Bit help please!!

noblesteed

noblesteed

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I am handing my horse over to his loaner this week :( I am 20 weeks pregnant and have sciatica so have to stop riding for now.
He goes nicely for me in a loose-ring french link snaffle, can be evasive but goes nicely when worked in and ridden forwards.
However his new rider is 13 and fresh out of riding school, she is a tough rider and handles his quirks BUT still rides a bit too much with her hands. She will be mainly hacking him out.
I have removed his flash and put him in his comfort bridle. I am just a bit concerned about his bit, and whether or not to stick him in a happy mouth of something gentle for the winter. He has super brakes so I am not worried about him tanking off (however if he did tank off I doubt any bit would stop him!!!) I realise I will have to do a lot of reschooling with him in the spring after baby is born, I am fine with that as it will allow me to regain my muscles and fitness too!
BUT would it be wise to try him in a Happy Mouth with his new rider just to prevent his mouth getting too 'hard'? or is his current bit gentle enough?
 
The only problem with loose rings is that they can pinch the corners of the mouth if the rider is too heavy handed (and if they don't fit properly, but that isn't relevant here as he goes well in it for you). My experience of Happy Mouth bits has been bad. My mare was always ridden in one where I bought her from, and she came to me with one. After about 2 weeks I noticed that the mouth piece was rough towards the edges, where my girl had obviously been getting her teeth on it. So I bought a new one, as I thought the bit must be quite old to have worn like this, and she was fine for about 3 months. But she started to throw her head about and stiffen her neck all the time, so I checked her bit and it was ruined, it was rough and spiky, and the corner of a screw was almost sticking through. I felt terrible that I hadnt noticed, and that at first I had put her naughtiness down to her 'testing the water' with me, her new owner. So I bought her a sweet iron french link, and have never looked back, and after nearly 4 years with me she's never had another problem with her mouth.
So I wouldn't advise a Happy Mouth! Though this was just for my mare, other horses go well in them, but I had a terrible time with mine.
As Pitch Black says, how about a rubber bit if you want something softer on his mouth?
 
I will have a look at rubber mouth bits. i don't want anything too 'fat' as he has a low palate and big tongue so not much room... I though about getting him an NS tranz angled but if I'm not riding him I won't be able to 'feel' whether or not it is right.
Just making sure he is ok really. I am probably just looking for things to worry about!!!
 
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