How do you know when grazing muzzle season has arrived?Updated a year ago

Every horse is different and has individual needs, so declaring a particular date for the start of grazing muzzle season is too crude. The question is less "What is the start date for muzzling?" and more "When do I start to muzzle my horse?" Either way, it's a tricky question! Some factors to consider include the environment, your particular horse, and your intentions with muzzling.

Environmental Factors

Your horse's behavior is one of the best ways to identify when the spring grass is coming in.  Is he becoming less enthusiastic about mealtime, leaving hay behind, or becoming more difficult to catch? All of these can be great indicators that it's time to start muzzling. 

How is Your Horse Looking?

A cresty neck, warm hooves, or looser stools are all signs that it may be time to start restricting grass intake.  

Are You Muzzling for Seasonal Transition or the Long Haul?

Once your horse has had time to adjust to the changes in the grass, they may be ready to regain free access to the grass without a muzzle. Where you live, your horse's medical history and various other factors can determine whether your horse uses a grazing muzzle as a short or long-term solution. Your vet will be able to provide valuable input for making these decisions as well.

Tapering muzzle use off and on for seasonal transitions

The use of inserts allows you to change how much grass is restricted so your muzzle can be modified based on the time of year. 

To learn more about each of the factors above, trot on over to our Blog post.

**Please always consult your vet or equine nutritionist regarding how much restriction and for how long. They will be the experts on your environment and your horse's specific needs, we can only offer guidance based on our personal experiences.