What Makes a Horse a Candidate for a Grazing Muzzle?

According to Krishona Martinson, Ph.D., Equine Extension Specialist for University of Minnesota Extension, horses that are clinically healthy yet overweight are the best candidates for a grazing muzzle, as opposed to those with a history of laminitis or a diagnosis such as equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing’s disease.

“[The best candidates are horses that] can graze without the negative health complications, but we don’t want them to gain excessive amounts of weight, or we would like them to lose some weight,” she says.

In these situations, using a grazing muzzle can help horse owners manage their easy keepers with their herd, while still allowing them to exercise and continue to be herd animals.

Rhonda Hoffman, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Horse Science at Middle Tennessee State University, further elaborates that horses with a body condition score of 7, 8, or 9 (on the 1-9 Henneke Body Condition Scoring system) as those that would benefit most from the use of a grazing muzzle to lose weight and decrease the risk of developing insulin dysregulation.

While other types of horses can benefit from a grazing muzzle, such as those who have been diagnosed with equine metabolic syndrome or those who have had laminitis, both experts agree this is not always an ideal management practice.

“These horses require a diet low in nonstructural carbohydrates,” says Martinson. “Our predominately cool-season grasses in most parts of the U.S. are not a great forage source for these horses. A grazing muzzle will slow their consumption and reduce how much they can take in, but it does not remove the nonstructural carbohydrates. I think that is an important distinction.”

Hoffman advises that even if they haven’t been formally diagnosed, horses with a cresty neck could have insulin dysregulation or metabolic issues, as can horses who have previously foundered, even if their current body condition score is good. She recommends that you consult with your veterinarian to determine if limited grazing using a muzzle is OK, or if these horses should be completely restricted from pasture.

When to Use a Grazing Muzzle

As useful a tool as grazing muzzles are to help your horse maintain a healthy weight or lose weight, he does not need to wear a grazing muzzle year-round.

“It depends on location and rainfall,” says Hoffman. She explains that grass has little nutritional value during times of drought and in freezing temperatures. Wearing a grazing muzzle during these times is not going to make a discernible difference, she says.

Similarly, Martinson advises their use during the growing season.

“Depending upon your location in the U.S., your growing season is going to be different,” she says. She elaborates that for approximately two-thirds of the U.S., the growing season is from mid-May to mid-October. It is during these months that she advises their use for horses that are clinically healthy but need to maintain or lose weight.

Introductory Period

“When we have done research using grazing muzzles, or anything that restricts or slows down foraging [even a hay net], it takes horses time to acclimate and learn how to use the barrier put in front of them,” says Martinson. “My recommendation while they are out on pasture is to put the grazing muzzle on and watch them carefully.”

To make sure that your horse is consuming enough calories, especially during the first two to three days of use, Martinson advises placing the horse in a stall or dry lot overnight and feeding a small amount of hay to keep his digestive system moving. Also check that the grazing muzzle fits into your horse’s water source.

“But in my experience, and in our research, every single horse that we fitted with a grazing muzzle has figured out how to graze with it on fairly quickly,” she says.

The Proper Fit of a Grazing Muzzle

Ensuring a proper fit for your horse’s grazing muzzle can be a very individualized experience, and it plays a critical role in the grazing muzzle’s use. But with a variety of styles to choose from and a little ingenuity, it is possible to maintain your horse’s comfort.

All styles of grazing muzzles form a basket designed to fit over the horse’s muzzle, and the materials from which they are constructed range from a poly/nylon mix to both firm and flexible plastic.

The method of attachment differs depending upon the style of muzzle you choose, with options that include a continuous, single-piece style; a four-point leather attachment; and Velcro or plastic ties that can be attached to a standard or custom halter.

Within these styles, you are likely to find one that your horse is both likely to keep on and that will also stand up to his particular methods of wear and tear, while minimizing or even eliminating rubbing.

But even if the grazing muzzle you choose checks most of your boxes, there may still be areas of friction. Experimenting with different materials such as fleece, duct tape, Vetrap, slinky-material fly masks worn underneath the halter, and more can help minimize rubbing at pressure points.

