i remember even back in the 80s it was advised to keep forage in front of horses. more for boredom and colic reasons, but still a thing.
I really wish I knew then what I know now and took better care of my horses when I was a junior.
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I feel you there. The mistakes I made 
I try hard not to overcompensate but I still cringe.
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Well welcome to COTH. People misreading what someone else says( trying to say) is a very common occurrence. That is how it came across to me, whether you meant it that way or not.
Honestly a 100% lack of symptoms would be pretty crystal clear to me. If the horse did, by chance have ulcers eventually something would change to point to them.
Sometimes we donāt really know. I had a horse in my barn present as quite lame behind but shifting around. No negative personality changes. Sweet horse, just couldnāt pinpoint lameness. We took her to a leading lameness clinic, the specialist saw it too and she had a clear bone scan. Scoped her on a hunch of his, and her stomach was an absolute MESS of bleeding ulcers. It happens.
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That would be your change I suppose. Did the horse respond well with treatment??
Little update on my Fatty McFattersonā¦heās lost 119 lbs and has been off of Invokana for over a week now. We are going to test his insulin tomorrow to check if itās gone up too high without the meds. Hoping we only have to do meds seasonally at most, but maybe he can maintain now that heās lost the active metabolic fat deposits, so long as he doesnāt try to break himself again and wind up on another long layup.
Meanwhile, my youngster, who used to be able to eat anything and everything, has been off for several weeks with just small turnout and tack walking. He is starting to hit the 7yo metabolism and is turning into a chonk even with some reduction in feed. Sigh. Seems I can only keep one healthy at a time.
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It seems that if the horse is prone to being too heavy it starts at about that age or a bit younger. Thank goodness we have such a variety of muzzles now. It really is a game changer , at least for my 2 who wear them.
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Heās already on a single dry lot with individual hay feedings, but yes Iāve had a couple of extra large WBs who all of a sudden were no longer hard keepers around this age once the crazy growth rate stops. Used to be, heād put on a little belly and then the next week would have grown and gotten ribby. Now without as much exercise, the belly is sticking around and developing a jiggle.
As an alternative to the beet pulp, you could try some alfalfa pellets soaked in an equal amount of water for a few hours, and then add the supplements. We have two McFattersons at the moment and both accept this as their supplement vehicle.
Do muzzles break away if the horse gets them caught on something? I have never used mine. My mare had a sneezing for the minute I put it on. I take her off pasture and put her in a drylot if her weight starts to be an issue.
I can speak to the Green Guard and the answer is yes. There are leather straps that attach the muzzle to the halter, and the GG halter is a breakaway type as well. Weāve busted a couple of leather straps along the way and no harm to pony or muzzle, but those seem first to go which is just fine for me.
I believe the Flexibly Filly gets attached via zip ties but that could be put onto a breakaway halter as well if the muzzle doesnāt have an additional release mechanism.
Iām not sure how the Tough One basket types are constructed, maybe someone else can chime in there.
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Ditto what @FjordBCRF said . I also use breakaway halters, not GG ones but just regular old ones.
I have an old basket muzzle from around 15 years ago ( never throw anything out) and it has the leather crown piece on the attached halter/muzzle. I think the muzzle is made into the halter. It is an awful thing!
On the Tough One muzzles there is velcro in the crown that is supposed to work as a breakaway. IME itās usually the plastic adjustments on the cheek pieces that break.
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