Muzzling for weight control

[solomon]

Who does it? Are you successful? My horse has definitely lost weight and needed to but I feel so mean! Any Ideas on weaning him back to normal grazing?

[fleabitten]

Think its not so bad if you're taking it on and off. Maybe just using it for part of the day and combine it with strip grazing. Ms owner also does a bare paddock she stands them in for a while with nothing much in it and would give a net with straw to pick at.

[racaille]

I tried it with Dr Evil but it wasn't a great success. I could try it again now he is on grass for part of the day but I kinda take the view that if he dies of obesity, it's a great way for him to go. I've always said there will only be the one vet call out for him. At his great age I'd rather he enjoyed his last days stuffing his face than having a little more time miserable. But then that is the kind of decision you can only take with a 45-year old+

Paco is very fat at the moment too but I am tackling it with increased exercise (it slipped a bit with the move).

[haffyfan]

Mine have finally settled and accepted wearing them, but the bloody things rub however you adjust them and whichever you use! I spend all my time adjusting gel pads in them as they start to rub a new area. Not convinced they cut down on the grazing either...i did make the holes in the bucket style slightly larger as neither could eat and now they suck it up like spaghetti in long grass! Green guard was great in the long stuff as they really struggled to eat at all but in shorter stuff i don't think it controls intake at all hence the swopping and changing. It has taken weeks literally to get them happy with them on too, they refused to eat and/or just took them off for ages.

[spotti]

I wouldn't let Faith on grass nowadays within thing a muzzle. In the height of summer she can still gain a little bit of weight, but I'm forever saying "I'd dread to think what she'd be like if she didn't have the muzzle on! She's be the size of a house!". At present she's staying off the grass almost completely (apart from the stuff at the side of the school) and seems to be doing great . Even had 3 cheeky little canters this morning - I don't think we've EVER had more that one in the same ride! AND she did it on cue and on the right leg (but that's a different story - I will make a 'hairy pony update' thread later)

[spotti]

As for reintroducing 'normal' grazing, I heard the best bet is to increas access in 10 minute increments over about a month.