No matter which style you choose, both experts agree that safety should be at the core of choosing and fitting a grazing muzzle. Any product, whether it is the method used to affix the muzzle to the halter or the halter itself, should be designed to break away if the horse becomes entangled.

Beyond that, choosing a muzzle that is not so loose-fitting that it encourages excessive rubbing can help cut down on any potential issues your horse may experience.

No matter how daunting your choice of grazing muzzles may seem, the good news, according to Martinson, is that any grazing muzzle you choose will reduce forage intake by approximately 30 percent, with some of the more restrictive designs reducing intake still more.

Almost any grazing muzzle is a good choice if it meets the above criteria for safety and fit.

Regular Inspections

Once you have made your selection, both Hoffman and Martinson recommend continuous evaluation of your grazing muzzle.

“Every single time your horse goes out or comes in, pay attention to [not only fit] but also wear on the grazing muzzle itself,” says Hoffman.

She advises paying particular attention to whether the grazing muzzle was damaged during turnout and for areas of excessive wear that may be developing over time.

Tip: As a longtime user of grazing muzzles, one pro tip that I highly recommend is tying one or two pieces of colorful surveyor’s tape to your grazing muzzle. Doing so can save countless hours looking for your grazing muzzle if it comes off in the pasture. 

A Daily Break

The method in which you use a grazing muzzle is another important aspect. According to Martinson, research out of North Carolina done by Paul Siciliano, Ph.D., shows that when horses are restricted from pasture—for example, if they are only turned out for two hours or if a grazing muzzle is applied for two hours and then removed—horses will learn that schedule.

So in those two hours they are allowed to graze, horses will consume calories significantly faster than normal grazing speed. Siciliano’s research indicates that in as little as three hours of grazing, horses can consume up to two-thirds of their calories for the day.

This research has led to various recommendations about how grazing muzzles should be used. In a perfect world, each day your horse would be allowed an extended break from wearing the grazing muzzle. For example, to further encourage maintenance of weight or weight loss, the horse could be brought into the barn or placed on a dry lot at night, during which time he would be fed lower-quality (more mature/lower calorie) hay.

“Any time you leave a horse out 24/7, even with a halter on, it is going to create rubs,” says Hoffman. “With a grazing muzzle, they are pushing their nose against the bottom to force grass through the holes. A break helps to avoid skin conditions and rubs.”

Allowing for a daily break from wearing a grazing muzzle can also help to preserve the muzzle’s longevity. During the hot summer months, Hoffman says removing the muzzles for a period keeps the horse cooler.

But allowing for a break while at the same time keeping the horse off pasture is not always possible. In those cases, it’s best to increase your monitoring of the horse to ensure continued proper fit and watch for rubs and wear patterns.

Weight Loss Outcomes

Just one benefit of using grazing muzzles is that they can allow for a slow, safe weight reduction.

“If you reduce calories by about a third, your horse should be able to lose one body condition score [number] per month,” says Martinson. “This is considered a safe amount.”

She further explains that the body condition score amount is going to vary depending on whether you have a draft horse, a light horse, a pony, or a Miniature Horse.

“It could be as little as 10 pounds or as much as 50 pounds, depending on the size of the horse,” says Martinson.

She cautions that adding feed and treats to your horse’s diet can be counterproductive to achieving your loss goals, while exercise, when possible, can enhance your efforts.

Grass Height and Type

You may have read conflicting reports about appropriate pasture grass height and types, perhaps finding that your pasture situation is not ideal for a horse wearing a grazing muzzle. However, Martinson’s research has led to some interesting discoveries.

“We would like to see our cool-season grass pastures between 3 and 8 inches in height,” she says. “Never lower than 3 inches.”

Regardless of whether your horse wears a grazing muzzle, this practice prevents overgrazing. Further, she says, horses prefer different types of grasses. Some of these different grasses grow straight up, while others grow along the ground.

It used to be thought that a grass that grows straight up would be more accessible by horses wearing a grazing muzzle. Instead, she says, research found that how the grass grows made no difference to the horses, and their ability to successfully graze through the muzzle remained unchanged, regardless of grass type.

Stress Levels

Martinson says that a common misconception about grazing muzzles is that they cause an increase in the stress levels of the horses wearing them. However, she says that in recent years, research conducted by Amy Burk, Ph.D., at the University of Maryland measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol, comparing levels in horses wearing a grazing muzzle and those without.

