Pony keeps getting grazing muzzle off

[Derama]

So we have two ponies. One of them is a 12 year old mare named Bunny. When we put Bunny and her friend, Hershey, out in the pasture, we have to put grazing muzzles on them so they don’t founder. Hershey is fine with wearing it, she does the occasional rub to try and get it off but she hasn’t succeeded so far, which is good. Bunny on the other hand, has gotten it off 15 times (I counted) since they have been with us for at least two weeks The first time we saw her rub the grazing muzzle on a tree to get it over her ear, then she shook her head and it went flying off. After she did that a few more times, we tried putting the grazing muzzle on first and then her halter over it, for a while that worked, then most recently she somehow keeps getting it off from underneath her halter. We’ve had to keep going into the pasture to put it back on, and let’s just say she doesn’t always cooperate. Does anyone have some suggestions on what we could to do so she keeps it on? I really don’t want her to keep getting it off, because I know she could founder if this continues.

Anything would help, thanks!

[DinkyDonk]

I have a spotted mini donk that has his PhD in muzzle removal. The ONLY thing that works for him is the original Best Friend’s PONY size muzzle (mini size is too shallow, so useless) attached to his breakaway halter with the 4 straps on the muzzle plus additional straps made of strips of polar fleece (cheap, knots well, soft so doesn’t rub). I have to put it on so his lips barely clear the bottom of the muzzle; tighter is better in his case.

[dotneko]

duct tape it to her head (I am just kidding, before anyone gets triggered)

[theresak]

There was a forum member who used a neck collar/cribbing collar and tied the halter of the muzzle to the collar so the pony couldn’t get it off over the ears.

[BackHomeFarm]

I have put a piece of plastic chain around their neck and tied the grazing muzzle to this. The chain breaks easily if they really get caught, but keeps the muzzle from slipping off so easily. I’ve also braided a piece of mane around the crown piece of the muzzle - but this is more of a pain to take off during feed time!

[hairystockings]

@theresak

There was a forum member who used a neck collar/cribbing collar and tied the halter of the muzzle to the collar so the pony couldn’t get it off over the ears.

That is a smart idea.

[Garythesquirrel]

I put a leather turnout halter on over the muzzle.

[carman_liz]

I have a tough one easy breather halter that pony kept getting off, I cut the halter portion off and then the muzzle part I attached to a leather halter noseband with zipties, fuzzies over them. The leather grazing muzzle goes on, then a regular halter over it. I clip the throatlatch from the reg halter to the leather grazing muzzle halter, and the leather halters throatlatch to the regular halter. So far fingers crossed so good!!

[ejm]

We have three horses that need grazing muzzles and two will try hard to get them off.

What works for them is to attach a neck strap that is just tight enough not to slip over the ears. You can get them any place that makes halters for the Thoroughbred industry, like quillin.com (look for neck straps in product index).

[ASB_Stars]

@dotneko

duct tape it to her head (I am just kidding, before anyone gets triggered)

I was going to say staple it, which would have been in jest as well. However, I refrained until you went with the duct tape…

[Weezer]

There are many great solutions in this string!

I zip tie the muzzle to a leather halter. The throat latches of the muzzle and halter are attached to the halter with twine so they will break away if he gets hung up on something. I’ve been doing this for two years with no escapes after several escapes previously.

[luvmyhackney]

I had this problem, either a neck strap and zip ties to the grazing muzzle or a putting a fly mask over it with another halter over that.

[Mallard]

Take a piece of forelock back over the crown of the muzzle and braid it to a piece of mane. Use a big fat elastic (ie NOT a braiding elastic) to hold it in place.

[rubygirl1968]

Until this year mine has been okay to wear his muzzle. This year however, it has been an aggravating waste of time and results in me walking the pasture to find it. I threatened duct tape and super glue!

I even tried an old headstall attached to the muzzle thinking the throatlatch would help. No, he just utilized the breakaway portion, so the muzzle was in the pasture and the headstall was upside down around his neck when I got there.

I thought about a neck strap but wonder if it be any better results than the headstall. If he gets any fatter, he will be stuck in the dry lot 24/7.

[cabz]

My horse was sometimes getting muzzle off. First a Best Friends, added a browbrand to the halter. Hers is a leather halter with the BF attached. Second was a Greenguard, attached to a leather halter. Throat latch clip is put into the crown piece buckle above where it normally would go. Tighten everything up. When the clip has accidentally got put into it’s proper location, she has got the outfit off!!! Also wears a string fly mask which also acts like a brow and. That seems to help also. I won’t start with the jokes of a 24 year old mare in season wearing her “tassels”!!!