The Ultimate Muzzle
Why Use a Grazing Muzzle?
Equine obesity can be associated with underlying metabolic issues such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID or Cushings Syndrome).
If your vet has tested for these, he/she may recommend a Grazing Muzzle as part of the weight management plan.
Grazing Muzzles can be a successful way to prevent Laminitis. A study on stabled ponies that wore a Grazing Muzzle on Autumn pasture measured the intake over 3 hrs and found an 83% reduction.
Horses and ponies wearing a Grazing Muzzle are more likely to spend more time foraging and therefore moving more aiding weight loss.
Grazing Muzzles should not be worn 24 hours a day. Weight loss must be monitored carefully; a healthy rate of weight loss would be a maximum of 1% a week (eg 3.5kg/week on a 350kg pony).
Due to the shape of the mouth hole of The Ultimate Muzzle most equines will manage to eat hay through it.