Transforming a GreenGuard grazing muzzle temporarilly into a feedbag - Any Engineer Brains out there?

[eclectic]

Background:
(skip to TL/DR if necessary)

My mare is on pasture board, where the horses are given grain supplements 2x/day, either via a dish on the ground or a feed bag. My mare is in a 24/7 GreenGuard grazing muzzle.

In the past the BMs simply stopped feeding her the supplement because she would run away and not let them put the muzzle back on.

After a barn ownership change, my BM has said she will do whatever’s necessary to feed my mare her TC Lite vit./min. supplement, including stand beside her with a rope around her neck while she eats them from the dish. (I’ve heard this before though).

I realize this is a huge hassle and time-consumer for the BM to have to stand and wait. But since it’s now winter I really feel mare needs to get the supplement.

TL/DR:
I’m trying to think of a way to put something inside the grazing muzzle to block the bottom holes so BM can put the TC Lite pellets directly into her muzzle for her to eat. Then remove blocker when she’s done. *All without having to take the whole contraption off and put back on."

There’s a GG video that shows how to cut out an insert from thin plastic to use for blocking the bottom holes. But it requires taking off the muzzle + halter to put the blocker thing in, and then snapping their “diet insert” down on top of it. (Taking off just the muzzle part is even harder than taking of the whole halter).

I’m wondering whether that thin plastic part would be possible to fold and squeeze into the muzzle part without removing anything. And if that would work by itself to keep the pellets from escaping, and could then be squeezed back out again?

Does anyone have another idea? I’m still chewing on it. A way to put an actual feedbag type thing, or just cloth bag, inside there?

I don’t have the muzzle thing at home with me so a little hard to visualize. I do know there’s not a lot of space for squeezing things in there. It would be GREAT if there were an easy way to snap and unsnap the 4 buckles that hold the muzzle to the halter. But they are 4 very stiff faux leather-type tongue-and-groove buckles. Very difficult to make even small adjustments.

Below is the GG video about cutting out an insert, to make more clear what I’m talking about.

My undying gratitute to anyone who has an idea or maybe has already solved this problem!

How to Temporarily Block All Holes in Your Grazing Muzzle

[Simkie]

You really don’t want to block all the holes in your grazing muzzle. If your horse goes to drink, it could fill with water.

Can you provide a feed bag? And some super tasty high value treats to encourage your horse to not be difficult about the muzzle going back on?

[Tee]

I just did a quick search on silicone baskets - maybe something like that would work? The GG fits 5 - 6" bit sizes so that’s what I based the search on. I don’t have a muzzle handy to measure.

Editing to say that I am envisioning this just to be used long enough for her to finish her snack, and take it back out after.

[trubandloki]

Whatever solution you come up with, it seems logical that you might want to offer to pay for this as an extra service.

[eclectic]

The blocking of the holes would only be temporary - just long enough for her to eat her pellets - then the blocker would be removed again. I’m trying to think of a way to do that that would be easier than taking the whole halter off, putting in the blocker, putting it back on, then the reverse when she’s done eating.

I am thinking about providing a feedbag for BM so swap out at feeding time. Mare would probably hang around long enough for the feedbag to be taken off and replaced with the muzzle.

The treats thing has always worked for me. Thanks for the mention. When I’m out working with her I put treats in the muzzle before or just after I put it back on her. She has always seemed to love the muzzle when I’ve been working with her, sticks her head right in as if it’s a feedbag - even if I don’t put the treats in right away, it’s usually followed by going for a hand graze on good grass.

I did share this idea with my BM and I think she’s starting to do the treats thing. As an update, she texted me just minutes ago to say Mare is hanging around until she finishes her pellets and allowing BM to put the grazing muzzle back on! I think BM is supposed to hang out with them anyway until they all finish eating, but not sure. They work alone so I can see temptation to run and do a few other chores then come back.

Anyway, seems everything is working for the moment. But in case it stops working I’d like to have a simple alternative.

Thanks for your response!

[Simkie]

@eclectic

The blocking of the holes would only be temporary - just long enough for her to eat her pellets

But here’s the issue with that:

@eclectic

They work alone so I can see temptation to run and do a few other chores then come back.

