A Mini Horse's POV: Why I Use a Grazing Muzzle

Well, it's my grazing muzzle! Sometimes, people who have never seen a grazing muzzle before think that it's "mean" until they understand how a grazing muzzle can actually save a horse’s life. So, I'm here to tell you a little bit about why I wear my muzzle, and how it helps me.

We horses have to be sure to watch how much sugar we eat and how much weight we put on in order to protect our feet. Otherwise, we can end up with a painful condition called laminitis or founder, which makes it hurt to walk. Believe it or not, grass has a lot of sugar, especially when it starts growing in the spring and summertime.

There are many horses who can stay out on the grass all day and night and have no problem at all. However, horses who have health conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Cushing's (PPID) usually need to restrict how much grass they take in, if any at all. 

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Then, of course, there are us mini horses and ponies who, as they say, "get fat on air!" Us smaller horses tend to be "easy keepers" who put weight on quickly, and me and my big sissy definitely fall into this category! After all, I am only 30 inches tall (7.2hh).

For horses like me and my sissy who are susceptible to laminitis or founder, there are many options that help protect us, all of which restrict the amount of grass/sugar that we eat on a daily basis. One of those options is a grazing muzzle. While they may not always look pretty, they help save lives. I have a bright orange grazing muzzle from Tough1 that, I have to admit, I feel pretty in when I wear.

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As you can see, a grazing muzzle is basically a halter with a breathable basket attached, and there is a hole in the bottom. The hole in the base of the muzzle still allows grass to pop through so that we can get plenty of snacks. It just helps us take smaller bites of grass at a time, instead of big giant mouthfuls. This way we eat slower than our larger counterparts, and we can spend more time out on the grass.

Training to wear my muzzle was pretty easy. We practiced eating treats from inside the muzzle, and mom showed me how to eat grass and hay through the hole. Nowadays I don’t mind putting my grazing muzzle on one bit; I know my muzzle means outside playtime with my big sissy, so I am happy to put it on every morning. 

Here are Five Reasons Why I Love My Grazing Muzzle:

1. My grazing muzzle lets me spend time outside eating grass, my favorite kind of food!
2. It helps me take smaller bites of grass at a time so I can spend even MORE time on pasture!
3. When I wear my muzzle, I get more freedom to explore areas of our farm that are covered in grass, which means plenty of space to run around and play with my sissy!
4. Because my muzzle is breathable and has holes on the sides, I can breathe and drink water totally normally all day long.
5. When I wear my muzzle, my mom and I can feel better about my health, knowing that my risk for laminitis and founder are reduced.

As you can see, horses like me and my sissy who need less grass can really benefit from having a grazing muzzle!

If you are wondering if a grazing muzzle is the right choice for your horse, we recommend checking in with your veterinarian to see if this is the right option, and be sure that you work together to ensure you find the right fit for your horse's protection.