Wearing a muzzle 24/7
- Thread starter Troggy
- Start date
Joss
Well-Known Member
I think they are really good ones BUT I wouldnt leave it on 24/7.
Unless the grass is quite long they really can eat very very little through them. You also need to make sure they have mastered the art of drinking with them on, which is perfectly possible & easy but they need to get used to it.
Unless the grass is quite long they really can eat very very little through them. You also need to make sure they have mastered the art of drinking with them on, which is perfectly possible & easy but they need to get used to it.
Troggy
Well-Known Member
Thank you, sorry meant to say she has been wearing it over night for a while now and definitely drinks with it on, I have seen her.
If she were to wear it 24/7, it would be on enough grass to keep her nibbling.
Thanks
If she were to wear it 24/7, it would be on enough grass to keep her nibbling.
Thanks
emmaln
Well-Known Member
My friend keeps her greenguard muzzle on 24/7 and her mare (who is chestnut) is quite happy to have it on again when she's taken it off!! Not sure it making a huge difference mare is still very fat!!!
vicksey
Well-Known Member
I put my lad in the muzzle over night and in bare paddock over night as he doesnt like having the muzzle on. He likes to mutual groom others too so having some time without it on is better for him. If your horse doesn't mind it I dont see the problem, but manageing your grazzing might be a better option, but I know some yards dont allow it. Good Luck I know how hard it is over summer with the fatties x
eoe
Well-Known Member
My big Irish has one on 24/7 in the summer and also when he is out at grass in the winter, it is the only way I can keep him at his ideal weight as he will eat everything and anything and puts on weight far to easily. He has the greenguard one on and only has it off when he is in the stable and neverminds it being on, he can even eat hay and thistles thorugh it. I had one livery who come in 3 months ago and her pony was obecess, three months on and she has been wearing a Shires muzzle and she is now nearly back down to her optimum weight. I always think it is better for the horses to be out with their friends in the fields rather than be on their own on starvation paddocks all you are doing is looking after your horses welfare and making sure he is happy and not overweight. Keeping up a good exercise regime also helps, even if you only have 10 minutes to lunge them, something is better than nothing.
RachelB
Well-Known Member
I did it once for a very short while and hated myself for ever even thinking it could be done. My mare was miserable, utterly miserable. I hate muzzles now and would always find an alternative if I could, but if I had no choice then it would NEVER be on for 24 hours. My horse is happily being strip-grazed
vallin
Well-Known Member
I use a shires muzzle during the day as that's when the grass is highest in sugar and this seems to work well, I wouldn't leave it on 24/7 for reasons stated above.
teddyt
Well-Known Member
I think muzzles are a better option than laminitis however i would not leave it on 24/7. It is hard for the horse to yawn/stretch its jaw and as someone else said, mutual grooming would be out. It also wouldnt be very good for the skin, nylon and sweat is not a good combination!
merlinsquest
Well-Known Member
I put Merlins on in the afternoon and leave it on till morning.... he has about 4-6 hours of grazing/scratching/grooming etc till it goes on again....
I dont like to keep it on so long but he is a very efficient muzzle user and seems to be able to eat very well with it on
That said he is having a night off tonight, and it should go back on tomorrow after I have ridden
I dont like to keep it on so long but he is a very efficient muzzle user and seems to be able to eat very well with it on
That said he is having a night off tonight, and it should go back on tomorrow after I have ridden
Lotty
Well-Known Member
I use the greenguard grazing muzzle with the greenguard halter and she doesn' seem to mind when I put it on.
The only worrying thing is it doesn't have a breakaway piece so I take it off at night.
The only worrying thing is it doesn't have a breakaway piece so I take it off at night.
Izzwizz
Well-Known Member
I used one when my mare had a brush with laminitis but never 24/7. I preferred to bring her in at night and increase the exercise. Kept the weight off this way and was able to not use the muzzle at all then. She didnt mind it but it did rub her a little down the side of her face so I used an old girth sleeve to stop this. I would shy away from its use at night in case it got caught up in the dark somewhere in the same way I wouldnt use a fly mask at night.
RobinHood
Well-Known Member
RE the mutual grooming, my horses seem to enjoy grooming each other even more when they're wearing muzzles. Maybe my horses are just strange
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
Hi Troggy,
Looking at the design, it has a breakaway option. Is this like the shire's one, with the velcro bits? That's what Henry's muzzle has. I have tried leaving his on overnight, but the little sod gets it off (he hooks the velcro under the nearest fence wire and undoes it, little sh*t!). You can only try it and see. I hate the idea of muzzles, too, but they are useful bits of kit for fatties. Keep an eye out for rubbing and any colicky symptoms (if your pony doesn't eat with it on) and play it by ear, would be my advice.
Looking at the design, it has a breakaway option. Is this like the shire's one, with the velcro bits? That's what Henry's muzzle has. I have tried leaving his on overnight, but the little sod gets it off (he hooks the velcro under the nearest fence wire and undoes it, little sh*t!). You can only try it and see. I hate the idea of muzzles, too, but they are useful bits of kit for fatties. Keep an eye out for rubbing and any colicky symptoms (if your pony doesn't eat with it on) and play it by ear, would be my advice.