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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
 England
1554 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 07:18:13 AM
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I have a problem. Amelia is prone to laminitis. We have very good grass. For the last few weeks she has been living with two other mares (good friends) in a smaller field than her winter one (16 acres), which also, for some reason, has poorer grass - so ideal. This looked like a perfect solution: the mares all settled together, it's a nice field, tra la.
Until yesterday. When the other two mares had a major fight (not witnessed by anyone) which left both of them damaged: one with four distinct hoofprints on her thigh, the other with two lumps taken out of her rump. One of the mares also - most uncharacteristically - went for her owner and badly bit her on the neck. Amelia is not touched, and did not do any of the damage - but it seems reasonable to assume she is, for some reason, the catalyst.
Anyway, obviously she can't stay with the mares now, so last night I moved her back to her winter field, with her two usual companions. In about a fortnight's time I can remove Amelia to her 'usual' summer grazing: a small 'starvation' paddock BUT can't until then cos there are some calving cows in there at the moment.
WHAT DO I DO IN THE INTERIM? I do have a muzzle: but surely she can't wear that 24 hours? Or can she? I won't be able to go up in the morning to put on/remove the muzzle as (ridiculous as THIS sounds) there is a woman at work who is highly allergic to horses and will react badly if I have been around horses before coming to work. I also suspect that once that muzzle has gone on and come off a couple of times Amelia will become difficult to catch (and in 16 acres that's not funny, especially as I have a bus to catch too).
SO... do I muzzle her at night (when I have time to plod after her), whip it off in the morning (and do a quick change of clothes in the barn and hope I don't kill this woman at work!); leave it on 24 hours; leave it off altogether...
ANY thoughts/comments very gratefully received, especially with regard to leaving the muzzle on 24/7. It is only for a fortnight or so.
Waaaaa!!
Grey Girl
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 Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE"  |
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avanti
Platinum Member
England
2222 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 07:44:51 AM
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| Hi, I have 2 lamminitic mares that I am able to leave with the herd with grazing muzzles on, they must have a hole in the bottom and I use the nylon strap variety with a hole in the bottom, I leave the muzzles on for several days when the grass is at its most dangerous, I do check them regularly and one mare has to have hers attached to a headcollar or she gets it off, I have found they are happier picking grass with the herd than being separated (even together), one of the mares particularly seems able to still get good amounts of grass by continuous grazing, Mandy. |
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jaybird
Gold Member
France
1192 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 08:01:29 AM
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Hi
I think it depends on the type of muzzle that you have, I have one with a safety strap that snaps if the muzzle gets caught, but I would only leave this on during the day(horses always seem to do something to themselves at night)so perhaps on during the day, off at night, sorry but that means morning duties (perhaps the women would be better if you didn't tell her you had been to do the horse)Horses especially mares always seem to get funny in spring time, must be the grass.
B (France) |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 08:41:29 AM
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| No advice for you but you made me laugh! I used to live in a house share straight after uni and one of my housemates was so allergic to horses that I had to strip on the doorstep after riding and put all clothes straight into a plastic bag. |
   
West Sussex |
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Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 08:49:15 AM
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My mare was laminetic but I never used a grazing muzzle on her, she
used to get it by other means but I still restricted her grass intake so I cant really say about 24 hour muzzling. But all I can
offer is it is better for a laminetic to take grass at night when
the sugar is at it lowest. Sorry not much help like.
Janet |
     
Sunny Cheshire |
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 09:21:06 AM
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Do you have any electric fencing? Could you fence her in a small area? If not, I'm afraid muzzling is the only choice you have. Yes, you can leave a muzzleo n for 24 hours- it's not ideal, and it would be great if you could get someone to catch her early in the morning to muzzle her for you, but it's better to leave it on 24/7 than risk laminitis. Been there, done that.... You need to make sure she can't get it off (I use a browband on my muzzle) and make sure it's well padded if she's likely to get rubs on it too.
It sounds as if this is a short term solution anyway so while it might not be ideal to leave a muzzle on full time, if it's only for a couple of weeks it's not too bad.
Oh, and you're far better muzzling her during the day than at night as the grass has a lower sugar content overnight.
Good luck, I've managed to avoid the muzzle this year so far as I've borrowed some sheep to eat my grass off - I hate using muzzles on mine! |
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avanti
Platinum Member
England
2222 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 09:30:34 AM
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| I must just add that I do not like the muzzles but they saved my mares last year, this year I have had some cattle on the field so have avoided using them so far, I think it is acceptable to use them for the 2 weeks you are thinking of, JMO, Mandy xx |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 2:20:26 PM
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Karon's suggested what my first thought was. An electric fenced area in the field - perhaps get the other two in it for a few hours to crop off all the worst of the top and then put Amelia in 24/7 and give her some lungeing as extra exercise if you're not riding her. Horses very quickly get used to being holed up alone in part of the field while the others roam the whole lot. They don't think 'fair - unfair' like we do!
