Grazing muzzle woes--He did it again! (update post #9)

[OzarksRider]

Yesterday my horse destroyed his almost new Greenguard muzzle, the second one this year and I am about to my wits end. I don’t know how he did it, but I suspect he snagged it on a fence hinge and ripped it. My other horse never does this. He’s on his 4th year with his muzzle and it looks like it will never wear out.

Anyway, I need to either find a different type of muzzle or fix the hinges so he can’t rub them. I know some COTHers like the Flexible Filly, but I wonder if that would have the same problem. Or I could go with a cheaper muzzle like the Tough One Easy Breathe that wouldn’t cost so much to replace. Do any of you have any suggestions either for muzzles or something to cover the hinge ends so he can’t snag them?

Also, have any of your horses ever done this? Here’s a picture:

[clanter]

I would start by fixing the hinges (and/or whatever else may be being used to remove the muzzle) as whatever grazing muzzle you select will be tested on what the horse has learned to be effective in removing it

[2DogsFarm]

I’ve used the Tough 1 Easy Breathe successfully for 5yrs.
What wears out is the rubber at the end, eventually rubbed so wide it’s more of a suggestion than a preventive
Nobody sells replacement inserts in mini size
I scored a couple at a tack swap, but cutting them to fit is annoying & they then need to be ziptied in place.
Still, I’d rather replace a $30 muzzle every couple years than spend close to $100.
Penny wise, maybe

[GoodTimes]

I have one of the flexible fillies, the greenguard ones aren’t compatible with the auto waterers at the barn.

The flexible filly muzzle just attaches to any halter (breakaway) with tie wraps/zip ties. They come with a pretty small hole, but you can always cut it bigger if needed. My mare hasn’t wrecked hers at all. If it got caught on something I would think the zip ties or the halter would break before the muzzle.

[trubandloki]

@OzarksRider

Anyway, I need to either find a different type of muzzle or fix the hinges so he can’t rub them.

If your guy is anything like my horse, It does not matter what you fix, he will find something else to break it on. Their ability to find way to remove things, when they really want to, is remarkable.

I realize this does not give you any help solving your problem, just understanding on the problem and sympathy for having to deal with it.

[OzarksRider]

@clanter

start by fixing the hinge

Yes, I agree. The horses are turned out in about 20 acres subdivided into 3 fields, a corral, and a small paddock. There are 8 gates that they could rub against, but only 3 have hinge bolts protruding where a horse could snag a muzzle. My horse pulled this stunt a couple of years ago, and I stopped him by covering the offending hinge with a hock shield.

[OzarksRider]

When I first started muzzling my horse I used the Tough One Easy Breathe, but after one season he started wearing through the rubber in two months or less. He has to wear a muzzle 9-10 months of the year, so that was costing $100-$120 per year to buy 4-5 muzzles. Greenguards are sturdier and seemed more economical in the long run, and for most horses I think they are more economical. But my guy is just special.

I like Greenguard, and I had hoped the inserts they sell would make the muzzle last almost forever. With my other horse that seems to be the case. I put a pony insert in his old style muzzle and he’s been wearing the muzzle going on 4 years now with no problems.

[NaturallyHappy]

@GoodTimes, I second this. We have 5 horses in Flexible Filly and have never had the muzzle break. They separate at the zip tie if they get caught (which rarely happens).

[OzarksRider]

So my very special guy just demolished another Greenguard muzzle, and I have no idea how he did it. I checked all the gate hinges and looked for the missing muzzle piece but couldn’t find it anywhere. I think I’m going to have to give up on Greenguard for this horse because I can’t afford to buy him a new one every month. I’ll finish this year out with my old Tough One Easy Breather (which he hates) and try the Flexible Filly next spring. Wish me luck and send me jingles please.

Here’s a pic of the latest:

[Montanas_Girl]

Good luck! I’ve been very happy with the Flexible Filly muzzle. Mine mare pops one or two of the zip ties (I’m pretty sure she enlists the help of her little sister) on a regular basis and comes in looking like a rhinoceros. Zip ties are easily and cheaply replaced, though!

[Pico_Banana]

Wow, those are impressive pics!

I tried the SweetNet muzzle this year. I really like it and I think my horse liked it better than the GG or the FF.

I stopped using it only because she started eating only on one side (the muzzle still did its job) and was getting ridiculously stiff in one shoulder as a result. So we are done with muzzles, I think. If I’m good at keeping up with her exercise, she doesn’t really need it. So hey, if you want to try one, let me know.

[OzarksRider]

I’ve been thinking about trying the SweetNet muzzle. As rough as my guy is, I wonder if he would chew through the muzzle? And is it as restrictive as other muzzles?

Another thing I wonder about . . . my horse’s muzzles were both attached to Greenguard’s breakaway halter. Shouldn’t the halter break before there’s enough force to dismantle a muzzle? I looked at the halter, and it’s not showing any sign that it was about to break, and it took a lot of force to cause the damage in those pictures. Maybe a different crown piece or a halter with a breakaway fuse would prevent the muzzle from being destroyed. I’d much rather buy new straps or crown piece or fuse than have to replace such an expensive muzzle.

[endlessclimb]

I’d give it one more go with that theory. For the easiest breakaway I like the little fuses that go under the crown piece buckle. You can change any halter into a breakaway with them, too - just cut out the nylon and replace with the fuse.

[Kyrabee]

Does the SweetNet restrict grazing enough?

My mare hasn’t had free choice grass since she was 3. She will be coming 23 this coming spring and the new barn has turnout on grass. I suspect she may be insulin resistant so I think I will get blood work before the grass turnout begins (or not depending on the tests). Heck, I may get one to restrict her hay so the owner doesn’t have to fart around with hay nets. They look cool. I just have to get a breakaway halter.

[Pico_Banana]

With these pics and using the GG halter, I’d be sending them to GG to see what they have to say. I agree that the halter should be breaking before the muzzle.

The SweetNet seems pretty rugged. I feel like I had it adjusted well to her so she was only eating through the hole and not through the orange net, but if that were to happen, the material seems quite sturdy. I might say even sturdier than a Hay Chix hay net. But still softish, which is nice. Mine quickly got dirty so it was stiffer with the dirt than when it was brand new.

I ended up buying the one with the standard sized hole because I think part of my challenges with other muzzles was that they were so restrictive that she tried to get them off. And succeeded. I think with the SweetNet she tried to get it off once when I first put it on her, but then was okay with wearing it. I did feel like it still restricted grazing enough. And there is a smaller size if you want to restrict even more. I used it with a Rambo field safe halter because I was worried about the net catching on things and feel like the Velcro on those halters is the best breakaway option.

FWIW, I feel like I can manage my mare’s weight without the grazing muzzle if two things happen. First is I give her enough exercise. Second is group turnout where my gelding is the boss. He actually takes breaks from grazing and when he does, she will, too. With the grazing muzzle on, she never takes a break. I know that doesn’t work for all horses esp those with insulin sensitivities but throwing it out there for consideration in case it helps some people.

[Hayburner]

I have used the Sweet Net muzzle since early summer, I wish I could tell how much it actually restricts how much grass my mare is getting. Tho, I don’t think you can be sure with any type muzzle. It’s held up well, it’s light weight and she doesn’t seem to mind it.