If she goes to drink, and the blocked off muzzle fills with water, and her nostrils are under water, there’s a very serious risk that she’ll drown. It doesn’t take long, or much.

Swapping to a real actual feedbag (with drainage holes!) and providing treats to keep your girl happy with the muzzle is a much safer option. And probably a lot easier than trying to slip an insert into the muzzle (and then back out) with her wearing it!

[eclectic]

@trubandloki

Whatever solution you come up with, it seems logical that you might want to offer to pay for this as an extra service.

Thank-you for this! As I was just wondering about it myself. There’s a $50/mo. difference between this pasture board with shelter and the stall board with turnout. The horses with stalls use them only for shelter, as they are open all the time onto the pasture, where they spend most of their time. The stall board is sometimes called “full board.”

Anyway, it’s not clear the BM actually has more work to do for feeding the pasture board occupants, but just to eliminate any doubt I was thinking of paying her the difference - like $50 a month. Does that sound right to you?

I had wanted to ask someone about this anyway. Been wondering whether some boarders tip for extra attention, etc.

[eclectic]

@Tee

I just did a quick search on silicone baskets - maybe something like that would work? The GG fits 5 - 6" bit sizes so that’s what I based the search on. I don’t have a muzzle handy to measure.

Editing to say that I am envisioning this just to be used long enough for her to finish her snack, and take it back out after.

I’m having trouble working this out: wold the silicone basket sit inside the GreenGuard muzzle? Or are you saying use the silicone basket all the time (it’s made by ThinLine, if I’m thinking of what you’re thinking of - it’s a grazing muzzle itself?), and the horse is able to eat pellets through it?

[eclectic]

@Simkie

@eclectic

The blocking of the holes would only be temporary - just long enough for her to eat her pellets

But here’s the issue with that:

@eclectic

They work alone so I can see temptation to run and do a few other chores then come back.

If she goes to drink, and the blocked off muzzle fills with water, and her nostrils are under water, there’s a very serious risk that she’ll drown. It doesn’t take long, or much.

Swapping to a real actual feedbag (with drainage holes!) and providing treats to keep your girl happy with the muzzle is a much safer option. And probably a lot easier than trying to slip an insert into the muzzle (and then back out) with her wearing it!

Yes! I see your point now. I think I’ll speak to BM about this being an option. At present (as I mentioned in another reply), BM is reporting that my mare is not running away, is eating her pellets and allowing the muzzle to be put back on.

But I think I will say to her that if this changes and she starts having trouble, I can give her a feeding bag to swap out instead.

Thank you!

[Janet]

@eclectic

It would be GREAT if there were an easy way to snap and unsnap the 4 buckles that hold the muzzle to the halter. But they are 4 very stiff faux leather-type tongue-and-groove buckles. Very difficult to make even small adjustments.

That is not my experience.

One of my horses is Insulin Resistant, and wore a GreenGuard grazing muzzle most of the spring and summer. (With InsulinWise, she is OK on the winter grass, but will probably need the muzzle again in the spring.) Because she also had (now healed) poll evil, she was headshy about having the halter put on and taken off. So I chose to detach, and re-attach. the muzzle. After the first couple of times those “very stiff faux leather-type” straps softened up and became very easy to take off and put on.

[eclectic]

@Janet

On of my horses is Insulin Resistant, and wore a GreenGuard grazing muzzle most of the spring on summer. (With InsulinWise, she is OK on the winter grass, but will probably need the muzzle again in the spring.) Because she also had (now healed) poll evil, she was headshy about having the halter put on and taken off. So I chose to detach, and re-attach. the muzzle. After the first couple of times those “very stiff faux leather-type” straps softened up and became very easy to take off and put on.

Wow! This is good to know. Thanks so much!

[eclectic]

@eclectic

@Tee

I just did a quick search on silicone baskets - maybe something like that would work? The GG fits 5 - 6" bit sizes so that’s what I based the search on. I don’t have a muzzle handy to measure.

Editing to say that I am envisioning this just to be used long enough for her to finish her snack, and take it back out after.

