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Best Friend® Deluxe Grazing Muzzle - $54.95 -- All Sizes
Benefits of the Deluxe Style: · Eliminates need for a halter. · Adjustable for individualized fit. · Breakaway plastic buckle in headstall for safety. · Spare buckle (included) attaches without sewing. · Convenient lead line ring. · Easy-on swivel clip. · This is our most popular design. Choose the Deluxe Style if: You want ease of use and/or you do not have a safety (breakaway) halter. Sizing: Horse, Oversize (Large Horse), Cob, Pony and Mini. Most horses wear their halter size. See Sizing Chart Below. |
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Other Grazing Muzzle Benefits Tips for Grazing Muzzle Usage Cleaning
For those with reservations about the use of grazing muzzles: If you have reservations about using grazing muzzles there are many articles in equine publications and on-line about the use and effectveness of grazing muzzles for you to read. As the innovators and promoters of grazing muzzles, we especially like this statement from the March 2006 issue of The Horse Journal: "We hope you have accepted the idea of a grazing muzzle, but expect to get raised eyebrows and the occasional "it's mean" remark from the uninformed. Remind those who criticize that nothing is as cruel as the pain of laminitis or forcing your horse to live its life in stall confinement. We're betting that a few years from now it will be rare to drive by a pasture and not see at least one horse sporting a muzzle. Just pat yourself on the back for putting your horse's welfare first and for once again being on the cutting edge."
Grazing Muzzle Sizing Chart
Muzzle Size Height of Horse in Hands Weight of horse (lbs) Fits Standard & Cribbing Circum - Depth Deluxe Circum - Depth Mini Mini
n/a n/a Average size miniatures 16” – 3” Not Available Mini Miniatures and foals 200-300 Larger miniatures, Shetlands and weanlings 18” - 3 ˝” 20” - 5 ˝” Pony 12 & under 300-500 Most average size ponies and yearlings 20” - 4 ˝” 22” – 5 3/4” Cob 13 & 14 500-800 Large ponies and small horses such as Morgans; horses with small faces such as Arabians 22” - 5 ˝” 24” – 7” Horse 15 - 16 800-1100 Average size horses such as Quarter horses 24” - 6” 26” – 7 ˝ ” Large Horse (Oversize) 17 & over 1100-1600 Warmbloods and large-face horses 26” - 6 ˝” 28” - 8” Q: Which muzzle size should I order? A: Normally your horse will wear the same size muzzle as halter. For example, if your horse wears a cob size halter it would wear a cob size muzzle. Leave a small space (1/2 to one inch) between your horse's mouth and the bottom of the muzzle. Your can also use the above chart to help determine the correct size. Q: How should the grazing muzzle fit? A: The muzzle should not be tight or restricting and should allow room for grazing and chewing. You should be able to fit two to three fingers sideways between the grazing muzzle and the horse's face. The Standard muzzles have a slightly closer fit. Check regularly for rubbing, especially when introducing the horse to the muzzle. If necessary, use halter fleece or a Muzzle Mate (see Accessories) to cushion sensitive areas. Having the proper fit and adjustments will help avoid rubbing. Q: How should I adjust the Deluxe Grazing Muzzle? A: For the most comfortable fit and to prevent the muzzle from coming off the horse's nose, adjust the muzzle so that the throat latch fits behind the horse's jaw bone. It may help to put the muzzle over a well-fitting halter and adjust the straps so that the muzzle fits as closely as possible to the halter. If your horse has a particularly long face or a large head with a small muzzle, you may find that the Standard Grazing Muzzle used with a separate breakaway halter prevents the muzzle from coming the horse's nose. Frequently Asked Questions: Q: How much grass can the horse get while wearing a Best Friend Grazing Muzzle? A: It's difficult to say how much your horse would be able to get through the small opening, but we estimate that it cuts intake by an average of 50% to 75%. Keep in mind that if the muzzle or safety halter breaks away in the pasture your horse will have free access to grass. If your horse is in danger of founder he should be monitored regularly while grazing. Q: How is my horse going to react to the muzzle? A: Don't expect your horse to actually like wearing the muzzle, just as we humans don't like going on a diet. However, most horses adjust