I have two chunky mares that need to start wearing grazing muzzles. They currently can run in and out of the barn freely. I’m not sure how to provide them with hay while wearing the muzzle. I was considering having them only wear grazing muzzles during the day and then they can have hay at night when the sugar content of the grass is lower, but I don’t know.
Any advice would be very much appreciated!
The sugar content of grass peaks at about 3-4pm and is highest in the evenings. If you could let them graze in mornings, you’ll have the lowest NSC in grass at that time. I’d muzzle them half the day.
Do they need hay if they are grazing? Even with muzzles ours seem to prefer to eat grass. None of them really eat hay unless they are in stalls and can’t graze.
All else equal, sugars are lowest from 3-10am.
I’m unclear what you setup is designed to do.
Are you having hay in the barn so if they choose to avoid heat/bugs, they can eat hay under cover?
What’s the reasoning behind letting them have hay when the sugar in the grass is lowest? Usually people want to do that the other way around - take them off grass and put them on hay when sugars are highest
Mine are out all day , 1 with a muzzle and then all 3 are dry lotted at night with hay ( no muzzle). This is keeping my mare at a good weight.
Depending on how overweight your mare is and whether or not she is trending towards metabolic issues you may get away with 12 with a muzzle and 12 off-- or you may need to dry lot with some hay over night for the time you have decent grass .
My horse was able to eat hay just fine with his muzzle on.
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