I am sure muzzles are essential for some horses but it looks so sad to see them unable to eat and surrounded by grass!
Poor old Amelia! And poor old Alison. What a trial to have this every year for both of you. |
Roseanne |
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jaybird
Gold Member
France
1192 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 2:29:14 PM
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Hi
My Pandy's muzzle allows grazing but at a restricted level she can pick bits of grass through the bottom hole and she can certainly drink no problem it's rubber so she cannot rub a hole in it like she used to the others, cost about £30 but so far this year no laminitis attacks and boy do we have grass, I got it from a web site called Charlies Products.
B (France) |
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Delyth
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1425 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 3:21:30 PM
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| I'm not keen on muzzles but my section A wears her 24/7 in the summer and its surprising what she manages to suck through the holes !! |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 5:24:40 PM
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Thank you everyone for your thoughts and advice and sympathy! Much appreciated.
I have decided to muzzle her during the day and cross the bridge about catching if it comes to that. I'd rather not fence off an area as she jumps electric fencing! But again, if necessary... but it is only for a fortnight. I'll change clothes at the farm before getting the bus and if the woman starts reacting I'll have to see if someone else will do the muzzling.
Such a shame: I really thought we had the ideal solution (her living with the other mares) but we can't take the risk of the mares fighting again and really injuring each other - or their owner.
Grey Girl |
Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE" |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 10:14:01 PM
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| Alison you're very thoughtful and kind. I hope it works out without too many problems. You could do without the risk of causing anaphylactic shock at work just cos you own a horse! What's the world coming to? |
Roseanne |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 7:29:28 PM
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Just in case anyone wondered: first day with the muzzle went okay: Amelia most indignant at first but eventually philosophical; I did a change in the barn and so went into work clean and wholesome (except for discovering, too late, that my trousers weren't dry after being washed so I spent the day in clammy garments, yuck!)
She was very very pleased to see me tonight but had managed to collect some ticks even through the muzzle! I creamed her nose with cocoa butter and sudocreme in case of any soreness; rode her; then turned her out for the night sans muzzle.
The other mares are much better: the one that bit gave me a nice wash last night and tonight was kissing and nuzzling her human victim with much affection. So, fingers crossed, alls well that ends well.
With luck too Amelia will let me catch her tomorrow morning as I'll ride her then. 
The girl at work is severely allergic to lots of things (including dust) and all of us with animals have to be careful around her. It's a shame, she loves animals but can't get any closer than a picture.
Grey Girl |
Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE" |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 8:03:17 PM
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Glad it's working out well Alison. Good old Amelia!
How awful for the girl at work! It rather restricts her from visiting people who have busy lives as our homes are never pristine... |
Roseanne |
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jaybird
Gold Member
France
1192 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 08:33:51 AM
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Hi Grey Girl
That's great, do you remove the tic's or just cover them up? only here we have to remove them very quickly as they carry Lyme's disease I have green tic hooks from the vet that work superb, but I do know that some people leave them in and just cover them with cream, I used to dab them with surgical spirit in UK until they died but I now know this is not the way and they must be removed, these hooks are great (but a little expensive - 5 euro for two) but worth every penny.
How does the girl in work manage, with most people owning cats and dogs do they have to leave home without touching thier pets? very difficult.
B (France) |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 4:57:54 PM
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Jaybird: I always remove the ticks - and with the little green widget you mention! Absolutely brilliant, so easy to use (well, a lot easier than using fingers or tweezers, and so much safer).
The girl at work has a right old problem: generally I just avoid sitting at her desk or ever touching her computer; one other woman at work has a lot of cats and dogs but she sits quite a long away from this person. However, I believe she tries to avoid her animals just before leaving for work, when she has work clothes on. Allergic person always has the windows open and a fan on most of the time too, which can be a bit chilly in winter! She can't travel abroad or do loads of things that everyone else takes for granted. It's very tough for her, so we all do our best to avoid bringing in animal hair!
I managed to catch Amelia no problem this morning - we had a nice ride and when I turned her out in the muzzle she was yelling for her friends (who were all out on rides) but sounded very muffled!
Bless.
Grey Girl |
Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE" |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 7:57:02 PM
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Would you cocoa - now the muzzle has rubbed the outside of Amelia's nostrils!!!! Obviously not designed with flaring arabian nostrils in mind! Am going to have to ring around the saddlers tomorrow and try and find a different design (she's wearing a Shires at the moment)
ARGH!!!!
Grey Girl |
Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE" |
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jaybird
Gold Member
France
1192 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 9:16:46 PM
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Hi Gry Girl
Look at the site Charlies Products, mine is made of rubber so does not seem to rub the face, but if they are persistent then nothing is any good, only stabling out of grass reach, horses are suprising clever where food is concerned and all the tricks are tried by Pandy but at the moment this mask seem to have her fooled.
B (France) |
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tamila
Platinum Member
England
2532 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 09:57:15 AM
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| Alison, Ring Roger Hatch on 01243551766 he will be able to help you. |
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