Silicone Horse Muzzle Pad — OEM Case Study
94% rehabilitation rate in 30 days.
How a European Welfare Brand Eliminated Muzzle Lesions in 94% of Foals.
A 90-day ODM partnership that turned a welfare problem into a category-leading product.
The Challenge
A German equine welfare brand specialising in rescue and rehabilitation approached Rubbrex with a recurring problem: foals and sensitive adult horses at their centres developed chronic muzzle lesions from standard halter padding. Leather padding irritated sensitive skin; synthetic foam padding trapped moisture and bacteria. They needed a seamless, food-grade, easy-to-sanitise alternative — and they couldn't find it on the market.
The Rubbrex Solution
Our ODM team designed a one-piece moulded silicone muzzle pad with contoured pressure distribution and an integrated halter-retention channel. Food-grade silicone compound. Standard 90-day ODM development cycle with multiple prototype iterations based on physical trials at the welfare centre. Tooling amortised over the launch order and onward reorders.
Programme Outcomes
90-Day Development Timeline
Week 1-2: Discovery
NDA, clinical problem brief, site visit to welfare centre.
Week 3-4: Concept
3 design concepts presented; one selected for prototyping.
Week 5-8: Prototype
3 iterations with field testing on 12 horses.
Week 9-10: Sign-off
Field trial at the partner's rescue centre and final design freeze.
Week 11-13: Mass Production
Launch order manufactured with AQL 1.5 QC documentation.
Commercial Outcome
The muzzle pad became a category bestseller for the welfare brand, with sustained reorder cadence and adoption across European rescue organisations. Rubbrex remains the ODM supplier under a long-term partnership agreement — exact contract terms and reorder volumes available under NDA to serious ODM / distributor prospects.
Have a Welfare Challenge Silicone Could Solve?
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