Through careful introductions and training he muzzle can become the predictor of good things, if a treat is offered when it is put on, which also helps them to discover they can eat whilst wearing it. If grazing muzzles are going to be used as part of the management they should be introduced slowly and gradually increase the time they wear it. As a grazing muzzle can cause tooth wear this should be carefully monitored and the fit carefully checked to ensure there is no rubbing on the face. Observation of your horse will allow you to observe any indications of frustration and their behaviour when approached with the grazing muzzle should be noted as it indicates how they feel about it. Wearing a grazing muzzle can allow a pony to achieve these natural behaviours whilst limiting their grazing intake. Turnout in a large area helps to maintain fitness, turnout also allows the opportunity for social contact. If straw is to be introduced then it should be introduced slowly to reduce the risk of colic. Straw can be used as a forage with very low calories to ensure they are never without forage, it gives a second choice of forage and encourages foraging behaviour. A management system that ensures ponies are never left without forage is crucial, Redwings recently released a study where ponies achieved weight loss on a diet of hay and straw. A natural grazing break is frequently less than 1 hour but can stretch to 3 or 4 hours during movement or sleep, periods of time without forage (6 hours or more) can result in the formation of ulcers. The things we do know are that in a natural state horses have minimal time between foraging bouts, often grazing is only interrupted by other needs such as sleep. So how can we make life easier for them? Is there a right answer for weight control whilst still meeting their behavioural and physical need? There can't be a universal right answer, it has to be individual for that pony in their own circumstance. If a horse or pony wears a grazing muzzle during the day and then has hay available in a small hole haynet they will find it difficult to satisfactorily consumate their goal of eating, which can cause frustration. We should consider the effect on their poll, does the presence and pressure of a grazing muzzle strap affect their TMJ or put too much pressure on their poll causing discomfort? Do they affect breathing on hot days? We just don't know. There are many different designs of grazing muzzle available but they all sit around the nose and limit grass intake. Wearing a grazing muzzle is potentially going to be frustrating, having to work hard for every mouthful of grass wearing something that can be physically uncomfortable can't be easy. Frequent and prolonged use of a grazing muzzle can result in tooth wear. A study showed weight loss when horses wore a grazing muzzle for 10 hours a day.īut, grazing muzzles can be hard on our ponies. So, grazing muzzles allow restricted grass intake whilst out on grass, hopefully with their herd, exercising and we hope reducing or at least not gaining weight. It is apparent from these studies that sward length affects the ability of horses to eat with the muzzle on. Studies show that grazing muzzles do reduce grass intake, some found an average reduction of intake of 30% but other studies found a reduction of up to 83% of grass intake. Lots of our horses are in small paddocks which limits their exercise, frequently obese ponies are kept in small areas with no grass, this will impact their ability to lose weight by exercise and also can be detrimental to their behavioural wellbeing. Turnout in a large pasture is shown to maintain a level of fitness similar to a stabled and exercised horse. So this leaves their management as a main part of how their weight is controlled. Children's ponies often can't, or at least shouldn't, be ridden by adults and children are frequently busy with school or other activities. Obesity should be tackled through diet management and an exercise regime in consultation with your vet. Pony breeds are especially susceptible to obesity, this is likely due to their ability to survive on thin air and also the exercise regime that they have. So are they doing what we hope they are doing and how do they affect the ponies and horses that wear them?Įquine obesity is linked to an increased risk of laminitis, in a country of rich green lush grass keeping our equids that have evolved to exist on high fibre low energy forage slim can be very difficult. Love them or hate them they are frequently used as part of weight management regimes.
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