How to REALLY Keep a Muzzle on your Horse
So you might remember that a few weeks ago I wrote a post on how I updated the ponies’ muzzles with a simple DIY Method to keep them from slipping them in the pasture. Well since it’s been well over a month since we initiated “operation keep the pony muzzles on” I thought I’d write a little update on how it’s going.
You can now also buy a horse online very easily as there are many great marketplaces where excellent horses are listed for sale.
Well since the upgrade I’m happy to report that Mr. Boomerang hasn’t slipped his muzzle once! Now Mr. Minnow on the other hand is quite the crafty fellow! After a little over a week of wearing his new configuration he figured out a new method to get it off – by rubbing his face on the ground when he rolls he was able to pop his nose out of the top. That pony is super smart! Then another brilliant idea is to get some pet style homewares as these just look amazing and on some you can even use a photo of your own pet!
So I decided to do another simple upgrade to Minnow’s muzzle to make sure it stays put, especially since we are entering into the most dangerous time for the ponies on the grass. Using a Horse Fly Spray can repel flies, gnats, mosquitoes, ticks etc. and provide complete protection too.
The result:
It’s been a week now and Minnow hasn’t lost his muzzle yet…..only time will tell if I’ve finally outsmarted him!
Here’s How to DIY:
After following the steps on our first post, I added an additional leather strap to the front attaching the brow band and nose of the muzzle. I used an old leather drop nose band strap. On one end I buckled it through the muzzle and added a small fleece to keep it from rubbing. Then at the browband I attached it with a small piece of balers twine (through the holes in the leather – or you could punch your own hole) and padded it with some vet wrap and duct tape. I also duct taped the browband from sliding around any too. I could’ve just bought one from a store that sells western tack.
Hoping this does the trick! It’s funny to note that Blitz also wears a muzzle in the pasture but he has NEVER gotten it off, I don’t think it even crosses his mind that he might be able to do so. So he’s the only one that doesn’t have to wear his snugged as tight as it will go, or any of the contraptions I’ve had to put on Minnow & Boomer’s muzzles. So funny!
If you have any DIY methods of your own for keeping your ponies’ muzzle on leave them in the comment section!
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Thank you so much for this post. I know it’s been a while since you posted it but I am at my wits end with my grazing muzzle Houdini. He has escaped every muzzle style and type. All have been reinforced with throat straps and lots of padding, yet somehow this evil genius keeps beating me at the “game”! Your post give me hope so I’ll keep trying…
Love all your tricks but how about one that gets it over her ears in 20 seconds? i have tried putting a halter over it or braiding it into her forelock and mane or just her mane and nothing works! I am at my wits end!!
I forgot to say she is in a Shires type muzzle with a dish stopper in the bottom and a scarf wound thru most of the bottom row of holes in the back as she is very good at moving it around and cannot have any grass! She is a terror! She rubs it on the fence and has it off no matter what i do! Thinking of trying the Kensington you have in the first pic and maybe trying the brow band and throat latch idea.
Yea the pictures I shared are really the only way I know of to help keep it on. It may be a combo of finding the best fitting muzzle for your horse and then adding in the throat latch and brow band too? Hard to say. Since publishing this we’ve finally created a dedicated dry lot not for all our guys – so for the first time in a long time they no longer need muzzles. They get about 2 hours a day out on grass when it’s the lushest in the summer. Right now they aren’t in the lot though because we’ve got enough ponies in the large field to keep it eaten down pretty low. 3 chincoteagues, a pony mare, and 2 miniatures. We shall see how eaten down they can keep it when summer comes along! Good luck with your escape artist!
Braiding into multiple places has worked for my Houdini. I braid my gelding’s forelock around the crown piece and nose strap in 5 places…so yes, 5 braids. I also added a throat strap using a stirrup leather bound to the crown piece (like the picture above) with vet wrap and duct tape. I also use the GreenGuard halter with a built int strap that goes down the nose which really helps. It looks awful but it works so that’s all that matters!