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Best Friend® Deluxe Grazing Muzzles
Safe and comfortable, Best Friend® Deluxe Grazing Muzzles are recommended by equine health professionals to prevent, as well as treat laminitis, founder, and obesity.
The Best Friend® Deluxe Grazing Muzzle is a combination Grazing Muzzle and breakaway halter all-in-one. The design utilizes a plastic side release buckle as its breakaway feature. Each Deluxe muzzle comes with a spare buckle that can be easily attached in the field.
The small opening in the bottom allows horses a limited amount of grass, yet unlimited water. Rather than being restricted to a non-grass environment to control intake, horses are free to exercise and socialize as part of the herd. The lightweight muzzles resist rubbing and chafing and will not rot.
The body of each muzzle is made of soft, comfortable webbing with neoprene padding on the noseband to help prevent rubbing. The bottom is made of flexible and durable reinforced rubber. The design has a breakaway feature that will hold in place under normal circumstances, yet will break away if a horse panics and struggles to free itself. This feature greatly reduces the risk of injury to the horse.
Packaged in a vinyl bag that is reusable as a grooming tote, the muzzles are entirely synthetic, and therefore rot-free and easily cleaned. To clean, simply hose off the dirt or swish the muzzle in a bucket of water. Available in Black only.
Also available on this website: Muzzle Plugs, Replacement Buckles, and Sheepskin Nose Pads.
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Muzzle Size
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Fits
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Deluxe Grazing Muzzles (circumference x depth)
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Mini Mini
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Average size minis
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n/a
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Mini
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Larger miniatures, Shetlands and weanlings. 200-300 lbs.
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20" x 5-1/2"
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Pony
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Most average size ponies and yearlings, very small faced horses. 300-500 lbs, 12 hands and under.
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22" x 5-3/4"
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Cob
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Large ponies, small horses such as Morgans, horses with small faces such as Arabians. 500-800 lbs, 13-14 hands.
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24" x 7"
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Horse
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Average size horses such as Quarter horses. 800 to 1100 lbs, 15-16 hands.
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26" x 7-1/2"
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Large Horse (Oversize)
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Warmbloods and large-faced horses, 1100 to 1600 lbs, 17 hands and over.
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28" x 8"
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Draft
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Very large breeds such as Percherons, Belgians, etc.
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30" x 8"
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Tips for first time muzzle users:
- Having the proper fit and adjustments will help avoid rubbing and prevent the muzzle from coming off. Adjust muzzle straps to fit like a well-fitting halter with the throat strap behind the jaw and the side rings in the crease of the neck.
- Introduce the muzzle gradually.
- Encourage acceptance of the muzzle by placing a treat such as a carrot inside the basket of the muzzle and feed it to your horse. Do this several times before putting the strap over his head. You can also use treats such as winter squash, lettuce, celery, parsley, one or two alfalfa cubes or a small handful of pellets, or sugar-free mints.
- Many horses will start grazing with the muzzle within the first hour, but be patient. Some horses can take much longer. Placing a small amount of grain or other treats on the ground may help stimulate grazing behavior.
- Check regularly for any sign of rubbing. If necessary, use padding such as sheepskin, fleece, Muzzle Mates or Cheek Savers™.
- The muzzle may be left on all day or all night. It should be removed for the horse to have free access to hay, salt licks and daily grain requirements.
- When the muzzle is no longer required, gradually wean your horse from the muzzle.
- Consult your veterinarian before making any dietary changes for your horse.
- Don't feel bad! It's better than the alternatives such as dry lot, being confined to the stall or foundering. Most often if a horse doesn't accept the muzzle it is because the owner has a problem with it.
- If you have any questions or concerns, contact us.
Cleaning:
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.
If you still 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. Here's a comment 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."
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