| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
 England
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 28 May 2008 : 3:57:44 PM
|
I feel so cruel...
After fencing off the grazing and the pony still being overwieght I have finally resorted to a grazing muzzle...
I really don't like them but he is really fat and I can't risk health problems!
He hasn't taken to it very well... I bought a roma one first with a bucket with a hole on the end... he really showed is disatisfaction to that one! Big time! so took it back and bought a greengurad one... he didn't flip out, just stood there with his head on my hip as if to say, "take it off, don't like it anymore"
he didn't even atempt to graze so I put a small bucket of chaff down, he soon realised he could eat with it on!
This is a pony that would eat continuously 24/7! I've seen him grazing with his muzzle on, but after a while he shakes his head and wanders around the field for a little while...
I feel so bad whenever i look at him - but it really has to stay on until the wieght comes off...
|
       |
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 4:14:34 PM
|
I know how you feel, it is horrible when they show you how disapproving they are of something. My little pony is just the same, she really dislikes her muzzle, but she would hate to be sectioned off from the other two.
Once she is out in the paddock, she soon forgets that it is on and gets on with her grazing.
Jessie is wearing the shires make, padded on the inside, nylon webbing on the outside with rubbery base where the hole is. I have had to stitch some extra padding onto the inside as it did start to rub under the jaw.
|
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 4:21:56 PM
|
I've go a couple of fatties too so am putting them into their own section of field which will hopefully do the trick. I do feel mean when I see the grass so short for them but would have problems health wise if I left them with the others but they are the best of friends so shouldn't be miserable about it, the only problem is my TBx gelding, who likes to have all the girlies with him and has been know to tear down the electric tape |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
white bryony
Gold Member
United Kingdom
778 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 6:23:39 PM
|
My little welsh pony is in one and soon my arab will be, cant risk laminitis, a few at our yard already down with it.
Sometimes we have to be cruel to be kind! |
Emma
   Salsifis |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 6:40:20 PM
|
I personally couldn't do the grazing muzzle thing. I see them as instruments of torture I am afraid, though I realise it is difficult when you have horses who live together who have different dietary needs. Zaharoff had laminitis before I got him and he is a good doer so I weighed up the options and he gets out on approx 6 acres of unfertilised grass for 5 hours and is in the rest of the time, part of which he is usually ridden. That way when he is out he has room to play and lots of stimulation, rather than being stuck on a boring little strip for longer; or muzzled, which I think he would find terrifying apart from anything else Samantha his friend, who is Arab/TB mix and is not a good doer at all has to share that regime with him because they are inseperable, even though she could easily cope with longer out. Not perfect either, but I have never seen a horse with a grazing muzzle on who looked happy and my two do always look happy
White Bryony there is something seriously wrong with the management of your yard if there are several horses with laminitis. Perhaps you should all get together and discuss with the YO what you can do to make it safer. |
    |
Edited by - Zan on 28 May 2008 6:46:25 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
SEZ
Gold Member
England
1101 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 7:18:24 PM
|
| Grazing muzzles are all the rage on our yard. They're everywhere. Nobody likes them but then nobody likes having laminitis either. It's not easy but you have to do what's best for the horse - whether they like it or not. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
white bryony
Gold Member
United Kingdom
778 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 7:26:14 PM
|
The yard owner has tried but these idiots just dont listen! They are all in reasonable sized fields with just the right amount of horses in.
Thankfully my 3 are on there own.
Tried given advice but goes in one ear and out the other until its too late
These people are feeding their horse 4 sections of hay when its in idiots. YO has suggested doing this doing that but while the back is turned they are still out eating till there heart is content,
No one seems to agree with muzzles either but they too seem to think they need to over feed when in off the grass!!
We do have a very nice yard and a good yard owner with alot of experience - perhaps my post was a bit eratic?! who tries to give advice but unfortianately no one listened till their horse came donw with it.
Alo my pony is far happier wearing a muzzle than being stuck in a stable or crippled with laminitis - each to there own I guess, but is was this attitude at our yard which caused laminitis in their ponies anyway |
Emma
Salsifis |
Edited by - white bryony on 28 May 2008 7:29:28 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 7:44:51 PM
|
| What attitude? My attitude? I didn't mean to sound unsympathetic to those who use muzzles so sorry if I did, but I deny anything in my attitude suggested I would let any horse of mine get laminitis. |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 7:53:12 PM
|
Hi Heather, I think white bryony is saying the attitude on the yard.... That's how I read it anyway |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 8:43:58 PM
|
I make little paddocks for my little people but they still have to wear a muzzle for the first few days at least until the best grass is gone otherwise they would stuff themselves.
None of mine have ever had laminitis and I hope to keep it that way.
But I use grazing muzzles made by Dinky Rugs - I think they are much nicer then the Shires type and much lighter too. |
    
Hampshire |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 10:35:24 PM
|
| Fingers crossed - so far restricted is doing the trick altho I have had to make it smaller again already and will possibly have to shrink it further. I dont like grazing muzzles but would use one if I had to. Luckily I am able to use electric fencing but if I had to share a large field then he would have a muzzle. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 1:11:46 PM
|
| I couldn't bare to see him in it any longer... he's just not happy so took it off today... I've sectioned the grazing down to prob just under an acre now and its quite well grazed... I'll will just have to get the small person to work him abit "harder"... hopefully more exercise and less grazing will do the trick... another £45 spent on contaptions that won't get used... |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 1:27:32 PM
|
Kirsty,
If he is really not that happy in it then you have done the right thing  Welfare is also about their state of mind.
I would have done the same if my little pony didn't graze with hers on, she only pulls faces as I am putting it on. I need to find her a little jockey to get her fit. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 1:36:21 PM
|
An acre! My little girls are in a paddock about 30ft x 30ft and still have to wear a muzzle for a few days!!
Mo will have to wear his 24 hours a day his grass is so long, so of it is higher than his head! |
Hampshire |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Baikala
Gold Member
571 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 2:26:04 PM
|
All my horses are on bare paddocks, they have enough grass to pick at and make them think that they are actually grazing and the QH's are like natives, fat on fresh air.
I am feeding hay still but I do that year round anyway. Fields are for growing hay not grazing, they have everything they need, enough room for a hooley and shelter.
I have never used a grazing mask, so can't really comment on them. Horses always look miserable with them on, but then, I guess, so would I! If needs must then there isn't a problem in my opinion.
Wouldn't it be easier to treat the cause rather than the symptoms as it were though? Smaller paddocks,top your paddocks,cut your lush grass for hay, or run sheep on them (easy for me to say when I have no-one to answer to but myself) I know that isn't always possible but it seems to me that reports of laminitis are so common now, is it to do with the way horses are kept nowadays? Or, does access to Forums and so many other people just make hearing about it easier and it has always been a huge problem? |
     |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Moira
Gold Member
Scotland
503 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 2:53:27 PM
|
| Mine have had their field cut in half with electric tape as they are getting a bit round. They still have 2-3 acres between the 3 of them and are quite happy. Even if they weren't happy with it - tough. They would be far more miserable if they had laminitis. |
  
***Zak******Zhaazeer*****Gremlin |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
pascoe
Gold Member
England
584 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 3:20:19 PM
|
| Kirsty, you have dont the right thing for you and your pony, its about how you feal they feal if you get what i mean. If he looked unhappy in it then wealfare is also about the state of there mind as well as the size of there belly!!! If your little person cant work him a bit harder, how about popping him on the lunge for a little while each day?? I have an ISH who is an absolute gannett(sp)and no matter how much i work him this time of year he still ends up looking like a Suffolk Punch!!!!! I have to lung him for 1/2 before i go out for a ride or before i School him... He is ridden 6 days out of 7!! He is lame at the moment so no work :-( He will be the size of a house by the end of the week... Sorry my post does not really help much. I suppose what i am trying to say in a long waffle sort of way is that its your horse and im sure that you know whats best for him,truch your self.. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 4:03:42 PM
|
| Have you thought of getting some sheep on Kirsty? You've done the right thing ---as Lisa says welfare is also their mental welfare, but sheep eating the grass right down might solve the problem. |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
white bryony
Gold Member
United Kingdom
778 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 4:39:53 PM
|
Zan I ment the liveries at our yard with attitude
Not you sorry if it appeared that way! as said before I have a terrible way with words! never meant to offend anyone, lol |
Emma
Salsifis |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
|
|
Loopylou
Junior Member
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 10:26:34 PM
|
Big supporter of 'Green Guard' grazing muzzles, they double the turnout possible and limit the grass intake. In an ideal world I would love to strip graze but being on a yard where the owner likes his green fields, this is not possible. Four hours turnout with a grazing muzzle and my mare's weight is under control. Lost last season to steroid induced laminitis. I tried increasing her turnout but she ballooned and i am not willing to take the risk. Maybe when the flush of grass has gone i will try extending t/o again. I could always look for another yard but my mare is happy, settled and accustomed to her muzzle, we have fantastic facilities and great support from other owners.
|
    |
Edited by - Loopylou on 29 May 2008 10:27:50 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 10:36:10 PM
|
Hi Kirsty, I put my fatties on an acre, it gives them enough freedom, but I never use any fertilizers on my paddocks, it may look like there's not much grass, but it seems to be about right for them, 1 New Forest and 1 Shettie/Icelandic that leaves the other 5 acres for the rest of them |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2008 : 01:06:06 AM
|
I wouldn't want to give them less than an acre... they like their leg room to play around - which is always good for fat burning... Raz would go insane in a small square and I'd never want to seperate them, they are field buddies and a little herd (of two!) and I really want them to stay together...
He's worked on the lunge and ridden five times a week... but I think he should really be worked a lot harder on the lunge and when ridden (so obviously on 3.5 acres grazing was way too much)... The grass is quite short, so hoping to see an improvement in his weight soon... I will just have to be very stingy when moving the tape over to the new grass...
Its funny you should mention sheep, I was thinking about goats the other day - but I know I would have a nightmare keeping them contained... I can just imagine the neighbours waking up to find goats in their gardens!
so with tresspassers, fatties, golf balls, fear of theives, weed and ragwort - its a constant battle... I shall get there in the end...
PS... anyone after a greenguard, used once! lol
|
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2008 : 01:07:18 AM
|
| do goats and sheep eat docs and nettle?? |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Nicky F
Silver Member
England
289 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2008 : 12:40:01 PM
|
| Tanni hates his grazing muzzle so we have resorted to a small patch for him for the time being - he is out at night on his patch and comes in during the day, seems to be working at the moment. If he sees the grazing muzzle he will turn his bum on me - he couldn't say it better than that could he!! |
     |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2008 : 4:36:48 PM
|
Kirsty,
I would try & persevere with the muzzle?
My 18 year old mare had a bucket muzzle on last year for the first time in her life.
Initially, she wouldn't attempt to graze but owning her since 6 months old, I know she is happier stood outside sulking than stood in the stable sulking.
Our grass is VERY lush so she has it on again now, & after about an hour does attempt to graze.
IMO I'd rather her wear the muzzle than get laminitit.
Good luck,
lisa |
     
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked 