to the quite easily. In fact, the March 2006 issue of The Horse Journal described it as a "non-event" for most horses. We've had many customers tell us that their horses associate the muzzle with being able to go out and graze and be with their friends so they put it on quite willingly. Your attitude will make a big difference. Act matter-of-factly when you put it on your horse. Don't apologize! Q: How should I introduce my horse to the muzzle? A: Introduce the horse to the muzzle slowly. Put the muzzle up to his face several times before you put the strap over his head. You may want to put a treat such as a carrot inside the muzzle. If after a few hours he hasn't figured out how to graze with it on, you may want to place some grain or small pieces of an apple or carrot in short grass to stimulate grazing behavior. Be patient and don't feel bad about putting the muzzle on your horse. It's for its own good. Most often if a horse doesn't accept the muzzle it is because the owner has a problem with it. (Note: If your horse is diabetic you can use treats such as winter squash, lettuce, celery, parsley, one or two alfalfa cubes or a small handful of pellets, or sugar-free mints, rather than the above mentioned treats.) Q: How long will a grazing muzzle last? A: Grazing muzzles take a lot of abuse so expect to replace it periodically if your horse uses it for extended periods. Many horses use the same muzzle for several seasons. It depends on factors such as the amount of time it is worn, whether you have a gentle horse or a more aggressive horse and the age of the horse. Since the older a horse gets the more his teeth protrude, we have found that generally the older horses will be wear out a muzzle quicker. Compare the life of a muzzle to the life of a pair of running shoes. Your horse's teeth are scraping the bottom of the muzzle thousands of times a day. We have made every effort to make the rubber as durable as possible. Q: Are the muzzles guaranteed? A: Muzzles that are purchased directly from us are guaranteed for 30 days. This does not include any damage caused by your horse, such as getting caught up on something and tearing the muzzle apart. If at any time you have questions on the use of the muzzle or feel your muzzle is not wearing properly, please contact us. Before returning a muzzle you must call or e-mail me (see contact information at the bottom of page) for a Return Authorization Number. Q: How do I clean the muzzle? Keeping the muzzle clean will extend the life of the muzzle since dirt and sand can wear down the fibers. The muzzle should be hosed off or swished in a bucket of soap and water and rinsed at least weekly. Allow the muzzle to dry thoroughly whenever possible to reduce odors. Q: Will my horse be able to eat hay or grain while wearing a Grazing Muzzle? A: Most horses are not able to eat hay or grain with the muzzle on. Q: My horse is pastured only. Can I leave a grazing muzzle on 24 hours? A: We do not recommend leaving a grazing muzzle on for 24 hours. We recommend eight to twelve hours on and then remove the muzzle to allow your horse to have free access to salt licks, hay or daily grain requirements. Q: Are there any harmful substances in the rubber? Is it dangerous if the horses eat the rubber? A: While cows have four stomachs and can digest almost anything, horses only have one stomach and cannot throw up. So what goes in one end must come out the other. That is why it is a critical situation when horses get a stomach ache (colic.) It certainly is not good for a horse to swallow rubber, however, thousands of rubber bits have been sold with no ill effect. To our knowledge there is nothing caustic in the rubber. Q: Why is the rubber bottom on the muzzle peeling? A: If this happens it is generally because the horse was introduced to the muzzle too rapidly and/or the grass is too short. When horses are denied their normal ration and are ravenous, they may push down hard on the bottom of the muzzle. Horses' teeth are relatively rough, their jaws are extremely powerful and they make thousands of bites a day causing the rubber to delaminate. The cure for this problem is to introduce the muzzle gradually so the horse has time to get used to his new food intake or desire for it. Another instance that can cause delamination is very sandy soil. Sand can get into the muzzle and the horse rubs his teeth against the rubber causing extreme wear and, finally, delamination
