Horses are grazing animals which means they have an instinct that drives them to eat all day long. This is fine in most instances, however, some horses can react badly to having constant access to fresh, lush grass. It’s in these cases that horse grazing muzzles can come in handy. Read on to discover all about horse grazing muzzles, what they are and how to use them. This way you’ll have a clearer idea about what to look out for when it comes to choosing the best grazing muzzle for horses.
What is a Horse Grazing Muzzle?
A grazing muzzle is a device that is used to restrict a horse's grazing. The alternative to using a muzzle usually involves keeping the horse indoors, away from grass. Grazing muzzles allow the horse to fully enjoy time outside, in lush pastures without gorging itself on the grass.
How Do They Work?
Grazing muzzles attach to horse halters, or often, they’ll be sold with their own adjustable halters. They look like small baskets that cover the horse's nose and mouth and they’re usually flexible and made from durable materials such as nylon.
The muzzle allows your horse to breathe, drink, open and close its mouth, and it also lets a very limited amount of grass inside to be eaten. This means that your horse can graze all day long but it’s grass intake is dramatically reduced.
What are the Benefits of Using Grazing Muzzles?
Grazing muzzles can reduce a horse's grass intake by up to 80 per cent which makes it great for horses who need a restricted diet. If your horse suffers from laminitis then using a grazing muzzle is a great way to prevent the onset of the painful symptoms associated with it.
An overweight horse can also benefit from wearing a grazing muzzle, especially “easy keepers” who gain excessive weight over the summer time. First, find out how much the horse weighs to determine whether it is overweight or not.
The main benefit of using a grazing muzzle is that instead of being segregated away from grass, your horse can still go outside. This is definitely better for your horses' overall wellbeing. An overweight horse wearing a muzzle will burn more calories moving around outside than if its standing in a stall. Wearing a muzzle means that your horse can enjoy being outside with the herd, keeping with a normal routine.
When Should I Use one on my Horse?
When the lush spring grass starts growing, it’s hard for horses not to get excited about it. It’s packed full of nutrients and protein, which provides a perfectly balanced meal for your horse. This is why a grazing muzzle will be used mostly in the spring and summertime when the grass is at its richest.
Laminitis is a painful foot condition which is triggered by high protein and sugars which is found in the grass when it's growing. This means that horses who are prone to laminitis should be muzzled during the peak grass growing times as a preventative measure. Peak growing times for grass include the spring and after the rain in the summertime.
If your horse is overweight and no amount of exercise is getting it in shape then it's best to use a grazing muzzle to restrict its diet. Obesity in horses can lead to all kinds of health problems including laminitis. For overweight horses, you should use a muzzle as and when it’s needed to control your horses diet.
Should I Give My Horse a Day Off From Its Muzzle?
Once you’ve started using a muzzle on your horse, it’s important to be vigilant with the routine and to use it each day. If you give your horse a break from the muzzle then chances are, it's going to try really hard to catch up on missed eating time. One day without the muzzle can set you back on several days of hard work.
Are Grazing Muzzles Dangerous?
Leaving a horse turned out unsupervised with any type of tack or equipment will always come with risks. Potentially the muzzle could become stuck on a fence or your horse could injure itself by trying to pull it off. If you have a high quality, well-fitted muzzle then theses hazards can be kept to a minimum.
Remove Daily
In all cases, the muzzle should be checked and removed daily. It’s good to give your horse's face an 8 to 12-hour break from the muzzle each day. This will mean that it will have to be away from pasture so overnight in a stall, is the ideal time. This allows your horse to breath freely and it also allows you to check its mouth and nose for cuts and rubs.
Check the Muzzle
You should make sure that the muzzle is dry and debris free before putting it back on your horse. A damp muzzle can cause chaffing and debris can cause injury around the horse's delicate mouth. Open wounds can quickly turn bad from flies heat in the summer. This is why it’s important to remove the grazing muzzle daily and catch any wounds early.
Introducing a Horse to a Muzzle
In most cases, it will take a horse time to adjust to a new muzzle so you should monitor it closely, especially for the first two weeks. Make sure that your horse has managed to work out how to drink with the muzzle on and look out for abnormal weight-loss, this could be a sign of dehydration. Also, monitor for behavioral changes in your horse. Potentially, if your horse can't bite when it’s out in the herd, other horse might take the opportunity for bullying.
Using a Muzzle for the First Time
When you put the muzzle on for the first time, make sure that your horse is breathing well and that its nostrils aren’t obstructed. This is especially important if your horse has any respiratory conditions. When your horse is comfortable wearing the muzzle, take it out to pasture on a lead rein. Stay with your horse until it looks like it’s figured out how to use the muzzle. In the first few days especially, check the muzzle and halter for damage. Chances are that your horse is going to try and pull the muzzle off at first.
How to Fit a Horse Grazing Muzzle
If your horses grazing muzzle fits well then it has the best chances of staying on. If the muzzle doesn’t fit well on the other hand, then it can potentially injure your horse. When it comes to selecting a size, you should choose your horses standard halter size.
