Out 24/7 and needs to be muzzled

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zoon

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2 of my horses are out 24/7 and the grass is pretty lush. I am worried about my 3 year old cob. He is a good weight at the moment, but obviously need to stop him getting bigger! Tried a greenguard muzzle and it rubbed badly, so have gone with the shires bucket type, but not sure now long to keep it on for. I have 3 paddocks - 1 is pretty bald due to no rain for so long and all grass being eaten, 1 is long and lush and the other is half way. I have to be careful with my grazing as I have these 2 acres and that is it. They are currently on the lush field to eat it down a little and let the grass grow in the other 2. Cob was muzzled last night and I know you shouldn't keep them on constantly, but if I take it off surely he'll just gorge himself and may as well not be wearing it. I don't have the option to bring them in or strip graze. Would muzzle for 12hrs in long field and unmuzzled for other 12 in bald field be good? His companion is my yearling colt, so obviously want to make sure he is not restricted too much, but I don't want to separate him for his friend. What is the best way to manage the 2 of them?
 
I know of several horses that wear muzzled 24/7. It didn't do them any harm.


To have it on and then take it off, leaving them out IMO is worse as they will just gorge which is far worse and harmful.

I'd just leave it on 24/7. Can't see why it would do him any harm
 
That sounds the best option to me, the bald field is likely to stay bald with them eating it for 12hrs a day though, plus they will potentially be eating the fresh, new, very sugary shoots as they come through. I prefer a really long ropey field to a bald field for weight control, although I don't know how bald is bald in your case! You really can't strip graze? That would be the ideal for me, although I start with a 'box' about 24x24 and extend it every 2 days with 12 hours on it.
 
I think your option of muzzled on longer grazing for 12 hours then 12 hours unmuzzled on the barer patch would be the best way forward. The advice from all the manufacturers of the muzzles is not to leave them on 24/7.
 
Bald field isn't totally bald - there is grass there longer than my lawn, but it is dry and scorched by sun and no rain :(

Not sure why I can't muzzle 24/7 - just always been told not to do it! To be honest a muzzle 24/7 makes more sense to me than half day as he'll just gorge on whatever he can when it is off. Certainly better than getting fat and/or laminitis. He's never had it before and want it to stay that way.

Unless someone gives me a good reason, he'll be muzzled 24/7 whilst grass is growing like crazy!
 
I would be tempted to put them both on longer patch at night with his muzzle on and then shorter patch during day without. Just think that he needs a break from the muzzle to scratch himself / his friend, give pressure points a break etc. I know a lot of horses do wear them 24/7 but to me if you have an area that he can graze without a muzzle you should give him a break from it.
 
Are your paddocks right next to each other? If they are I would do a sort of rota system where I would start with the cob in the bare paddock and put your others into the paddock next to it to eat the grass down then move them onto the next and move the cob into the paddock they left and so if that makes sense?
 
zoon said:
2 of my horses are out 24/7 and the grass is pretty lush. I am worried about my 3 year old cob. He is a good weight at the moment, but obviously need to stop him getting bigger! Tried a greenguard muzzle and it rubbed badly, so have gone with the shires bucket type, but not sure now long to keep it on for. I have 3 paddocks - 1 is pretty bald due to no rain for so long and all grass being eaten, 1 is long and lush and the other is half way. I have to be careful with my grazing as I have these 2 acres and that is it. They are currently on the lush field to eat it down a little and let the grass grow in the other 2. Cob was muzzled last night and I know you shouldn't keep them on constantly, but if I take it off surely he'll just gorge himself and may as well not be wearing it. I don't have the option to bring them in or strip graze. Would muzzle for 12hrs in long field and unmuzzled for other 12 in bald field be good? His companion is my yearling colt, so obviously want to make sure he is not restricted too much, but I don't want to separate him for his friend. What is the best way to manage the 2 of them?
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We had a horse with strangles on our yard good few years back, all the horses were isolated where they were when it was diagnosed, mine was out, so had to stay out muzzled 24/7, Lami Trust said it was fine, I just kept an eye on his weight that he didn't lose too much. I used to take it off for an hour for a break. At least then your horse will be able to constantly graze little and often instead of gorging if restricted in other ways.

If you need to pad it in case it rubs, just use sheepskin attached with spur straps, no sewing involved, I use girth sleeves cut to length or cut a nose band in half length ways that does the job, if need be you can make the hole bigger but only if there is low grass, otherwise I'd just leave it. I customised mine so he couldn't get it off, he does VERY occasionally. If you need pics let me know
 
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