Who's in a muzzle already?

[ycbm]

It was only 2 days ago I was saying to myself that if my Spanish mare lost any more weight I would need to increase her food, but today she has unmistakably got more fat over her ribs than then. So she's back in a muzzle already, and if that doesn't stop the weight gain the overnight forage will be going in the soaking tub next week.

We're high up with a short growing season and I didn't expect this so soon.

What's happening with your fatties?

 

[Surbie]

Coblet is looking quite trim, but not as good as this time 2 years ago. I've just given him a (frankly awful) clip to stop him overheating when exercised and I've soaked his hay pretty much all winter. The Honeychop oat straw chaff has been brilliant in convincing him he has a hearty feed - thank you for the tip!

Weighbridge of Shame is coming in March to see how much I have actually managed to shift off since Nov - the weight tape shows a 40kg loss.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Little A has had hers back on this week from Weds morning.
It's been off since mid November (she is in at night tho, usually all year round)
Means I can let them mooch wherever now without worrying too much.

 

[Maryann]

Whwn I muck out I am finding grass in the droppings of the one who spends around 8 hours a day in a small bare paddock.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Not yet. DP is looking really trim but he is fully clipped and in a 50gm at night and a no fill during the day when out just to keep him clean. If stabled during the day he is naked. I go by his droppings, if it starts to look green then the muzzle will go on but I am going to manage him completely differently this year and he won’t be on the field for more than 2 hours a day because I can’t face another summer like last year.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I had the saddler out and both mine have dropped a lot of weight since they were checked. He advised to use shimmed pad as expects them to gain weight now grass is growing so to flock or narrow tree seemed unwise. They are moulting & is really mild, seems to have gone straight from winter to spring in half a week here. I normally have them in muzzles by end of Feb-Nov but not a lot of grass in their paddock

 

[Aperchristmas]

Ours had to come in for a week off grass to get more weight off and he'll be back out in a muzzle on a strip. Why are natives so efficient at converting thin air to fat?

 

[ycbm]

Ours had to come in for a week off grass to get more weight off and he'll be back out in a muzzle on a strip. Why are natives so efficient at converting thin air to fat?

And Spaniards! I've never seen a horse lay down so much fat in 2 days on rough February hill grass, no fill rug and 6-7 kg haylage ?

 

[Michen]

Just bought a hay cube to start soaking my fatties hay.

 

[maya2008]

No weight increase yet (we are in the south). They are all on an exercise regime to shift weight before the spring though!

 

[Caol Ila]

Really hope the weight on my Spanish horse is easier to manage than yours. Oy. I know from trials and tribulations of trying to keep my old horse from not looking like an RSPCA case that the grass and the hay at the yard are far from rich. Hoping this works to my advantage, for a change.

 

[SEL]

Been on for a week ? She's French so perhaps there's a continental "look at grass and put on weight" gene in common. Judging by the amount and colour of her poo she's getting plenty through the muzzle

The dales x exmoor pony is so far ok although I'm watching her closely for any sign of blubber / crest / footy

 

[Melody Grey]

Not quite in a muzzle with the pony yet, but not far off. They’re off looking for spring shoots before tucking into the hay in the last couple of weeks (still in winter field, so otherwise not much on it). Definitely when I move to a rested paddock he’ll be muzzled.

 

[ecb89]

What are people’s opinions of green guard muzzles?

 

[ycbm]

They rub like hell and need bits of sheepskin attached to stop them. Massacred my mare's chin in 2 days!

I have a large one if you want it for the postage and £20 to the RDA just giving page. Used one week. I'd rather pay £75 for the flexiblefillies one.

 

[holeymoley]

Really keeping an eye on things with mine. He was at the gate wanting in today so don’t think there’s anything out there yet, but then again it was rotten weather. It’ll probably go on next week.

