When to stop using grazing muzzle?

heebiejeebies

heebiejeebies

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Horse in question got super fat in the spring time, been using grazing muzzle during the day and being taken off over night (out 24/7). She has lost a good amount of weight and is looking good, so when do I stop using it? There is a lot of grass, but YO won't section field off, so when does the grass usually stop growing enough that it's not as high in sugar?

Thanks for any help :)
 
Certainly not at the moment - the recent rain has made the grass grow like mad. I've got 2 horses and 15 acres, and they are like pigs in clover at the moment! You're not really safe to take the muzzle off until temperatures reduce to a point where the grass isn't really growing. Personally, I would be muzzling a fatty until November-ish
 
I think this will be very variable depending on temperature and weather. The grass starts to reduce with the reducing daylight to a certain extent. I watch how my lawn or other grass is growing and pony goes back into the starvation paddock if the grass starts to shoot. I'd probably weight tape your horse and reduce the length of time the muzzle is on for, gradually, you could even alternate days. Measure each week and then you can put the muzzle on more if there is gain or less if they are losing a bit.

Mine get a poke in the ribs and their rump stared at daily before I decide on whether they are allowed out of the starvation paddocks for a few hours. I don't think there is an exact science but will be interested in what everyone else does :)
 
With the weather this warm and sporadically wet our grass has grown a lot. Mine is muzzled 24/7 and has been since May, I took it off during the really hot spell but it's back on now and he's actually gained weight in the past couple of weeks with it on!
I think it would be unwise to take it off just now, though if you are monitoring really closely you could do one day off, one day on?
 
We are just coming into a seasonal rise of grass growth (last flush before the winter set in)..If it was me i would stick with the muzzle for quite a time yet..I cannot remember the actual statistics but some thing like 30% of Laminitic cases were in the months of late August and September..
 
Mine are muzzled and 1 is as fat as a pig. I've taken her off the grass completely as I'm so worried. The muzzles will stay on mine until November ish and maybe beyond.
 
Thanks so much everyone!

I try and weigh tape every week/two weeks, she is looking so much better than she did, doesn't look fat at all, but I know if she had a few days without her muzzle she would burst! She is good at getting it off, and is checked twice daily to have it put back on.

I will stay doing as I am until the end of September and most likely ask you all again :) thank you all for your help!
 
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