Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
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And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hello Maryjane,
I do not like using grazing muzzles because most horses find them to be stressful. Stress can induce laminitis because it causes the release of the stress hormone, cortisol. And, over time, elevated levels of this hormone can create problems with insulin levels. So, a horse may not test as insulin resistant but still have induced resistance via high levels of cortisol.
Having said that, it is important to reduce the grazing time on grasses that are high in starch, sugar, and fructans for the horse that may be prone toward laminitis. The only way to know if this is a problem is to have your pasture tested. This is easy to do -- contact Equi-Analytical for a free testing kit: www.equi-analytical.com and test your pasture during the late afternoon on a sunny day (the time when the sugars and starches are at their highest).
Magnesium is also a very important component when preventing another laminitic attack. Most horses do not get enough of this mineral, which is why I recommend Quiessence in these cases.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO