My horse got very stressed out with muzzle

[debsey1]

Hi everyone,
I have a very overweight cob 15.1hh and very big boned 10inch, condition score 7+. He was being turned out at night and in during the day on soaked 2kg of hay which is the right amount according to my vet. We ride out on most days doing a series of trotting and a fast walk and he still isn't loosing any weight . So I decided to muzzle him whilst out at night.

The first night I really struggled to get get the muzzle on him and he finally sucombed to a carrot bribe. The next morning I brought in a thoroughly miserable cob who looked like he hadn't eaten a blade of grass all night!

The second night it took me and my horsey sister nearly an hour to get the muzzle back on, he was having none of it, he kepted turning his back on us but eventually we got the muzzle on all I kepted thinking was I have to be 'cruel to be kind' motto.

Third night, not a chance! At this point he has lost trust in me even trying to get his headcollar on was ni -on impossible. Btw, all of this was done in a complete calm manner only kind words of encouragement were spoken. In the end I decided while he was calming down to fence off a small strip of the paddock with electric fencing which, I wish I had of done in the beginning.

My cob was getting very stressed at the whole thing and I wondered if many of you have the same thing especially when trying to put the dam thing on?
I don't like them at the best of times as they can't do what comes natural to them like yawning or scratching each other or himself. I can't leave it on all the time as I ride him regular.

 

[Toffee44]

Is it rubbing him anywhere think lips, cheek, poll?


If not he sound jsut like hes being a stubborn cob, I dont think mine really ate anything for 12hours but she got over it and has done well with it.

Maybe im just a mean mum. I would also not let him get away with putting his head up. Just take it on and off for a few days before leaving it on again. Sorry he just sounds like hes being a bit rude about putting it on. Originally she threw her head up but now she knows it means shes going out so is fine about it.

 

[MrsCKhalil]

I started my mare with a muzzle a few months ago, she was not keen either! I broke her into gently, starting off with an hr and building it up to the 10 hrs a day she has it on now for. She still sulks when i put it on but as soon as she goes out the head goes down and she nibbles away.
I did make the hole in mine slightly bigger as our grass is so short i dont think she could get anything before that!
I have bought a 2nd one for when the grass is slightly longer she can have the one with the smaller hole.
I feel mean but I keep telling myself its better than her getting laminitis and staying in for months!
I put a treat in the bottom whenever i put it on and i always put the strap over her nexk then slide it forwards to pop over her nose as she wouldnt have any of it when i walked up and tried to put it on!
Hope that helps, hang in there!

 

[DiablosGold]

I cut the hole in mine a little bigger when he didn't really need to lose weight, now he does he has a brand new one with a tiny hole! Maybe put one on your horse with the hole cut bigger for a while until he's used to it? And feed hay and grass through the hole so he gets the idea.

I also think it sounds like he is being a stubborn cob (I have one of those!) and if it takes an hour on a lunge rope to get it on I would keep at it.

 

[debsey1]

I cut the hole in mine a little bigger when he didn't really need to lose weight, now he does he has a brand new one with a tiny hole! Maybe put one on your horse with the hole cut bigger for a while until he's used to it? And feed hay and grass through the hole so he gets the idea.

I also think it sounds like he is being a stubborn cob (I have one of those!) and if it takes an hour on a lunge rope to get it on I would keep at it.

He is very stubborn. But the problem is trying to either:
1: throw the strap over his neck first then move the muzzle into place over his nose or;
2: place the muzzle over nose then fiddle with the strap over his ears.
He hates the sound of the velcro so I have to do it out of earshot. The hardest thing is to get the dam thing near his head as all he does is offer me his bum whatever way I turn towards him he offrs me his bum and I am not going to argue with over half tonne of beast!
One frustrated horse owner.

 

[MrsCKhalil]

He is very stubborn. But the problem is trying to either:
1: throw the strap over his neck first then move the muzzle into place over his nose or;
2: place the muzzle over nose then fiddle with the strap over his ears.
He hates the sound of the velcro so I have to do it out of earshot. The hardest thing is to get the dam thing near his head as all he does is offer me his bum whatever way I turn towards him he offrs me his bum and I am not going to argue with over half tonne of beast!
One frustrated horse owner.