Not only were the stress levels similar, but the herd hierarchy remained unchanged. The only change noted was a reduction in bite marks and a reduced ability for horses to groom themselves or others.

Key Takeaway

While there is a lot of information to take in, with these researched-based recommendations in mind, you too can make the best choices for your horse in all aspects of grazing muzzle use.

This article about grazing muzzles appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Guide to Grazing Muzzles appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

What do you picture when you think of a horse pasture? Probably a beautiful, rolling carpet of even, green grass. In reality, they are too often a piece of hard, compacted ground laced with tall weeds going to seed, spreading more weeds. Little, if any, productive grasses exist between bare spots that become dust bowls in the summer and mud holes in the winter. That’s why proper horse pasture management is key.

A well-managed pasture can have huge payoffs in terms of horses enjoying a high-quality, nutritious diet that reduces the feed bill as well as providing an outlet for equine exercise and improved emotional health. Plus, a good stand of healthy grass will have strong roots to hold soil in place, preventing erosion from wind or rain.

Vigorous grasslands are also an important component of a healthy, dynamic ecosystem; pastures contribute to creating healthy soils, which in turn provide habitat for microorganisms, beetles and many other beneficial insects, and larger wildlife.

Plants also help mitigate the effect of climate change by taking in carbon from the atmosphere and locking it away. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store it in their leaves, shoots, and roots. Since carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the main greenhouse gases that traps heat in the atmosphere, creating the “greenhouse” warming effect that the planet is currently experiencing, removing some of it benefits us all.

The Epidemic of Overgrazed Pastures

“Traditionally, people have taken a large tract of land [to graze their animals on],” explains Sandra Matheson, a beef producer and co-founder of Roots of Resilience, a collaboration of sustainability activists dedicated to the restoration of the world’s grasslands. (See more about Matheson below.) “People often just leave them out on the pasture until they run out of [grass]. Then they feed hay. They are left out there until the plants are gone, and it’s pretty much just dirt.”

Through her teachings, Matheson offers a paradigm shift to the pasture management approach, called holistic planned grazing. This begins with looking at the land from the grass plant’s perspective.

Grazing Recovery Time

“[Normally,] the grass is growing, the animal takes a bite,” says Matheson. “As time goes on, the animal goes back and bites the plant again and again because it’s sweet and tender.”

When this happens, the plant is using up its supply of energy in its roots. The grass needs leaves so the plant can photosynthesize and put energy back into the roots.

“If the animal keeps eating the leaves, then the plant loses roots and gets smaller, eventually dying,” she continues. “The plant’s recovery has been ignored. Planned grazing means having adequate recovery time after [the grazing animals] have bitten the grass.”

The rest period allows grass leaves to grow back so the plant will be able to photosynthesize and produce food for itself.

When overgrazing occurs, Matheson suggests it’s a function of time.

“It’s no longer a matter of animals per acre, it becomes a matter of timing,” she says. “In one month, they might have eaten all the good stuff, and all that’s left will be weeds going to seed.”

Matheson explains that plants need time to grow back leaves and replenish roots, adding that recovery time can vary with the season, climate, and soil type.

“It might be 30 days or maybe up to 90 days, or it might be a whole year,” she says. Recovery just needs to be enough time so that the plants grow back.

Matheson suggests allowing horses to graze an area until it is grazed down to about 3 inches, with the goal of not leaving animals out so long that the plants are bitten again after they try to regrow. Then remove the animals and allow the grass plants to recover and grow back to 6 or 12 inches.

“Plan grazing time so you have adequate recovery of the plants,” emphasizes Matheson. “That’s really the key here.”

Climate Resiliency

Climate change, or the ongoing increase in global average temperatures, is primarily attributed to an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. How do productive horse pastures help make for a more resilient climate?

“In the pasture we have soils and plants, and both are living entities,” says Sonia Hall, Ph.D., a research associate at Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources in Wenatchee, Wash. “One of the big things that moves through those living beings is carbon. Plants are able to move carbon through their biomass and transfer that to the soils, [which becomes] food for organisms in the soil.”

