anyone gone off happy mouth bits???

hihosilver

hihosilver

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I have always used them on my young horses in the past. However after speaking to various people and trainers it seems they can do more harm than good especially on horses with small mouths. So changed my young mares bit today over from a happy mouth to a simple snaffle results were amazing! no more open mouth or resistance:D:D:D

Any thoughts???
 
I think they have their place, some horses really do seem to go well in them!
My gripes with them are they often don't have a choice/range of thicknesses, so a horse with a fleshy tongue might not like them because of this; and also lots of horses can bite through them or shred them so they become abrasive.
 
VioletStripe said:
I think they have their place, some horses really do seem to go well in them!
My gripes with them are they often don't have a choice/range of thicknesses, so a horse with a fleshy tongue might not like them because of this; and also lots of horses can bite through them or shred them so they become abrasive.
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yes that is exactly what my trainer said:D
 
My mare apparently liked Happy Mouth bits when I bought her, but she was chewing through them after a few uses so changed to a £95 NS to save myself some money.

She likes the NS.
 
One of my horses has an unusually large tongue and is very sensitive in the mouth. A happy mouth is too harsh for him as the mouthpieces are too thick and squash his tongue. A thinner mouthpiece is actually far kinder as it gives him the room he needs for his tongue.
 
Never used them. As soon as horse mouths or nibbles on them they are rough and hurt the horse.

Prefer sweet iron or copper. If mouthing I use a rubber straight bar snaffle then on to a sweet iron lozenge or frenchlink. Better IMO
 
Yes,Knobberpony had one when we bought her and chewed her way through 2 more in 3 months.The people we bought her from said that she had to have a Happymouth,but it was making her mouth so sore I binned it.She also used to head toss and yank the reins out of my daughter's hands.We changed to a sweet iron french link and no more problems.She loves it so much she holds it in her mouth and sucks it as we try to untack her.
 
My Arab won't let go of her much loved happy mouth. Never cut her, had any teeth marks to make it sharp and she's had the same one for a long time.

Did give in to all the bad talk about them though and try a few bitting company's advice lines. She hated all the bits recommended and just doesn't go so well in anything else. I love how much they scoff when we say she's in a happy mouth doing medium dressage. If only they could see her in her happy mouth, then in the bit they recommended...
 
My mare had a straight bar happy mouth when I first got her, one day when we were out she began uncharacteristically tossing her head, getting worse and worse and when I took her bridle off I noticed blood on her tongue! I was at a loss, then I remembered I'd read (possibly on here) about the shredding issue with happy mouths so I ran my hand over the bit and sure enough it had at least 2 sharp edges, they must have bothered her for ages, poor girl! Wouldn't ever use one again.

She's in a jointed sweet iron eggbutt snaffle, seems to prefer that, but all horse are different of course
 
horserider said:
My mare apparently liked Happy Mouth bits when I bought her, but she was chewing through them after a few uses so changed to a £95 NS to save myself some money.

She likes the NS.
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My youngster was the same but in fairness I only gave the Happy Mouth one chance and after he chewed through it which left sharp plastic bits sticking out I bought him a French link with a peanut NS and we have stuck with that brand ever since.
 
Oldenfelle said:
My Arab won't let go of her much loved happy mouth. Never cut her, had any teeth marks to make it sharp and she's had the same one for a long time.

Did give in to all the bad talk about them though and try a few bitting company's advice lines. She hated all the bits recommended and just doesn't go so well in anything else. I love how much they scoff when we say she's in a happy mouth doing medium dressage. If only they could see her in her happy mouth, then in the bit they recommended...
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Just be aware, if it is a straight bar happy mouth they are not dressage legal due to the bumps on them
 
My baby chewed through two happy mouths in two days! Metal for him after that! I tried a fairly skinny French link thinking as his mouth was so tiny it would be kinder, but a year or so later, just for the hell of it bought a fat lozenge snaffle and the improvement in him was instantaneous. Goes to show what you think should be best isn't always.
 
It'd be great if there were local bitting experts who would come out with a selection of bits, give advice on what bits were suitable, have a ridden session in the school and then leave a couple of bits on trial.
 
There is the bit bank hire co. It is very good. You buy the bit and then trial it if no good you can then give back. They are really helpful as well.
 
My spanish has one as he wont have metal in his mouth. He did eat though his nathe bit so know in happy mouth goes lovely no chew marks. I bought one for my cob years ago ripped his mouth to pieces so some it suits some it doesnt.
 
I don't like them anymore. My mare chewed through hers and it was so sharp it cut her lips :(

I think I would maybe use one on a baby but be very very careful and chuck it as soon as it showed signs of being chewed.
 
zoon said:
Just be aware, if it is a straight bar happy mouth they are not dressage legal due to the bumps on them
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Oh god, only just realised this. Never thought to look into it before as didn't think anything of the bumps. Thanks for telling me though, definitely need to try something else now :(
 
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