Written for NML Health, Phytonics
March 2019
With the sun in the spring, the discussion also arises 'how do I protect my horse from the too rich spring grass'? Not everyone is charmed by the old-fashioned grazing muzzle, which is supposed to restrict your horse from eating grass. Recently, new generations have come onto the market that are a lot more comfortable than the old grazing muzzles. Karlijn van HorseFair update us.
Sugary grass
The days are getting longer, the sun is showing itself more often and nature is slowly getting ready for a new season. The transformation from winter to spring is often visible in a few days, an explosion of green. The trees and plants in the garden, but also the meadow suddenly looks fresh and bright green again. Young grass shoots enjoy the water, the warmth and the sunlight and shoot up. Deliciously juicy fresh grass full of nutrients and… sugars.
Many horse owners get a stomach ache at the thought of another difficult period coming up for their horse. The 'grazing season'... Another has doubts... Should I really put my horse through that monstrosity...? Unfortunately, much of the grassland in the Netherlands consists of 'cow grass' (English ryegrass), rich for milk-producing cows, but less suitable for horses. And yet we will often have to make do with it.
Overweight and related conditions such as insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and laminitis are a serious health risk for many horses. And especially the first, overweight, is an underestimated problem. We have become accustomed to the image of a fuller and rounder horse, which prevents a realistic view of a healthy weight for horses. More than 50% of Dutch horses are to a greater or lesser extent overweight. Time for change!
Gras basket
The general image of the grazing muzzle is not very positive. In addition, the grazing muzzle is an undervalued and underrepresented product in many equestrian shops. In most shops you will only find one model: a horse-unfriendly, cheap version with little quality and comfort. And that while a grazing muzzle is often worn daily for a long time. Fortunately, the development in this area has not stood still and there are more and more horse-friendly solutions available.
Is your horse too fat or is it at risk of becoming overweight during the grazing season and you don't want to deprive your horse of freedom and pasture? Then look for a comfortable grazing muzzle of the new generation. It can be a lot of money, but just like the investment in a comfortable and well-fitting saddle and bridle, your horse is also more than worth this investment. It will pay for itself in radiant health!
Modern comfort
A horse's head is one of the most sensitive parts of the horse's body and has little reserve when it comes to pressure distribution. In addition, a horse mainly uses its head, nose and lips in mutual communication. Modern grazing muzzles are designed in such a way that they disturb these properties of the horse's head as little as possible.
For example, there are models made of cowhide (AS das Pferd im Blick) that easily adapt to the head. The design also plays into free breathing through extra large openings. This type of grazing muzzle also has a system to protect the incisors against tooth wear. In addition, the grazing restriction can be adjusted as needed by means of various insert plates. You can also opt for various soft merino furs to provide extra protection for the nose or cheeks. Chafing marks are then really a thing of the past.
A real innovative newcomer to the market is a model from biotaan (The Easy Grazer). Super light weight (approximately 0.5 kg) and open design. Due to the open structure, the horse is able to communicate normally with pasture mates and social interaction is minimally limited. The opening in the base plate is slightly larger than the opening of regular grazing baskets and that makes this grazing basket, according to the manufacturer, suitable for wearing 24/7 and also for eating hay. In fact, this is a kind of slow feeder for the pasture.
Grazing Mask and Safety
Many people have the idea that a grazing muzzle can easily be thrown off. And of course there are horses that quickly master this annoying trick. The origin of this problem can often be found in the adjustment of the grazing muzzle. Many grazing muzzles have a special halter that can be adjusted at many points. And not without reason... this allows for a close-fitting adjustment. A grazing muzzle halter may be tighter than a regular halter. Of course it is important to consider the safety of everything you attach to or around your horse. A horse can get stuck and an accident or injury can happen in a small corner. Fortunately, most available grazing muzzles with integrated halters are equipped with a safety lock, or are designed in such a way that they come loose in panic situations. This makes most grazing muzzles very safe to use.
Nutritional management
If you choose a grazing muzzle for your horse, make sure that the nutritional management contributes to the prevention of overweight. Take a close look at the entire ration. Provide a sufficient supply of high-quality long-stemmed roughage. If necessary, supplement this with a vitamin and mineral supplement, low in energy. In addition, there are effective supplements available that support your horse in the sugar metabolism and help with weight loss, such as Gluco balance from Phytonics. Finally, make sure that your horse can also drink in the pasture with the grazing basket. A small spoon drinking trough or stable float trough is often unsuitable. Always keep a close eye on your horse during a weight loss ration, because losing weight too quickly is undesirable and even dangerous.
If you want to protect your horse from the negative effects of too much rich spring grass, then there are, as you can read, enough 'friendly' possibilities to impose a grazing restriction on your horse. Without having to take your horse out of the herd.
Do you want to know how you you can optimally adjust the grass basket or are you experiencing grazing basket problems? Such as chafing, fit problems, shedding or tooth damage, then take a look contact with us. For all these problems, a suitable solution can often be found.
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