I undo my headcollar and do it up round the neck which gives a bit more control, once I have the strap over the neck you can just slide it along, does take a bit of practice!

 

[Toffee44]

What kinds of muzzle is it?


Also how about not taking hes headcollar off for now keeping it on under the muzzle so you have more control. Only while you are taking it on and off. To be very honest cobs need a rope halter or something similar as normal headcollars dont give you any control at all when they are mucking about. (I have welsh x hackney who just ignroes a normal headcollar)

 

[debsey1]

I undo my headcollar and do it up round the neck which gives a bit more control, once I have the strap over the neck you can just slide it along, does take a bit of practice!

But what do you do when you can't get near his head to put it on? I can't tie him up as he really panicks. I think his previous owner use to muzzle him so maybe he knows what its all about and simply doesn't want to know. If it wasn't for me riding him I would leave it on 24/7.

 

[MrsCKhalil]

But what do you do when you can't get near his head to put it on? I can't tie him up as he really panicks. I think his previous owner use to muzzle him so maybe he knows what its all about and simply doesn't want to know. If it wasn't for me riding him I would leave it on 24/7.

I normally go and catch my girl, then take her over to where i have the muzzle and some treats then undo the headcollar and do it back up around her neck. Can you not bring him in anywhere to put it on? I wouldnt leave it on 24/7 personally as they start to rub, and cant groom others, etc

 

[debsey1]

What kinds of muzzle is it?


Also how about not taking hes headcollar off for now keeping it on under the muzzle so you have more control. Only while you are taking it on and off. To be very honest cobs need a rope halter or something similar as normal headcollars dont give you any control at all when they are mucking about. (I have welsh x hackney who just ignroes a normal headcollar)

The muzzle won't fit over his headcollar I've tried. The only thing I can think off is to try again to get it on then maybe not ride him for 2 weeks leaving him out with it on 24/7. He should loose a significent amount of weight in that time then turn him out at night in his small paddock & bring him in during the day on soaked hay which is what I am doing now.

 

[loopylucifer]

I was going to ask which type you have too? Mine wears one during the day absolutly hated the bucket ones got very very upset with them. Ended up with a greengaurd one yes they are expensive but she is happier with it still manages to eat but less and she is actually losing some weight . Fitted well they should not rub or anything, mine is quite a delicate flower but not rubbed at all. Have mine on a normal head coller with vet wrap on the nose to keep in place was going to get the prober headcoller but couldn't find them in full anywhere. To get on somedays she has none of it but we have found putting a carrot or apple in the bottom works well

 

[Tnavas]

My Clydesdale mare was so depressed in a muzzle I took it off. I've found I have more success bringing her in at night and turning her out during the day. She currently comes in about 5pm and goes back out at 8am. She has a small amount of sugarbeet to put her vitamin/mineral pellets in and ground linseed and sunflowers for her coat and a slice of hay inside a net with minute holes in it. She has lost a good deal of weight now and is ready for me to start working her again.

Try to increase your cobs work up to one hour steady trotting, walking the first and last half mile.

 

[mturnbull]

When my horse suffered from stress laminitis, although not due to weight when he was put back in the field after box rest his grazing had to be limited so as not to cause a 'shock' reaction and another bout of laminitis. I thought a grazing muzzle (shires i think) would be the best option but i had the same problem of putting it on and when we put it on he was highly distressed in the field, whinnying, headshaking, fence pacing and after leaving him in the hope he would settled i had to take it off after 30 minutes, we then did the same for 4 days and again the exact same happened. Eventually I had to give up and now would rather find another solution than a grazing muzzle but a friend of mine had no option but a grazing muzzle and invested in a 'green guard' muzzle and although slightly more expensive her horse will happily be out all day with it on without any of this stress i recieved from the other muzzle. I think a change of muzzle is the only solution apart from removing it!