How much carbon pastures absorb “is very hard to accurately quantify,” says Hall, because the situation is so variable and depends on so many things. “But we do have some idea of how to move it in the right direction.”

Going back to the comparison of good pasture management versus poorly managed pastures, Hall says good pasture management allows plants to grow and add organic material to the soil.

“Don’t have your horses graze everything off,” she says. Echoing Matheson’s advice, Hall emphasizes proper recovery time for the plants.

“Graze, then give the plants a chance to recover and accumulate some reserves again, before you graze them again,” she says. Rotating grazing areas helps avoid overgrazing and moves horses to fresh pasture in response to how the plants are doing.

“Adding organic matter to the soil will help your soil become healthy,” adds Hall. On a horse pasture, this could be dead plant material (such as after mowing), straight manure, or compost.

In poor pasture management situations, according to Hall, the pasture is likely releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than the plants are absorbing, becoming a carbon source instead of a sink.

Sink vs. Source

“Your pasture is constantly taking up carbon dioxide from the air through plant photosynthesis and growth, and simultaneously releasing it through what the horses eat, digest, and breathe out, as well as through what the plants breathe out—yes, plants do that too!” says Hall.

Soil microbes and insects decompose and breathe out as well.

“If the carbon intakes through plant photosynthesis are more than what the horse, plants, and the soil breathe out, the pasture is accumulating carbon and is called a carbon sink,” says Hall, who refers to this as being “climate-friendly.”

When a horse overgrazes a pasture by taking grass plants down to the soil, then the plant can no longer photosynthesize as much and take in carbon from the atmosphere. If the amount of carbon that the horse, plants, and soil breathe out is larger than what the plants can capture through photosynthesis, then your pasture system is losing carbon to the air, and this is called a carbon source.

“If you have properly managed livestock on pasture, you are going to have healthier animals, more organic material in the soil, nutrients cycling through it, and increased biodiversity of plants there,” says Matheson.

Top 7 Tips for Horse Pasture Management

Healthy horse pastures don’t just happen; they are actively maintained with proper management practices. A well-managed grass pasture is one of the most cost-effective and nutritious feeds, and can be produced and fed by a horse owner.

Healthy pastures also support the goal of cleaner water by avoiding soil erosion and runoff of nutrients from manure and urine. Healthy pasture plants also reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon. As a successful pasture manager, you are helping combat climate change.

Here are seven tips for keeping both grass plants and horses healthy with proper horse pasture management:

1. Establish a Confinement Area

Improve the health and productivity of your pastures by creating and using a paddock area where you confine your horses when they are not grazing pasture. You will be giving up the use of this land in grass production to benefit the rest of your pastures.

Confine your horses to this area during the winter and early spring when grass plants are dormant and soils are wet to help prevent soil compaction. In the summer, use the confinement area to keep pasture from being grazed below 3 or 4 inches, or any time when soils are saturated, such as during irrigation or storm events.

2. Keep Horses Off Soggy Soils

One of the most important aspects of horse pasture management is the time you keep your horses off pastures. Saturated soils are easily compacted, suffocating the roots of grass plants. A simple test is to walk out in your fields and see if you leave a footprint. If you do, it’s too wet for your horses.

3. Evaluate Current Soil Status with a Soil Test

How much compost or fertilizer you apply and the time of year you apply it should be based on the results of a soil test. Soil tests also determine if your soil’s pH will allow for plants to uptake nutrients, as well as if you need to fertilize, and the right mix of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Talk with your local conservation district or extension office for help on how to take a soil test, where to have it analyzed, and how to interpret the results.

4. Spread Compost

The best time to spread compost is in late spring or early fall—but anytime during the growing season is good. The nutrients, organic material, beneficial bacteria, and fungi in the compost will help your grass plants to become more productive and help your soils retain moisture.

Depending on the size of your pastures, compost can be spread by hand with a wheelbarrow and pitchfork or with a tractor and manure spreader. Go back through with a garden rake or harrow to spread compost into a thin layer so grass plants aren’t smothered.

5. Rotate Grazing Areas

By dividing a pasture area into smaller fields and rotating horses through them, you can encourage horses to graze more evenly, keep pasture grasses from becoming overgrazed, and provide fresh grass for a longer period during the growing season.

