Overnight muzzle

[SEL]

Would you muzzle overnight in a field safe headcollar?

I've been struggling with my PSSM / EMS (metabolic mess) mare this spring and they got through the fence last night. Vet has been out and thinks it's triggered laminitis.

It's definitely set off her PSSM but I'm on the fence about the laminitis given a PSSM attack can look similar - but either way she can't get through onto the grass again or it'll be the end.

Can't box rest because of the PSSM so I'm thinking overnight muzzle and keep fingers crossed the blummin horse keeps it on.

 

[eggs]

yes, I have so done regularly with more than one horse

 

[Equi]

Yes a few use them at my yard overnight with no issues.

 

[Polos Mum]

One of the muzzle companies did some research and I think they determined that a horse can eat a full daily ration of food in 4 hours if they are determined !

So when you give them a 'break' from a muzzle and they get into that routine - you may as well not bother that much.

Yes when needed they are muzzled 22 hours a day with a few hours ridden / stabled with straw only.

 

[SEL]

One of the muzzle companies did some research and I think they determined that a horse can eat a full daily ration of food in 4 hours if they are determined !

So when you give them a 'break' from a muzzle and they get into that routine - you may as well not bother that much.

Yes when needed they are muzzled 22 hours a day with a few hours ridden / stabled with straw only.

I have a feeling she ate her entire daily allowance for 3 months last night She is sporting a crest a stallion would be proud of

Off shopping. If the fencing isn't destroyed then there's limited grass available even if it comes off but she's a PITA for deciding portions aren't big enough and helping herself

 

[Polos Mum]

I feel your pain - I appreciate muzzles are not ideal but it's the lesser of two evils. IMHO standing in the stable all the time can't do them any good even without the PSSM.

If you plat the headcollar into her forelock that helps a lot.

Most I've found rub a little so we have three different styles on rotation ever 3-4 days so the rubbed bit gets a week's break on rotation as they all sit slightly differently.
Again thickened skin isn't great - but vs. bounding feet pulses, it has to be.

 

[SEL]

I feel your pain - I appreciate muzzles are not ideal but it's the lesser of two evils. IMHO standing in the stable all the time can't do them any good even without the PSSM.

If you plat the headcollar into her forelock that helps a lot.

Most I've found rub a little so we have three different styles on rotation ever 3-4 days so the rubbed bit gets a week's break on rotation as they all sit slightly differently.
Again thickened skin isn't great - but vs. bounding feet pulses, it has to be.

I've got two (she's been wearing one in the day when I've moved the strip grazing) but it looks like she's either getting too much through those &/or just too much overnight even on the short stuff around the track.

Last night must have just pushed her over the edge

I've been worried all week moving fencing to give them less, but she obviously thought less wasn't satisfactory and went for more.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

You have my full sympathy. Having battled with fat ponies for years now and finding their management exhausting/stressful summers now equate to no grass whatsoever not even strip grazing so I know exactly how much is going into them.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I do, I have too. Both my ponies are out over night muzzled.
The littlest one hasn’t got a field safe head collar either as he puts his hoof on the chin part of the muzzle, or anywhere he can and really swiftly jerks his head up. So a field safe/breakaway is off instantly. He won’t bother with a normal one as he knows it won’t break.
I did worry at first but he’d have been dead from laminitis long ago because he can’t be penned off grass- he destroys any kind of fencing but is happy out with the others muzzled.

 

[Time for Tea]

Yes, my foresters are muzzled at night and in a stable with soaked hay in the day, or in a pen with hay. It’s got to be done. It actually works very well for me and them. It is a battle as said by others, but the muzzles take a lot of pressure off.

 

[SEL]

Thanks everyone. She's stomping around angrily with her green guard on. That I won't leave on overnight as she got her jaw stuck on it once - luckily I was here - but I have a new one in the car and that'll have to do.

She's furious. But stomping very well considering she only had one danilon.

 

[Time for Tea]

I do hope it goes well, it is such a worry I well know

 

[scats]

Yes, I do this regularly.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Yes I do.
He is muzzled while out.
He comes in for between 4 and 8 hrs in the day with hay. Length of time depends on weather.
He's doing fine and looks great.
I have w different style muzzles so rotate so less rubbing.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Yes. Old Dobbin lived 24/7 in summer in a Tough 1 Easy Breath for a good few years. It allowed him to gather a good mouthful, but he had to work a bit harder for it. He had a pony net of haylage daily, whilst being unsaddled and rubbed down, together with his balancer. He's now 29, so I must have hit on a good routine for him.

 

[SEL]

The flexible filly was the only one in the tack shop I could fit to a field safe and it stayed on last night.

Off her breakfast though - & this is a horse who can gorge in a field all night & still make room for breakfast - so I'm not sure if there isn't something else going on.