Fitting Tips
When you put the muzzle on your horse for the first time, look out for any pressure points around the ears, cheeks and nose. There shouldn’t be too much pressure in these areas. The muzzle mustn’t touch the horse's mouth, there should be at least an inch from the base of the muzzle to your horse's lips. You should be able to fit two or three fingers between the muzzle and your horse's nose. This allows plenty of room for your horse to chew without the muzzle rubbing.
Horse Keeps Loosing its Muzzle
Sometimes it might turn into an outright war with your horse when it comes to keeping the muzzle on. If this is the case then it may mean that you have to try several different muzzles before you find one that will stay in place.
How to Choose the Right Grazing Muzzle
So that you choose the safest and most effective muzzle for your needs, we’ve outlined the most important things to consider when you’re choosing one.
Comfort
If you find that your grazing muzzle is causing pressure points and rubbing your horse then choose a muzzle with extra comfort features. These include cheek, chin and head pads or padding around the nose. If a muzzle is comfortable then your horse is less likely to want to remove it. Try a muzzle with extra comfort features if your horse is always pulling his muzzle off.
Adjustability
It’s always a good idea to look out for an adjustable horse muzzle and horse muzzle harness. This is to make sure that you can ensure the optimum fit for your horse which is vital for the function and safety of the muzzle.
Material
Grazing muzzles need to be tough and hard-wearing while at the same time being comfortable to wear. This is why most grazing muzzles will be made from durable materials such as nylon or polyester. These are both comfortable and hard-wearing. Sometimes softer materials will be used to provide extra comfort in areas where pressure points can occur. These will often be made from manmade fleece, sheepskin and even neoprene.
Special Features
If your horse likes to be abusive towards its grazing muzzle then you should look out for a heavy-duty grazing muzzle. Heavy-duty muzzles are generally made from tougher materials and are reinforced in all the right places to withstand excessive abuse. It’s good if the grazing muzzle is practical too so lookout for a throat snap for easy fitting and a D ring for leading.
Reviews of 5 of the Best Grazing Muzzles
To make your search for the perfect grazing muzzle a little easier, we’ve reviewed 5 of our favorites below.
1. Shires Deluxe Grass Muzzle
This is a comfortable, durable and fully adjustable grazing muzzle from Shires. It has fleece wool padding around the muzzle and chin that offers the ultimate in comfort and protection. The throat and head straps are fully adjustable to ensure a precision fit around your horse's mouth. The muzzle has a durable rubber base, reinforced nylon web bars which allow a free flow of air, and a D ring for leading your horse. This is a high quality, comfortable muzzle that’s available in five different sizes.
2. Greenguard Grazing Muzzle
This lightweight Greenguard grazing muzzle is one of the most popular grazing muzzles on the market. The Greenguard muzzle has a unique design that uses a semi-flexible basket rather than a fabric one, to restrict your horses grazing. Unlike fabrics, this muzzle won't rip, stay damp or cling to your horses face. Instead, the basket design allows your horse plenty of free mouth movement and airflow making the muzzle much less invasive. The Greenguard grazing muzzle comes in a range of different sizes and they even make grazing muzzles for miniature horses. This is a high-quality muzzle that’s worth investing in.
3. Tough 1 Easy Breathe V Pony Grazing Muzzle
If you're looking for grazing muzzles for ponies then this is a durable and affordable grazing muzzle from Tough 1 that´s perfect for the job. The easy breathe grazing muzzle has a nylon/poly basket with an extra-large opening around the nostrils that allow your horse to breath easily. This is a durable muzzle from Tough 1 that’s comfortable for your pony to wear and it comes with an adjustable nylon halter. The halter features a D ring and throat snap for easy fitting and leading. The Tough 1 Easy Breathe V pony grazing muzzle is a great value grazing muzzle to invest in and it comes in a range of other sizes too.
4. TGW Riding Horse Grazing Muzzle
This is a fantastic, affordable grazing muzzle from TGW Riding. The special webbing of this muzzle features large holes over the nose allowing your horse to breath easily. it’s made from a nylon/poly mix material which is highly durable and comfortable for your horse. The muzzle comes with an adjustable nylon halter, which includes a throat snap and a D ring for leading. This is an attractive muzzle that’s available in four different colors.
5. Prairie Horse Supply Deluxe Lined Grazing Muzzle
This is a hard-wearing, durable grazing muzzle from Prairie Horse Supply. It has a heavy-duty neoprene basket which is resistant, breathable and comfortable for your horse to wear. The basket is held to a heavy-duty, adjustable Nylon halter which features a chin pad, neck pad and a lined waffle box for extra comfort. This is an elegantly designed, hard wearing muzzle that’s available at a great budget price.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the most comfortable grazing muzzle for your best friend then we highly recommend the Shires Deluxe Grazing Muzzle. Shires are a brand that you can trust to deliver high-quality equine products. We love the Deluxe grazing muzzle because it's comfortable as well as being effective in restricting your horses grazing. This is a quality muzzle that's available at a great price.
Though a horse grazing muzzle may look quite severe to some people, wearing one is the more humane option when it comes to restricting a horses diet. As long as you have a quality, well-fitted muzzle that’s checked regally then there shouldn’t be any problems. By wearing a muzzle your best friend can enjoy being outside in the herd while burning a few calories too. We hope this guide has been of assistance to you in your search for the best grazing muzzle for horses.
