People who have recently been introduced to horse farms or horse riding would not be aware of the importance of a horse muzzle or the factors that lead to a horse being muzzled. This is for all those beginners.
What is a horse grazing muzzle? It is a small net that is designed to cover and obstruct the lower half of the face, especially the mouth area of a horse. The purpose of a muzzle can, therefore, be distinguished from the aforementioned description. It serves to restrict the food intake of the horse basically. This is done to manage the weight of the animal, especially when it is needed in a particular shape and form. For example, racing horses are needed to retain their agility for as long as possible and overeating and obesity can hinder that. Not just that, a horse prone to certain health-related risks like laminitis or insulin resistance needs careful administration of forage.
Apart from the deduction of grass intake, there are several other factors responsible for horses being subjected to muzzling. Another key factor is cribbing. This term might be unusual for some people.
What is cribbing and how does it involve muzzling a horse? Cribbing is a unique mechanism caused by stress, boredom, habit, or certain digestive diseases like acidity in which horses resort to biting and grabbing onto things using their incisor teeth and straining their necks upwards to propel the larynx downwards. This is followed by a rush of air which produces a swooshing sound. This is called wind sucking.
Now that we have established that muzzling is necessary to keep a horse in its best health and spirits, let’s have a look at some of the Best Grazing Muzzles that we highly recommend.
1- Tough-1 Org Grazing Muzzle:
Tough-1 has always pleased its customers with budget-friendly products that are reliable in terms of quality and durability. This original grazing muzzle and halter has the following features which make it stand out in the world of horse riding.
Material:
This muzzle is known for the incredibly breathable material that has been used in its making. The poly/nylon muzzle and halter come with a throat snap and a ring of the same material.
Color and outlook:
It comes in only one color but the beautiful striking orange wins over all other possible shades. The shiny silver buckles contrast beautifully against the orange.
All-in-one:
The best feature about this product is that the halter and muzzle come in a single package so the buyer won’t have to look for each component separately.
No discomfort:
The black lining is of soft material which rests on the horse and has a very soft impact on it. The numerous holes offer no discomfort to the horse and it is free to breathe through and drink water.
Pros:
- Includes halter
- Brightly colored
- The muzzle basket puts the horse at least risk of suffocation.
- Easy breathe nylon material
- The small opening at the bottom limits overeating
- Comes with a throat snap and a ring
- Durable material
- No problem in drinking
- Easy to put on
- Several adjustment straps
- Fits the animal snugly
Cons:
- The stitching might come undone if subjected to rough use.
2- Aime Imports Muzzle With Halter:
Aime Imports is known in the market for a range of products like kitchen gadgets, home decor accents, clothing, and jewelry but what takes the cake is their wide range of accessories for animals.
Their muzzle has the following features:
Size range:
Not many muzzles come in varying sizes. This is extremely convenient because this muzzle comes in four sizes: mini, pony, cob, and horse. It fits all breeds effortlessly.
Material:
The material is rubber which wraps around steel hardware, making it one of the most sturdy builds.
Manageable adjustment:
The five-way adjustment and buckle systems make the muzzle fit snugly against the animal’s face. Clipping on the buckles is a fairly handy job. The fastener is of quick-grip nature. All these traits give way for perfect fitting and adjustment so size is never an issue for the users.
Pros and cons are listed down below for better judgment.
Pros:
- Halter set included
- A whole size range is available
- Easy to clip on
- The noseband is padded
- A small opening at the bottom
- 5-way adjustment
- Made of rubber around steel hardware
- Cotton threading does not chafe the skin of the animal
- Breathable holes
Cons:
- The stitching might come undone if tugged roughly.
3- UDRENM Muzzle With Halter:
Some excellent features of this muzzle halter set include:
Size:
The medium and large sizes available are perfect to be used for respective horse sizes.
The large muzzle has the following measurements:
- 6.1” deep
- 7.4” diameter
- 23.4” circumference
- 640 grams weight
A medium-sized muzzle has the following measurements:
- 5.3” deep
- 6.8” diameter
- 21.3” circumference
- 575 grams weight
Material:
The basket is made of heavyweight nylon PVC leather, the hook, and loop velcro while the nose is made of neoprene. The basket is lined which makes it incredibly breathable and the straps are padded for the utmost comfort of the animal.
