Rich grass and gassy pony

Hoof_Prints

Hoof_Prints

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Hi, bit of a dilemma as I have had to move fields to a huge rich pasture. My other 3 have happily had muzzles on and are fine, a bit sluggish today but comfortable! I have a 4yo who got very stressed at the muzzle, I can understand why and I hate them, but today he came in kicking his belly and blowing. I have gradually introduced the field over a week but it was their first full night on it last night. He settled after half an hour walking and had a poo and began eating again, but he was flat out in the field early this morning!

Should I expect him to adjust to the grazing, or make him wear a muzzle? He's had it on for short periods but eats a little then has a strop. I can't section it at all unfortunately! Ideally I wanted all muzzles off after a couple of weeks, but I'm worried they will all be colicky. I've only had one other react badly to moving over and he was fine after. They only go out at night at least. Thanks
 
It isn't just colic but also the risk of laminitis. Are you able to restrict their intake at all? Turn out later or bring in earlier perhaps?
 
I just want to ask what muzzles they have on happily? Mine has a bucket type with a single hole in the bottom. He hates it that I can't bear to put it on. I've just bought a dinky muzzle that I'm hoping he'll be happier in, not arrived yet!

I'm fighting off lami and some other lameness at the moment
 
stencilface said:
I just want to ask what muzzles they have on happily? Mine has a bucket type with a single hole in the bottom. He hates it that I can't bear to put it on. I've just bought a dinky muzzle that I'm hoping he'll be happier in, not arrived yet!

I'm fighting off lami and some other lameness at the moment
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Mine has a dinky muzzle and I'm sure can get quite a lot more grass than in the Shires Deluxe one which has a hole in the bottom. Admittedly we don't have much grass but he hates the bucket one. He comes in after a night in the dinky muzzle happy, having eaten all night but no pulses in his hind feet which is the general indicator of how much he's eaten. Take the muzzle off and he has pulses so its clearly restricting him somewhat. Leave the Shires one on all night and he comes in tucked up and shouting for food!! So I save the Shires one for the paddock with the longer grass in.
 
Great thankyou. I looked at reviews of the greenguard and dinky ones and couldn't decide. Then I realised the dinky was much cheaper so went for that!
 
stencilface said:
Great thankyou. I looked at reviews of the greenguard and dinky ones and couldn't decide. Then I realised the dinky was much cheaper so went for that!
Click to expand...

The Dinky ones def let them eat more if they are efficient eaters. Mine pushes his to one side and eats through the big hole BUT clearly they do restrict their eating as proven by his pulses in the morning. They can rub the chin and side of the muzzle but I use black silage wrap/duct tape to soften any hard edges. My horse is happy as larry in his Dinky muzzle but does not appreciate his shires one at all. I was concerned after all the rain and sunshine we are having that the grass would go mad - it is visibly growing but my horse seems fine. So definite thumbs up for Dinky ones!!
 
I bring in early morning and turn out late, but the grass is old cattle grazing and it's so rich! I have been checking pulses and no problems yet, all are native types but in a good work load, so fairly slim.

I have shires muzzles, but I cut the hole a little bigger and chop away at it, so there are nice nose holes. I had a dinky muzzle and it was so lovely and soft, but there was no way any of mine could eat a blade through it! If the shires could make them softer that would be perfect. They always rub their faces and the sheepskin gets soggy and doesn't help much anyway.

I sat with him last night until he got over his tantrum and he still had it on this morning, looking much better for it and no signs of colic. This year it's a new herd of horses, so the usual routine is different as they are not used to the grass. I just really hate muzzles, but rather that than another morning walking a very uncomfortable pony.
 
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