I’m having trouble working this out: wold the silicone basket sit inside the GreenGuard muzzle? Or are you saying use the silicone basket all the time (it’s made by ThinLine, if I’m thinking of what you’re thinking of - it’s a grazing muzzle itself?), and the horse is able to eat pellets through it?

Wait! That’s not what you meant! I searched on silicone baskets myself. I see what you were referring to. It looks like there might be one ready-made that would fit inside the GreenGuard basket. Great idea! Thank-you!

[clanter]

I have one horse who wears a grazing muzzle, I just bring her in to a stall where the muzzle is removed and she gets her supplements. Also gives me a chance to check her for rubs/wear or whatever and makes sure the muzzle is OK.

Makes my life easier as I can do other things and Not Worry about her if I get tied up

[eclectic]

@clanter

I have one horse who wears a grazing muzzle, I just bring her in to a stall where the muzzle is removed and she gets her supplements. Also gives me a chance to check her for rubs/wear or whatever and makes sure the muzzle is OK.

Makes my life easier as I can do other things and Not Worry about her if I get tied up

My mare’s on pasture board though. It means she doesn’t have a stall, only an open shelter.

On the farm where I board there are a couple other pastures that have stalls attached. The BM feeds those horses in their stalls, can take muzzles off and close the gate to the outside. It does make the muzzle handling easier. I prefer the pasture board for my horse though, at this particular place.

[clanter]

when I am feeding this mare she does not remain in the stall, it being used as a convince and for overall safety

Most often she is only one in the barn at that time

As for feed bags, we were feeding one old mare in one but in all honesty that feed bag got gross, and as others mention flooded with water when she did not wait for its removal before drinking

[eclectic]

@clanter

As for feed bags, we were feeding one old mare in one but in all honesty that feed bag got gross, and as others mention flooded with water when she did not wait for its removal before drinking

Thanks, that’s good to know.

Where I board I’ve watched the feeding process a lot of times, in the pasture where my mare is. There were two horses who got feeding bags, because they got a lot of feed and took a long time to finish it. They never tried to drink water while in the feed bags, and I guess the barn manager stayed close enough to keep an eye on them. I thnk just about every situation is a bit different in this respect. There doesn’t seem to be a template for how some barn owners decide to set up a boarding property.

[Simkie]

Most (all?) feed bags drain. Because the risk of drowning your horse is very real.

I use feed bags on and off depending on need. Sure, eventually, they might get a little manky–just like a feed bucket. They clean up fine.

It’s a lot safer to use something intended for that purpose, that won’t hold water, than something that isn’t intended for that purpose.

[eclectic]

Yes, thanks Simkie! I was looking at some last online last night. Some are mesh (they say is breathable), some have a leather patch sewed on the front with holes in it.

I think the mesh ones look best. I assume the mesh will allow water drainage (though not if it’s too fine). And if I find one that’s wide enough (doesn’t fit too close to the muzzle) it will admit air for sure. (just so suffocation is not also an issue- mare has draft-size head).

[candyappy]

@eclectic

The blocking of the holes would only be temporary - just long enough for her to eat her pellets - then the blocker would be removed again. I’m trying to think of a way to do that that would be easier than taking the whole halter off, putting in the blocker, putting it back on, then the reverse when she’s done eating.

If you could fit her " snack" into the muzzle itself she isn’t getting much? When my mare was muzzled and getting something in the evening then I just undid the halter, put it around her neck and held it while she ate and then slipped it back on.

I realize that would require the BM or someone else to hold her but honestly it would take just as long to mess with the muzzle insert? Just add some $$ to cover the inconvenience of the holder.

[equinelibrium]

Sorry if this is a silly question but would you be able to just put a XL feed bag over the muzzle? It will take her longer to eat that way, but that seems like the easiest solution. Would be easy to put on and off, and the mesh means it wouldn’t fill with water.

My biggest question for using a solid bottom
in the muzzle would be how you plan to get the grain inside the muzzle. You’d have to pour it in the sides, which seems very finicky. Using a feed bag on the outside would eliminate that need.