Also check that your horse can comfortably open his mouth while wearing the muzzle. There should be a gap of about an inch from the end of your horse’s mouth to the muzzle. ![]() Be sure that the muzzle is not constantly touching the horse’s mouth. Pay attention to areas that might become rubbed by a muzzle, for example the ears, points of the cheek bones, the bridge of the nose, and on top of the muzzle. Be sure to follow the fit instructions for the brand you ultimately choose. Fittingįitting a grazing muzzle correctly is very important, and numerous styles are available on the market. Grazing muzzles are therefore a useful tool that can allow a horse or pony to receive the benefits associated with turnout while at the same time limiting the potential for undesirable weight gain. Being on pasture, especially in a group situation, has a number of benefits, especially for horses otherwise housed in stalls. Other studies have found decreases of just under 80%. Research shows that using grazing muzzles on ponies that were stabled but turned out on pasture for three hours resulted in an 83% decrease in pasture intake. However, turnout in pasture can result in large and typically uncontrolled intakes of forage, leading to weight gain and its associated health risks of equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and laminitis in some individuals. Group turnout allows for social interactions between horses that’s not possible in most stall environments. This is important not only for gastrointestinal health, but also helps maintain low-level fitness and increases calorie utilization, an important consideration for the overweight individual. If you are still have issues after trying these things, email us at and send photos so we can take a look.Pasture turnout offers horses many benefits, but it also come with drawbacks. In these cases, simply place a piece of tape over the 3 lower holes on the inside back surface of the muzzle where your horse’s chin makes contact (see photo above).
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