6. The Golden Rule of Grazing

Remember the golden rule of grazing: Never allow grass to be grazed shorter than 3 to 4 inches. This ensures that the grass plants will have enough reserves left after grazing to permit rapid regrowth. Consider the bottom 3 inches of grass an energy collector that needs to be left for the plant. Once horses have grazed most of the grass in a pasture area down to 3 or 4 inches, rotate them on to the next grazing area. You can put horses back on the first area when the grass has recovered and regrown to 6 to 8 inches.

7. Try Fencing Pastures According to Wetness

By fencing pastures according to how wet they are, in the spring you can let horses onto the higher, dry areas first and save the wet areas until later in the summer when they dry out.

Final Details for Horse Pasture Management

Make sure that pasture areas are large enough for horses to run and that gates are placed so that horses can easily be led from the confinement area to the pasture and back.

Remember to have a source of water for each grazing area. You can have separate water sources for each pasture or have a single water source that is accessible from more than one grazing area.

Also consider dividing the pasture in such a way that horses can have access to shade or shelter, especially if they will be in these areas for more than a few hours on hot summer days.

This article about horse pasture management appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post An Overview of Horse Pasture Management appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

No matter which type of muzzle you choose, it’s important to know a few things:

◆ The length of the pasture grass will affect how a muzzle works. If grass is very short, the horse’s teeth won’t be able to grasp it through the hole in the bottom of the muzzle.

◆ Horses should not wear muzzles 24/7, so a modified turnout schedule may be necessary.

◆ Muzzle use can affect herd dynamics; adjustments to turnout groups may be needed.

The original plastic basket-style grazing muzzles have seen many design upgrades to help keep them in place with less rubbing. Here’s a look at some of the different options on the market today.

Best Friend Grazing Muzzle

$39.99-$59.99; available from most online tack shops

Features:
◆ Multiple sizes available
◆ Comes with breakaway halter for improved safety
◆ Higher sides make it more difficult for horses to remove
◆ Five adjustment points
◆ Padded noseband helps prevent rubs
◆ Synthetic material deters mildew and rot

ThinLine Flexible Filly

$68.00; thinlineglobal.com

Features:
◆ Lighter and softer than other muzzles
◆ Durable yet pliable
◆ Easy on equine teeth
◆ Less restrictive of behaviors like mutual grooming
◆ Well-ventilated
◆ Size of grazing hole is customizable
◆ Has UV protection for sensitive skin
◆ Comes with six-month warranty

Green Guard

$99.95; gg-equine.com

Features:
◆ Less likely to rub
◆ Larger holes along basket allow moisture and debris to move through
◆ Multiple sizes available
◆ Drains water well after drinking
◆ Durable and lightweight
◆ Made of strong plastic material
◆ One-year warranty for breakage or wear
◆ Adjustable

Tough1 Easy Breathe

Mini to draft sizes available, $37.88-$52.88;
jtidist.com

Features:
◆ Large breathing holes for comfort
◆ Short sides offer improved airflow
◆ Bottom of muzzle is extra thick
◆ Added attachments available for ponies
◆ Can be purchased with or without attached halter

Best Friend Have a Heart Muzzle

$56.99; intrepidintl.com

Features:
◆ Adjustable noseband for hard-to-fit horses
◆ V-strap makes it harder to remove
◆ Two breakaway buckles for safety
◆ Durable

Shires Deluxe Comfort

$39.99; shop.shiresequestrian.com

Features:
◆ Cut-back design to avoid pressure points under chin
◆ Fleece padding around nose to protect delicate structures
◆ D-ring allows lead rope to be attached to muzzle
◆ Head and throat snap have anti-chafe padding
◆ Fully adjustable breakaway harness
◆ Taller sides of muzzle mean less chance for horses to remove it

Harmany Grazing Muzzle

$57.99-$98.99; shop.harmanyequine.com

Features:
◆ Crafted from strong plastic
◆ Hole size can be customized
◆ Moldable in hot water to each horse’s unique shape
◆ Lightweight and breathable
◆ Multiple sizes available
◆ Mold-resistant

This article about grazing muzzles appeared in the March 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Choosing a Grazing Muzzle appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.