Construction:
The bottom of the basket has a large hole that lets just enough forage through. This ensures proper control of the eating habits of the animal. The halter, along with the throat snap and ring, delivers satisfactory adjustability options so that the muzzle and halter set rest snugly yet comfortably against the horse skin.
Satisfaction guaranteed:
UDRENM offers a deep sense of relief for both the buyer and the horse. The numerous holes all over the basket allow easy breathing and minimal suffocation for the animal. No discomfort means that the animal won’t get uncomfortable or try to take the thing off. The padded lining does not chafe the horse’s skin.
Some pros and cons are listed below:
Pros:
- Comfortable and long-lasting
- Includes halter
- Made with neoprene and nylon
- The basket is lined
- Padded neck strap
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Easy water intake
- Sturdy build
- A snug fit
Cons:
- Sizing should be confirmed before ordering
4- Cashel Grazing Muzzle:
Cashel has always aimed at making its customers’ rides safer, convenient and affordable. Some of the distinguishing features of this horse muzzle include:
Size Range:
A tremendous size range is what makes this product a go-to and a pet favorite. The sizes available are:
- Mini
- Arab
- Horse
- Pony
These sizes are labeled according to the animal breed they tend to fit best so they are extremely convenient for the layman as well as beginners to figure out.
Lightweight:
This horse and muzzle set weighs only 0.4 kilos which makes it extremely manageable for the user and not too hefty for the horse.
Affordable:
Cashel specializes in designing products that lie within the budget range just like this muzzle.
Hole size:
The hole is an inch wide which allows just the right quantity of grass to go in. So no need to fret over any health-related concern that the horse owner might have.
Some other features are mentioned down below in the form of pros and cons.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Size range available
- 1-inch hole at the bottom
- Affordable
- The velcro system fits tightly
- Several adjustment points
- Liquid intake is not hindered
- Halter included
- Breathable material
- Effective in limiting over-eating
Cons:
- The plastic straps are breakable
5- Weaver Leather Grazing Muzzle:
Weaver is a trusted manufacturer of a wide range of leather and nylon goods. This grazing muzzle promises reliability and complete satisfaction through several remarkable features like:
Material:
The muzzle incorporates nylon and rubber in the basket with a vegetable-tanned leather double buckle crown. This combination offers the utmost durability and sturdiness to the invention.
Strengthened comfort:
The horse does not go into a state of unrest at any point while the muzzle is on because of the comfortable underlining neoprene.
Size:
Small, Medium, and Large sizes are available.
Some other pros and cons are listed down below:
Pros:
- Made of Rubber and nylon
- Lined with neoprene
- Comfortable for the animal
- Metal buckles promise durability
- Adjustable
- Durable leather straps
- The rubber near the mouth is double reinforced
- Convenient fitting
Cons:
- The leather might leave rub marks on the skin
Now a lot of horses suffer from adjustment issues where the basket is either too tight or loose, or the halter is not compatible with the muzzle, and straps come undone. For these reasons, we have decided to present some alternatives so that the buyer can separately order the muzzle and other accessories like halter and fleece halter cover. Some of those well-recommended products are mentioned down below:
6-Tough-1 Muzzle attachment:
Tough-1 has always pleased its customers with budget-friendly products that are reliable in terms of quality and durability. Though this is merely a muzzle and lacks the halter which would have to be bought separately, it compensates that by its remarkable attributes like:
Material:
The muzzle is constructed using poly/nylon which has been widely used and recognized as the best choice for comfortable and credible muzzles.
Easy-breathe:
The eating of the animal is limited because it has only one hole for forage intake but the large net basket prevents all risks of suffocation and irritation.
Handy attachment:
The three quick-grip tabs attach to any halter size rather effortlessly. So adjustment and clipping the muzzle on is not a headache for the rider.
Some other features are written below in the form of pros versus cons for the further convenience of our readers.
Pros:
- The small opening at the bottom limits overeating
- Easy to breathe through
- Easy attachment to the halter
- Three quick-grip tabs
- Lightweight
- Prevents grass-induced laminitis
- Large nostril openings
- Can withstand higher temperatures.
