tips to keep a grazing muzzle on

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isobels07

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best tips for a Houdini pony. My native lives out 24/7, and has defiantly piled on the weight this year. He used to get along fine with a muzzle, however now he won't keep one on for more than a day. Tried plaiting into mane, he pulled it out:(. Please any tips will be greatly recieved. (no option to bring in, or switch to a less grassy field)
 
isobels07 said:
best tips for a Houdini pony. My native lives out 24/7, and has defiantly piled on the weight this year. He used to get along fine with a muzzle, however now he won't keep one on for more than a day. Tried plaiting into mane, he pulled it out:(. Please any tips will be greatly recieved. (no option to bring in, or switch to a less grassy field)
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The issue I always found was that the throat lash was never quite tight enough and the strap going from the throat lash to the bottom of the muzzle (on the one I had) had to be quite short otherwise there was too much leverage to get it off.
I know some people attach headcollars and also brow bands and throat lashes from old bridles or plait it into the horses mane on the 'top knot' area.
 
isobels07 said:
best tips for a Houdini pony. My native lives out 24/7, and has defiantly piled on the weight this year. He used to get along fine with a muzzle, however now he won't keep one on for more than a day. Tried plaiting into mane, he pulled it out:(. Please any tips will be greatly recieved. (no option to bring in, or switch to a less grassy field)
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If you pony is losing its muzzle which used to happen to Bailey it can be quite dangerous as he will then gorge. This used to happen to Bailey. Think about reducing the size of the paddock using strip grazing or turning out for less time in order to reduce grass intake. This might work better OP x
 
I put his fly mask on over the muzzle, mine had his friends help him pull his fly mask off when it was underneath the muzzle so that the whole lot came off but now even if the mask comes off the muzzle stays on.
 
Check that your muzzle is correctly placed to allow grazing. You may have to try different brands until you find one that is suitable. My old cob would tolerate a Tough 1 Easy Breath, as the grazing slot allowed actual grazing. I feel your pain with keeping it on. I finally bored through the velcro quick release tabs and secured with a small cable tie, and attached a thicker cable tie to the muzzle headpiece and ran a plastic belt through it, which went round his neck. Nothing that wouldn't break if he got caught up, but enough to make him give up trying to remove it. My friend tried everything we could think of with her cob, and has had to resort to keeping him in either days or nights.
 
I attach the throat lash strap of the headcollar to the buckle on the headpiece, the strap is just about long enough and it stops my NF pony pulling the muzzle off over his head. His flexible filly muzzle has to have two cable ties through each attachment section, he busts them off on fencing, from time to time. He has a little leather piece of strap as a breakable safety section.
 
Thank you for all the replies! No option to manage grazing unfortuantley, I am thinking a throatlash is my best bet because as you said Birker2020, I do think its very lose on his muzzle. I may also try a browband to stop in being able to be levered off either way. Thanks all x
 
isobels07 said:
best tips for a Houdini pony. My native lives out 24/7, and has defiantly piled on the weight this year. He used to get along fine with a muzzle, however now he won't keep one on for more than a day. Tried plaiting into mane, he pulled it out:(. Please any tips will be greatly recieved. (no option to bring in, or switch to a less grassy field)
Click to expand...
What I do with my mare is put a fly mask with ears on top and that seems to keep it on. Let me know if this helps.
 
I tied a bit of baler twine (Its not attractive but has worked) from the head strap between his ears to the front of the muzzle in a kind of upside down Y shape. So It ties say, just above the inside edge of each nostril and then straight up his head. Think similar to an Australian noseband the racers wear
 
Consider a well fitting leather headcollar and attach to that, winding the throat lash of the muzzle around that of the headcollar.

Leather should snap if needed.

You can also use duck tape to change the shape of parts to make it better fitting.

The plait works for me but obviously mine has a sturdier mane!
 
On ponies, I apply the muzzle pretty tightly- not overly so, but I’ve seen them roll onto their backs and then slip the muzzle off as the back of the headpiece gives….there needs to be not enough give.

Gaffa tape and sudocrem are good for any slight rubs that might occur as a result….definitely better than the consequences of un restricted grazing.

Fly masks on the outside have worked too!
 
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