It is normal for horses in the wild environment to graze intermittently for up to 18 hours per day. This keeping their digestive tracts filled with high fiber forage. It is not unusual for feeding to be restricted to large meals. This may hurt the gastrointestinal tract, which may lead to problems such as gastric ulcer syndrome. This is due to the loss of stomach acid during intermittent fasting. Horses usually do not have constant access to hay or pasture tend to develop what is known as pica I.e, eating of non-food materials and they might develop repetitive behaviors such as weaving and stalk walking. That is why there are slow feeders for horses because some horses are incapable of controlling their feed intake while other horses tend to become obese if allowed to eat to their fill.

Best slow feeders for horses were designed specifically to improve horses positive interactions with humans. So the hay bag feeder hung at the head height on the wall resulted in frustration for the horse which will lead it to more stereotype behaviors such as crib-biting. Frustration is often observed as the horses pull on the hay bag with teeth or push it with the head. The slow feeders also lengthen out the time of their eating, which is much better for both the intestinal and psychological health of the horse.

Types of Slow Feeders for Horses

They often come in a variety of configurations:

1. They can come in form of diamond-shaped openings in hay nets. Webbed hay nets.
2. Can come in form of buckets that holds about 15-20 bale of hay.
3. It can also come in form of trough-shaped configurations that can hold a bale of hay.

Normally, hay nets generally have large openings that do not slow down the intake, and horses may pull too much hay in the process with some of the hay landing on the ground where it is often consumed almost immediately or if it is often stepped on, urinated on and then it gets spoiled. The idea is that, when you are trying to open the home for a hay net, you should make it to be, 1½ – 1¼ inches for an adult horse. Because the holes are too small, the horse might become too frustrated to eat and that might cause weight loss. Just ensure that you find the right size of the hole for your horse. (more…)

Not every horse will need to wear a grazing muzzle. Most horses will and can graze pastures with wild abandon, but there are others that cannot. Sugar-filled grasses may cause problems for horses, especially those that prone to acquiring acute or chronic laminitis or metabolic diseases. And if you are looking for best grazing muzzles for horses, this post is one that may just provide the information that you need to know before doing so.

Grazing Muzzles as a Management Tool for Horses

Although horses are very intelligent animals, it will be difficult for them to control their need to graze when pasture that is available is bountiful. But to ensure that they get to control their intake of fresh pasture, horse owners use different management tools. One of the more favored options is the use of a grazing muzzle. It is an appliance that is designed to attach to an ordinary halter and covers the entire muzzle of the horse. When this is worn, the horse can only graze through the hole located at the bottom of the muzzle. This will considerably cut down the amount of grass that horse can consume.

Introducing the Grazing Muzzle to Your Horse

You need to be patient when introducing the muzzle to a horse. Remember that your temperament while trying to put on the muzzle on the horse will greatly affect how the horse will respond to your touch. So, it is best to start slowly.

Gently place the muzzle alongside your horse’s head. Once the horse relaxes, remove the muzzle. Do this until the horse is completely at ease. Proceed to putting the muzzle over the horse’s nose. Remove it after a few seconds and reward the horse’s relaxed behavior. Increase the length of time the muzzle is placed over the horse’s nose. Once you have gained your horse’s complete trust and you are confident that it will respond positively while you are securing the muzzle on its head, do it gently but only for a short period of time.

Reward your horse by feeding treats through the muzzle, as this will show the horse how it can eat with the muzzle on.

A Perfectly Fit Grazing Muzzle for Your Horse

No horse will enjoy wearing a grazing muzzle. Horse owners may also find it exasperating to use, especially when it is the first time to fit the grazing muzzle on the horse.

A perfectly fitted grazing muzzle will help restrict grass intake but it will not completely prevent the horse from eating. This makes grazing muzzles a great tool that allows your horse or pony to enjoy the benefits of turnout while limiting the potential for undesirable weight gain or possible gastrointestinal problems.

Making sure that the grazing muzzle fits properly is vital. To make sure that your horse is wearing its muzzle correctly, consider these tips:

1. Follow the fit instructions provided by the brand from which you bought from. Pay attention to sensitive points that may rub against that muzzle, such as the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose. There should be a gap between the mouth of the horse and the muzzle of about an inch.
2. Make sure that the horse can open its mouth comfortably while wearing the muzzle.

Choosing Grazing Muzzles for Horses

The market offers a wide variety of options for grazing muzzles. Each of these options has its pros and cons. The type of muzzle that you should consider will depend on your budget as well as your horse’s preference. You will find that there are muzzles that provide a better fit than others. That means, your best choice will be one that offers that best fit and comfort for your horse. (more…)

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