Cons:
- Does not include halter
7- Tough-1 Halter Fleece Set:
Another product by our trustworthy Tough-1 is this halter fleece set which is a mere accessory but can prove its necessity within a span of seconds.
The purpose of this accessory is to take the halter set up a notch in terms of provision of comfort by preventing chafing where the impact of the halter can scratch horse skin. Physical appeal is a mere add-on.
Some other features include:
Contains:
This package includes a slip-on crown, two quick-grip cheek pieces, and a quick-grip noseband.
Colors available:
Since one of the prime functions of this fleece set is to beautify the horse halter set, it is only fair if the buyer has an option of a whole color range to choose from. Some amazing color options include:
- natural white
- Black
- Brown
- Hunter Green
- pink
- Red
- Royal Blue
- Purple
Material:
The material used in the manufacture is soft like cotton and has a sheepskin-like outlook. It is a pillowy-soft fleece that touches the skin like cotton candy thereby, beautifying the animal ten-folds.
Some additional pros and cons include:
Pros:
- Sheepskin like horse halter set
- Soft and fluffy fleece material
- Contains two cheek pieces, a crown, and a nose pad
- extremely comfortable for the animal
- Does not chafe or scratch the skin
- Not too tight
- Fits any horse size
- Many colors available
- Affordable
Cons:
- It is not a stand-alone product.
Buying guide:
The above-mentioned products give several options to the customers. Each muzzle looks equally promising and stands out uniquely. Some are remarkable in their adjustment settings, others give the horse owners ample control over the animal in the best possible way. Some guarantee the utmost comfort for the animal while others only aim to serve the original purpose of a muzzle i.e. limiting grass intake. So how does one figure out the best one out of the seven?
Here is a list of all the key features that every buyer should look for in a muzzle.
Sizing:
Make sure that the product that deems fit for your animal has a wide range of sizes. Most of the muzzles that are labeled as “free-size” or “one fit for all” are scams. They either hang loose or become suffocatingly restricting for the animal. Therefore, it is also important to be aware of the exact size that will fit your horse.
The comfort of the animal:
The purpose of a muzzle is not to hinder other movements or activities of the animal, nor should it be unsettling to the extent that the animal loses its composure and becomes restless. It should have comfortable underlining (like that of fleece) and the straps should not be too harsh against the skin.
In addition, the muzzle should have holes wide enough to let in a sufficient amount of oxygen and should not, in any way, obstruct water intake.
Rubber muzzles and leather straps are not recommended for these reasons. Nylon and plastic ones are better options.
Material:
The muzzles are mostly made out of rubber or nylon. Some have fleece underlining. The straps are leather, nylon, or neoprene. The buckles are plastic, steel, or some other metal.
Out of all these options, going for nylon products with fleece underlining and metal buckles works best under most circumstances because this combination is equal parts comfortable for the animal and durable.
Holes and openings:
Usually, most brands are cautious about this factor but it is still practical to sift through the feedback and review of the product you have your eye on, to see how different animals react to the breathability and opening size of the muzzle you want to buy.
Most muzzles have one hole at the bottom through which forage can be taken in a controlled manner. Other openings are air pockets which are also equally important. The more breathable the muzzle, the fewer chances of the horse snatching it off.
Affordability:
There are less costly options that are compatible in all other respects so don’t indulge in overly expensive muzzles. Infer your budget and decide accordingly.
A complete package:
It is better to buy a muzzle and halter together so that you don’t come across issues like incompatible halter and muzzle.
Easy to put on:
The straps should not be a hassle to clip on. At the same time, they should not be vulnerable enough to come undone at a single tug because we all know animals can be pretty stubborn.
Stitching:
The stitching and sewing should be high quality and double reinforced especially in areas that are prone to tugging and yanking like the muzzle area and throat snaps.
Color and design:
The least fundamental point is the physical appeal. But if someone is getting an option in choosing a better outlook and colour, they should opt for it.
Conclusion: We have carefully chosen the seven products ( five muzzle-halter sets, one separate muzzle attachment, and one fleece halter cover to accessorize your halter) that, in our view, would be most beneficial for horse owners and riders. We hope our readers will make up their minds after going through this article. So hurry up and choose the best muzzle for your horses so they don’t crib off the whole farm, eat their way to obesity, or worse, catch a fatal infection or stomach disease.