Bad idea??

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OpalFruits

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My 4yo mare has had a bit of trouble lately accepting the bit. It becomes a battle every time I go into the stable- she barges me out the way and refuses to open her mouth. Today, first off I stopped the barging... that thankfully is out of the way however she still wont accept the bit. Having heard of my friend that her mare doesn't like the metal in her mouth, I went to the tack room and found a loose ring happy mouth snaffle with a peanut roller. I know she loves anything that moves like that because last week I had her in a cherry roller. I went back to the snaffle because she never used to have a problem with accepting the bit. Having tried for an hour to get the snaffle in I tried the happy mouth and guess what? Three times I managed to get the bit in and out without too much hassle.

I was just wondering if this is a bad idea to get her used to accepting the happy mouth if I then start using the normal bit again? :confused:

Thanks :)
 
It could be that she doesn't like the feel of the cold metal. Try warming it up either in your hands or some warm (not hot) water.
 
Yeah I was planning on keeping her in for a while :) I just worry that she wont go as well in the happy mouth and then I will be back to square one with the metal bit :(
 
Lots of people ride all the time in a happy mouth, my hubbys horse alwys wears one, unless she has her western tack on. She goes really well in it.
 
My horse would have a happy mouth, except I've moved him onto metal now, as he kept chewing through the happy mouths :rolleyes:
 
My mare never liked any metal bit, she almost sighed when I swapped to Happy mouth...I'm a bit fan, my mare didn't chew hers though, I know its a nightmare if they chew.

Next time she has her teeth done you could ask dentist about shape of her mouth? there are some lovely bits out there now but they are expensive and you will need a good idea of horse mouth, tongue size etc.
 
MillieMoo101 said:
Thanks for the idea's and replies! :D I will keep her in the happy mouth for a while and see how she goes :)
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In all my years of breaking and schooling babies ive never yet broken a horse on one bit then for that to be the bit for life. Their mouths change, their schooling changes. Keep her in the bit she likes for the moment then when she tells you she needs a different one change it. Just dont ever fight her when it comes to bits, she knows best!

Most of my babies go every well in a copper waterford, most riders throw hands up in horror. listen to the horse, soft round gentle long and low is what you need- and if the horse does that, its likes it. It hasnt read the book where the bit is supposed to be harsh! so just play around untill she finds something she likes.
 
Thanks for the advice :) She's the first horse I've backed- granted she's not entirely mine, I am only part loaning but needless to say I need to be able to get the bridle on haha! :p
 
My mare has had a happy mouth snaffle forever as far as i know as she goes mental as soon as you try a metal bit. She has always gone beautifully in it and as she has never had anything hard enough her mouth is still very soft. She is now 21 and has several thousand pounds worth of BSJA winnings so nothing wrong with keeping yours in a happy mouth. For good if needed. However, mine does chew them, but I just replace them every six months or so.mbut they aren't expensive so I don't mind too much!
 
My boy was in a happy mouth but I found he was chewing it too much and it was getting sharp. I worried about changing him into a metal bit as he went well in the happy mouth and his previous owner said he hated metal bits. On recommendations I splashed out on a NS bit (done via one of the bit bank sites in case it didn't suit him) and he loves it :D It warms up a lot quicker than normal bits and stays at a good temperature and he's much happier in that then he was even in his happy mouth :) To begin with I warmed it in my hands when I first put it in, but now he's relaxed about the bit I don't need to anymore as he seems to know it will be comfortable after a few seconds.
 
Ah thats good :) thanks for all the advice everyone! Got the happy mouth in her in 1 attempt today :D Although I don't think it fits properly hahaha!
 
lizstuguinness said:
In all my years of breaking and schooling babies ive never yet broken a horse on one bit then for that to be the bit for life. Their mouths change, their schooling changes.
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When I had my mare (sept 11) she was in a full cheek single jointed snaffle.. She hated it! I then contacted her previous owner and found out she was broken in at 7 with this bit , no wonder she hates it... Nearly 4years on she was still ridden in it! I changed it to a hanging cheek peanut roller happy mouth and now she's happy as larry! :)
 
ghostie said:
My boy was in a happy mouth but I found he was chewing it too much and it was getting sharp. I worried about changing him into a metal bit as he went well in the happy mouth and his previous owner said he hated metal bits. On recommendations I splashed out on a NS bit (done via one of the bit bank sites in case it didn't suit him) and he loves it :D It warms up a lot quicker than normal bits and stays at a good temperature and he's much happier in that then he was even in his happy mouth :) To begin with I warmed it in my hands when I first put it in, but now he's relaxed about the bit I don't need to anymore as he seems to know it will be comfortable after a few seconds.
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I also like NS if Happy Mouth gets chewed. The solax metal is supposed to feel warm to thier mouths and helps them salivate. THey are expensive but I used the bit bank until I found one that suited so didn't splash out until I was sure it was working for us - you generally get a month to decide.
 
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