TExperience using muzzles, do they work

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Daisy2

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Strip grazed field is now getting poached and thinking of moving the horses out to the big field wearing muzzles and back on strip without muzzles overnight - Good plan?? Is it safe? Do they really help with reducing weight gain, whats your experience. Did post in new lounge but not much response... go on tell me, did it work for you and your good doer!
 
It certainly works for our livery pony. Because she is laminitic and far too good a doer, she is in a muzzle from February to probably November. Sounds hard, but last year the muzzle went on too late in the spring and she had appalling lami. This year she's been absolutely fine. She's well covered!, drinks happily with it on, and there have been no problems. She has it off for about 5-10 minutes in the morning while I do the feeds, so she can have a quick gobble or, as she prefers, a good nibble-scratch of her sides. That's the only shortcoming, they can't deal so well with itches.
 
I have a Highland mare who can live on fresh air, and she is in her muzzle whenever she is turned out daily, it comes off in the stable at night and she gets limited hay. This regime seems to work for her
 
Yeah it works-however I only use it as a very last resort, if I can't keep her in over night etc-she hates it!As do I. And can't explain to her that it's for her own good!
 
We got them because our sec A got laminitus quite badly last year, and then some **** stole the electric fence this spring! They were a life saver. We put them on the others too, as we had a ten acre field with lots of grass. All of them came in at night. I've never seen them looking so fit and well in summer before. I'd highly reccommend them.
 
I will let you know as in exactly the same situation! My mare was showing signs of being footy (she is barefoot so easy to see the signs earlier) She stayed in off the grass for a week and then out on the bare paddock at night but we have had so much rain that that is now a mud skating rink with no grass so I have to let them out on to the bigger field which has very long grass (so maybe better than the short sweet stuff). Plus I cant bring her in to her hard standing / stable at the moment because the entrance is having new concrete put down so cant get to it, Bad timing!

She is wearing newly purchased GreenGuard muzzle but she seems to know what it is all about as she looked fairly resigned to it when I put it on. She doesnt seem to be getting much grass though which is good and it looks horrible and I feel terrible but much better than the other option of laminitis.

I am worrying constantly about it rubbing, her getting it off and pigging out though
 
I used one for about a month on my tb as he had started to look like a pregnant mare! After the month he looked just right so took it off and never needed it again but would have if he started piling on weight.
 
Thanks everyone - I shall be buying them at the weekend and training them to use it. Really not looking forward to it. Just dont want them to think I am a horrid mother. I will let you know how I get on. I will go for the shires model as it seems to have recieved good all round press.
 
Took mine off my girl because I thought the grass wouldn't be so bad. She put on 20kg in two weeks so needless to say it's back on probably for another couple of weeks. She comes in to limited hay at night.
 
Been a marvel for my share pony, F. He's almost at a decent weight now and is happy in his muzzle. He had a bucket type initially and HATED it - just stood in the field looking dejected and wouldn't even attempt to eat, so that went. He's now in a greenguard and is perfectly happy in it. We got a few comments about being mean and what a shame etc at first but I'd far rather he wore a muzzle than carried on being fat putting extra weight on his joints and being at high risk of lami and since we started using a muzzle two other owners on the yard have seen the light too ;-)

Based on Fs reaction to it I would not buy the Shires type!
 
Would definitely go for greenguard but it can be tricky to get them adjusted just right so they aren't rubbing and also that they can't push them to one side ( though this is less likely with the new style). Need to consider if theres anything in the field they could get caught on, such as hedges fencing. Can be impossible to eat through if grass is to short or even if its very long. My girl used one last summer very successfully but she eats so foraciously she did manage to wear her front teeth down a bit. Luckily dentist said it was better than risking laminitis! Try holding the muzzle to the grass yourself and see if there is sufficient coming through to kep horse interested in trying.
 
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