Managing grass with muzzles

Grazing muzzles can be useful management tools. By using a muzzle, your horse can still be moving around the field and socialising, but will be getting limited spring grass that has high levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC).

Bear in mind that research into the use of grazing muzzles to help with management of weight has revealed that longer grass can be more difficult to graze, causing frustration. New research using four ponies was conducted by the Waltham Equine Studies Group, and their intake of forage was measured in the spring, summer and autumn, both with and without grazing muzzles. The study found that when wearing grazing muzzles, pasture intake was reduced by 77% during spring and summer and by 83% during the autumn.

The short (less than 10cm), upright, grass appeared to be the easiest to eat, as leaf blades and stems protruded through the holes in the muzzle. The medium and long swards proved more difficult.

Top tips when using a grazing muzzle - 

1. Introduce the muzzle gradually by starting off using it in the stable - reward your horse with a treat through the hole in the muzzle when you put it on and take it off. 
2. Most manufacturers recommend leaving a muzzle on up to a maximum of 12 hours, so don’t leave on for too long.
3. Remember that grass needs to be at least two inches long for ponies to be able to draw up some grass and not get too frustrated.

Popular products available on our main website include the Greenguard  grazing muzzle which is a simple but effective solution to reduce grass intake....

Plus the range from Shires, which includes the Nylon Grazing Muzzle, below, with its new, improved design. 

Look out for offers on these and other products on our main retail hub at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk. 

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