Crazy that this time last week we had lethal ice, no water and were in 350g rugs in -8c and now this week we’re topping 10c and I’m contemplating if a rainsheet is too much!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Bloody awful things, more like torture implements rather than muzzles. I have always used Dinky in the past but switched to a Kramer one last summer and even the dentist conceded it had done no damage to his teeth at all.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Praying for my Spanish mare to pack on some weight. She’s looking very light right now ?

 

[holeymoley]

I’ve seen a lot of damage to chins with the Greenguard muzzles. I wouldn’t have anything else now other than a flexible filly muzzle.

 

[ycbm]

Bloody awful things, more like torture implements rather than muzzles. I have always used Dinky in the past but switched to a Kramer one last summer and even the dentist conceded it had done no damage to his teeth at all.

I hate muzzles in general, I really do. But I do have to admit that my mare happily sticks her nose into hers, never tries to take it off, and would be off her feet without it.
.

 

[ycbm]

Crazy that this time last week we had lethal ice, no water and were in 350g rugs in -8c and now this week we’re topping 10c and I’m contemplating if a rainsheet is too much!

Crazy, isn't it? Two days ago I was planning to feed her more!
.

 

[ecb89]

Thanks! Looks like they are one to avoid

 

[PSD]

My fell is looking more “well” than I’d like for this time of year, especially being rising 3. She’s on limited grazing which looks bare but I think it has some spring shoots coming through. Don’t really want to restrict her too much as she’s young but she can’t go onto the summer grazing at the weight she is, so she’ll either be wearing a muzzle or I’ll restrict her grazing time

 

[brighteyes]

Mine aren't out yet. I have watched their weight and exercise like a hawk and not had to diet them to turn them round from dangerously obese. I reckon EMS/IR is widespread (no pun) and this is a condition (no pun #2) going largely (#3) undiagnosed but routinely combatted with muzzles, soaked hay, minimal rugging etc.

Have any of you tested for EMS? I was going to but my dog needed an op and I'm 'managing' the suspect very well!

We all need a small mountain at the back of the field that has twigs and moss only.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I hate muzzles in general, I really do. But I do have to admit that my mare happily sticks her nose into hers, never tries to take it off, and would be off her feet without it.
.

I do too, but little A happily wears her Dinky one, dentist v happy with her teeth, and it means she can ramble around with B in the daytime

 

[RHM]

Urgh mine will be going on shortly. My EMS fell pony has put on 10kg in pretty much the space of a week. How is that even possible?!!!! The winter break of not soaking hay and exercise is swiftly coming to an end.

 

[brighteyes]

Bloody awful things, more like torture implements rather than muzzles. I have always used Dinky in the past but switched to a Kramer one last summer and even the dentist conceded it had done no damage to his teeth at all.

I get the Shires and butcher them to increase ventilation. What are the Kramer szings like? I found the Hy brand to be a size down from the Shires. All mine are in a cob Shires Comfort - no sheepskin model.

 

[L&M]

Shocked at how fat my cob has got this winter - he usually hunts weekly so comes out of winter lean, so am starting to panic as the spring grass not even an issue yet. We also lost our 24/7 grazing on a hill field this winter too, so although he gets daily turnout, has been stabled a lot more and I have obviously overestimated his haylage intake.

Have tried muzzling in the past but have yet to find one that doesn't rub. But we invested in a garden tractor/mower last autumn so hoping that will help keep the grass down.

He gets very grumpy when hungry so not looking forward to a summer of restrictions......

 

[Shysmum]

Not long now ?

 

[Apizz2019]

Hi all,

Can you tell me how you managed to get your horses/ponies to adjust to a muzzle?

Our pony is quite trim but is going into spring with more of a covering than I'd like. I tried muzzling last year and it was so distressing to see him distressed.

He even cut his head trying to get the muzzle off so I took it off and left it at that.

I felt like the worst owner there ever was at the time.

We managed without the muzzle all summer, just, but I'm thinking how best to go about getting him used to one before the grass really starts to shoot though.

Thanks in advance.