Tips & Tricks for introducing a grazing muzzle or grazing muzzle

The use of a grazing muzzle or grazing muzzle is often a well-considered decision because you as a horse owner believe that you should protect your horse against the negative effects of excessive grass intake. And despite the fact that putting on a grazing muzzle or grazing mask often seems very simple, you can encounter various questions or problems. With the information on this page I am happy to help you on your way. If you still can't figure it out or it doesn't feel good to you or your horse, please contact us. We are happy to think along with you!

Here you will find important information about adjusting a grazing muzzle

Tips for the first introduction and fitting of the grazing muzzle or grazing muzzle

First clean your horse's nose and nostrils thoroughly with a damp towel. Your horse can snort a lot during fitting, so that's nice for you and handy if you want to exchange the grazing muzzle because of the wrong size and therefore want to keep it as clean as possible.
Preferably fit the grazing muzzle outside in a closed paddock for example. If your horse becomes restless or anxious you have the space, this reduces the chance of accidents.
Do not tie your horse up during the fitting, but have someone else hold your horse. Your horse may not like the grazing muzzle and become a bit restless. Then it is nice if you have someone with you who can hold your horse so that you have the opportunity to look at the adjustment and the size.
Put a well-fitting halter on your horse and use a strong rope. Try the grazing muzzle over the halter the first time. This is often easier than taking off a halter first.
Do you want to use the grazing muzzle with a fur? Introduce the grazing muzzle without fur first, this is less overwhelming for your horse.
Make the grazing basket to size by eye.
First let your horse calmly look at and sniff the grazing muzzle and move the muzzle slowly.
When putting on the basket, stand with your back to your horse and let your horse look over your shoulder (if possible ;-)).
Place a piece of carrot or something else tasty in the grazing basket and slowly slide it around the nose. If your horse is okay with this or is okay with it after a few times, you can gently pull the headpiece over the ears. Then give a treat through the hole in the basket and reward your horse.
Does your horse keep moving his head up? Then lure his head back down and reward at the lowest point.
Stay calm, even if it doesn't work right away. The idea is not to associate the grazing basket with a negative or stressful association.

To the pasture!

Once your horse has the grazing muzzle on and the adjustment seems okay, walk together to a quiet pasture to see if your horse wants to try to eat. (NOTE! Only let your horse eat with a new grazing muzzle if you want to keep the grazing muzzle, a used grazing muzzle can no longer be returned).
Motivate your horse by putting blades of grass through the opening in the base plate and reward performance for every attempt to eat.
Be patient and don't give up too soon. Your horse will have to learn to deal with the muzzle. Give the horse a few days and you will see that it will improve after a few days.
Important: Provide a suitable drinking trough in the pasture. A small float or spoon trough is often too small to drink from with a grazing basket. There are only a few models of grazing baskets that are suitable for drinking from a small drinking trough, such as the EasyGrazer.
Do not leave your horse alone in the pasture until you are sure you have seen him eating and drinking with the grazing muzzle.
To prevent unsafe situations, it is wise to check the pasture in advance for protruding objects that your horse could possibly get stuck on. Think of: protruding nails on the fence, protruding fence guides that are not being used, trees with sturdy branches, a hay rack, etc.

The horse's grazing basket and nutritional needs

You are using a grazing basket because your horse is too fat or is in danger of becoming too fat or is at increased risk of developing metabolic problems and laminitis. With the desire to prevent or lose excess weight, you are intervening in the amount of available food for your horse. This means that the entire ration must be set to prevent excess weight. In the reduced spectrum of food that your horse may have, the basic needs of, among other things, dry matter, fibers, vitamins and minerals and proteins must be covered. As well as the need to be able to eat regularly. Ensure optimum comfort during this feeding regime by providing sufficient roughage before the pasture. A good breakfast ensures less frustration! If your horse eats little to nothing in the pasture in the first few days with a grazing basket, compensate for this during the hours in the stable by providing extra portions of hay. It is even better, if you have the opportunity, to put your horse aside in between and provide an extra tuft of hay. This is better for the continuity of digestion and prevents too much stress from hunger and discomfort from the digestive tract.

Information for consideration

Sometimes horse owners choose to make wearing a grazing muzzle, especially for themselves, more 'bearable' by having the horse take the muzzle off for part of the day or by alternating days. Horses can show compensatory behaviour during the time they are in the pasture without a grazing muzzle and therefore eat extra grass, resulting in an extreme peak in sugar intake. This can actually be extra dangerous.