I have good news and bad news.
My 18yr old Morgan had been suffering through repeated bouts of
lameness from Feb to about June. Probably last summer too. He was
diagnosed with Insulin Resistance in about April. (I tried to
upload a case file and failed miserably). Through the help of
reading this forum and wonderful understanding stable owners, we
were able to get Sky healthy and sound. His insulin was 94 when
diagnosed, 137 after we stupidly tried limited grass. Once he was
moved to a dry lot--down to 11 !! in early August. He is at a
boarding facility so his diet is somewhat modified from the ideal on
this list. He has orchard grass hay with some alfalfa that tested
at 1.7% starch and 8.9% sugars. He also gets about 2-3 lbs OBTC
cubes and about 1 lb TC low starch. We are transitioning him off
the OBTC cubes to barn hay only. Since he is doing well on this
diet I'm thinking he may be less sensitive than some?
Here's my problem--He's doing so well he is stirring up way too much
trouble in the pony paddock, the only dry lot on the place! He
starts bullying the ponies whenever they bring out hay or look like
they might be thinking about bringing out the hay... Last night was
the last straw ---he is just too much for that group. He is now
living in the round pen --our only other option without grass.
My options right now are leaving him in the round pen alone without
shelter (we are in Minnesota and he is in a stall at night),
possibly a paddock with very limited grass that would have all day
access to hay (different cutting than what I had tested), or moving
him which I really don't want to do. The current facility is run by
amazing people who have put up with all the special diet and
treatment to get him healthy--and they grow their own hay, so there
is a consistent source. Now that we have him healthy, we don't
know what to do with him.

Any suggestions??

Cathy

--- In EquineCushings@..., "bothof" <bothof@...> wrote:

Here's my problem--He's doing so well he is stirring up way too much
trouble in the pony paddock, the only dry lot on the place!
Cathy

Hi Cathy!

Congratulations on your horse doing so well! If the other turnout
options include grass, you can use a grazing muzzle. Might want to
tape the holes closed so he can't nibble, but he can go through the
motions of it, be turned out and with others, and still be able to drink.

Linda

I'll add to Linda's note on the muzzle. Maybe they can leave him in the
round pen while he eats his portion of hay, then muzzle (closed or
mostly closed) and let him go out with horses his own size.

Rita
IN

--- In EquineCushings@..., rita@... wrote:

I haven't tried a grazing muzzle yet. Sky is a little too smart for

his own good, and I'm afraid he would get it off and have quite the
binge on grass before someone noticed. This may be a good time to
try though since it's been so dry and a couple of the turnouts are
starting to look more like dry lots. Any suggestions for a brand of
grazing muzzle that is most likely to fit a Morgan head and stay on??
He's always been between cob and horse size for halters and bridles.

cathy

You might be surprised at your horse's reaction to a grazing muzzle.
Mine both adapted quite quickly and have only managed to pull it off
once in 4 years. I get the $18 ones from Country Supply catalog
because my horses destroy the rubber part and I go through 2/Summer. I
buy the horse size for my quarter horses that are on the small side. I
just adapted one for Curran since he's not supposed to eat too much.
My farrier gave me a hard plastic pad/hoof boot insert (probably for a
draft horse) and I cut it to fit in the bottom of the muzzle. Then I
drilled a 1/2"-3/4" hole in the middle - much smaller than the original
one the muzzle came with. I put self adhesive velcro strips on the pad
insert and bottom of the muzzle to hold it in place. It works
great ... but don't ask Curran what he thinks!

Cindy

--- In EquineCushings@..., "bothof" <bothof@...> wrote:

--- In EquineCushings@..., rita@ wrote:

Any suggestions for a brand of

grazing muzzle that is most likely to fit a Morgan head and stay on??
He's always been between cob and horse size for halters and bridles.

cathy

Hi Cathy:
My horse is about the same size -between a cob and horse. I find
the "Best Friend" grazing muzzle works well. It has a breakaway halter
and it's easy to tape the bottom of it if you don't want them to have
any grass. You can also place a fly mask over top of it to help to
keep it on. I find it's very secure when fitted properly.
michelle o

Michelle,
This really boils down to your preference and what your horse likes best. I like the cheapo Tough1 that costs under $20 now. I use a regular halter first then wrap the throat latch piece of the muzzle halter around the throat latch piece of the regular halter. My boy can get things off easily **BUT** I never leave when he has it on. I am here to watch him just in case. Also, he never wears it more than 4 hours at a time. The reason I like the Tough1 is because the horse size has a big basket and its soft. I started out in the Best Friends and it was too hard and cut his nose up so bad I had to add mole skin to the basket where it rubbed. He didnt appreciate a cut nose either. The secret to fitting is let the basket hang about one inch below the lips....if you tighten it all up and it touches the lips when they are just standing, it rubs them. Be watchful of their teeth too. Biting the rubber plate wears down the incisors at odd angles.
Mandy and Asher in VA