Grazing Muzzles

I've never really liked the idea of using a grazing muzzle but as Bea is somewhat physically challenged it is a necessary evil.  I never realised, until now, just what at asset limiting grazing without the need for small paddocks can be.

To my complete and utter amazement Bea views the muzzle like she does her Parelli halter she drops her head and turns to me to have it put on or taken off.  No high headedness or trying to toss the thing away taking me with it.  But then she would wouldn't she after learning that particular pattern and knowing it is required every single time something is put on her head.  Then there is the added bonus of the free access to grass once the muzzle is removed.  She associates that with me more than the muzzle, which is nice.  She also will do anything to have a nibble even trotting on the rail more than one lap, around the whole field which we do together, without stopping or trying to eat.  Why because she knows that she will eat she is just not sure when and as I'm adding more and more laps on a daily basis it does keep her guessing and so interested.  Today I played with lengthening and shortening my stride.  So we did a slow elevated trot, an uptempo trot with a longer stride and if I really pushed myself to lengthen my stride even more she broke into a nice relaxed canter.  Mixing all this up plus putting in a few slow and faster back ups then some grazing I had one very happy pony.

Liberty has taken off too.  With Bea its always been hit and miss.  I remember at Stoneleigh everyone had a horse that would disengage their hindquarters and follow apart from me.  I had a pony that would disengage then eat!  Far more productive as far as Bea was concerned. Now my draw is working, she might leave but it doesn't take long before she decides its more comfortable to come back.  Porcupine game is good, sideways away and towards in place as is a figure 8 though only at a walk as that is quite quick enough for Bea and she is not permitted to do any tight turns.  Everything I have added so far she has delivered with relative ease  with a willingness to try.  Circling will be a game we won't be tackling for a while yet as that isn't permitted either unless I can think of a way to slow it right down and make long sweeping turns changing direction is a major no no too.  So I'm learning to work with what I have.

But back to my first thought, the reason I am getting what I'm getting is to do with that grazing muzzle and the reward of removing it.  Bea understands that she will get the good stuff she also knows that when she tries gets longer on the good stuff too.  We might play at liberty for 20 mins or so with no reward, well nothing edible anyway.  Even so Bea never loses her focus she knows that when it ends, whenever that may be, she gets the good grazing I even take her to the best spots.

I never thought I'd say a grazing muzzle is a good thing