Use of a Grazing Muzzle

[Maloo]

My ID x mare Maloo puts on weight very easily, this was OK when the horses have all been out in the 'winter' field with not much grass..... however its time to use the 'summer' fields which are full of lush grass

. I have tried only turning her out for an hour - but its incredibly boring for her and all she and her field mates do is scream to one another when apart (not good for relations with the neighbours!!!). What do I do - do I carry on with only letting her our for an hour or so in the evening (as I work work full time) or do I turn her out in the field with a grazing muzzle on all day???

Do any of you guys use grazing muzzles?? How long do you leave them on for??
Advice would be muchly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[PennyJ]

So far this year I have got away without having to put the grazing muzzle on, but I was able to section off 1/4 of the field for my good doer to go into and that was enough to get the weight off that he had put on. On summer routine which we haven't changed to yet when they are out all night and in during the day, I have left him all night with his grazing muzzle on when I have needed to. I don't like doing it, but anything has to be better than a grossly overweight pony.

 

[Maloo]

Hmm yes totally agree with you!
Yes I usually section off a part of the field for all of them and move then fence as and when needed. However Maloo is now out with 2 TBs (used to be out with a Welsh Cob) and the TBs have dainty appetites and dont need to have an enforced diet!! Also she is very adept at jumping an electric fence if her buddies are the other side of it!! So she has to either go where they go or stay in her stable and will be unable to see them in the new field!!
As I am home today (supposedly revising for accountancy exams - YUK) I have turned her out with it on and will check her regularly - but its one of those muzzles that does up with velco - so if she does do something silly and get hooked up it should come apart!!
Anyone else use them - have you had good / bad experiences with them???
Thanks

 

[madhector]

My TB who had Laminitus last year has just moved onto his summer grazing and is wearing a green guard muzzle at night and is in during the day, he can still graze a little, but cannot gorge himself, and he is very settled in it.

 

[dwi]

my aeroborn muzzle split when I tied her up in it and she pulled back so yes they do break if needs be.

be careful that it doesn't rub though as my horse gets rubbed really badly whatever I do so I've stopped using mine

 

[Maloo]

Mine too is an airborne, must admit do put her headcollar over it to lead her to the field and tie her up.
She is such a softy - just puts her head down for me to put it on - I think she understands that its either the muzzle or stay in her stable! Will keep an eye out for rubs - but she is built like a tonka toy so doesnt normally suffer with rubs from anything (well compared to the 2 TBs anyhow!!)
Thanks for the tips

 

[ISHmad]

I've been using the Shires grazing muzzle on mine. We have got it padded with fibregee and sheepskin to avoid rubs on his chin and behind his ears. (Before we padded it out you could see where the hairs on his chin had got shorter with the friction, so have done this as a preventative measure). I hate doing this, but at least he can be out with his fieldmates and getting some grass. At the moment he has his muzzle on in the day and it is taken off at night. If he doesn't lost some weight soon, will bring him in at night and give him soaked hay.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

My mare has been lucky so far this year and has not had to wear her muzzle, but that could change, she is at a different yard than last summer and the fields are smaller and we have a fat mares field lol! Anyhoo i will put it on if needs be, i thnk the shires/aerborn ones are excellent. My mare is very good and i think she kinda understands that am not beng cruel

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

At this time of year my lad goes out in a muzzel (Greenguard)all day from about 8.00am to about 4.00pm. He manages to eat plenty of grass but he doesn't come in with grass bloat belly. He remains fit & in good shape.

 

[louise1967]

I bought a muzzle the weekend for my daughters pony and stuck it on him, then felt so cruel as he was very stressed by not being able to eat the lovely grass, I was getting stressed watching him, I took it back for a refund and have sectioned off a part of his field just for him.

 

[rforsyth1984]

My horse has the shires one, well padded and fleeced up to prevent rubbing, and with the hole cut a little bit bigger. He's out in it from about 5am to 7pm, then comes in at night (small feed and soaked hay)

 

[miss_tipsy]

Every horse is different but I feel that it's kinder and healthier to have the horse out in a muzzle than in a stable. I have several horseas on the yard who all happily wear muzzles including shetland gelding, arab mare, cob gelding, arab x welsh pony and once my arab x wb is allowed out she too will wear one.
I have both shires and dinky ponies muzzles. I prefer the dinky ponies one but I have heard that they aren't doing the larger sizes anymore, if you're listening dinky ponies please make the full size muzzles.
I vary the time they wear them depending on the horses condition, weather, grass etc.