I got Berdi a grazing muzzle about a month ago as she is very chubby. She is a very easy keeper and can get fat on air. LOL! Problem is she can't figure it out! She just stands around looking depressed half the time or walks around not trying to eat. I've poked grass through the hole, cut the hole bigger, put her head down on the ground and she still can't figure it out. I've left it on for between 8-10 hours a day too. And this has been going on for over a week that I've tried it steady.
I'm not worried that she's not getting enough to eat, however I've heard it isn't good for horses to go too long without something in their stomach. 8-10 hours is long and I would not want her to colic or something. Is there a danger of that?
Maybe I'll just have to give up the idea and try stalling her with her slow-feeder at night. Any ideas?
I wouldn't be terribly concerned about colic. On some days, my horses are under saddle, doing work for 8-10 hours, sometimes more, with no snack breaks and I have not had a bout of colic since we quit feeding sweet feed about 15 years ago. Are you certain that she isn't trying to eat at any time the muzzle is on her? Maybe she is but just does it when you aren't watching.
I'm not totally certain, but almost for sure. Everytime I check on her, which is often, she is usually standing by the fence looking sad or tired. If you don't think she would colic, I'll try it for a while longer and see if she "gets" it. That is what I was most worried about. She doesn't seem quite as pouty anymore, just discouraged and sad that I keep this torture device on her all day!
Hmm, I'll stay posted on this. Sorry, no advice, I've never actually heard of this prob with muzzles, tho I admit when I first saw one I thought how on earth do they get feed through it. It's the opposite problem - ponies learning to get them off - that is something I'm familiar with!
Well I stalled her last night with her slowfeeder so she had food. Then I put her muzzle on this morning. She's sufficiently mad now!! Here she was without grass all night and now I'm going to STARVE her all day!! lol! Well, here's hoping she'll just get mad enough to try it out. That hole I cut is plenty big - there is no excuse. I keep you updated on what happens.
Yay!!! Success at last! She was mad enough to try it out! When I left her to go to work she followed me around and nudged me like, "Hey, you, you left this on - take it OFF!!!" I just told her, "Put your nose to the ground and eat."
When I got back from work her nose was to the ground and she was eating like she had used a muzzle all her life!! She looked so proud of herself too! I guess she just got hungry enough to humble herself and learn to use the thing.
No, she's actually very good about not trying to take it off. I'm very pleased with her about that. But she was smoking mad yesterday! I put it on again today and she seems fine, now that she knows how to eat with it!!
Yes, thats true - I'll try to get another one soon. She's still getting lots less than she was before though!
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