Grazing Muzzles

Related to our post on the danger of feeding horses in a field. Some horses, who are prone to Laminitis (a very painful disease of the foot which in severe cases can result in the pony needing to be euthanised)  have to be placed on restricted grazing for their own good. This can be done in two ways:- 

• Allowing the ponies to enjoy freedom for a couple of hours a day and be stabled for the remaining time to restrict the grazing or

• turning the pony out with a well fitting grazing muzzle which allows them to eat and drink but substantially reduces the speed at which they can consume the grass.

This latter method mimics the life of a wild pony, who spends its time on the moorland wandering over inferior grazing in search of the food it needs to survive. When ponies are brought onto lush grazing their bodies are not ready for the large quantity of rich grass.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not take the Muzzles off, thinking you are doing them a favour. They are on for the health of the ponies. If you do remove them you could potentially be putting them at serious risks that they can die from.