but he tends to not bother with seeking shelter in the wooded areas even if it is raining loads he will be the one out in the middle of the field in the pouring rain stuffing his face whilst the others shelter from the wind and rain! However he is not on a bare paddock and I think is getting plenty to eat even with his muzzle on. He is also a very warm pony in general the other day it was raining a lot and and he was generating enough heat that the water that was coming off him was warm.

I will be clipping in October and then he will be rugged in his LW turnout but not until he is clipped.
 
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