Bit rubs - help please!

[tatty_v]

My horse has been ridden in a sweet iron loose ring snaffle with a lozenge since I got him 5 years ago with no issues.

I noticed recently that the bit has started to rub on the right hand corner of his mouth (outside, not inside). It’s a small rub, skin has just broken but it’s not profusely cracked or bleeding.

Initially I treated with flamazine, and gave him time off until the skin had healed. I’ve also replaced his bit with one with the same mouthpiece but with an eggbut sleeve in the hope that this would reduce any pressure points.

All was going well until this morning when I noticed the bloody rub is back ? I think it’s partly caused by the skin there just being new and tender and therefore more prone to friction.

Any tips on what to do next? I’m worried we’re going to get into a cycle of rub / time off / rub etc if the skin doesn’t harden up. I’ve been researching all morning (!) and have come up with:

- bit guards?
- mouth/bit butter?
- vaseline
- anusol?! (Have some of this from post pregnancy...!!)

Any other ideas? He’s sound and has no problems bending to the right (although it’s always been his more difficult rein). OH (equine vet) is happy with how he’s going and he has routine chiro coming out soon so that side of things is taken care of.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Skylla's bit rub was caused by her flash strap (not tight) so I removed it and the rubs have stopped. I also got her some acavallo gel bit guards and bit butter.

 

[Upthecreek]

Pay close attention to your hands being completely level next time you ride. When my horse started getting a mouth rub it was due to me holding my right hand very slightly higher to my left. Caused by my saddle ever so slightly slipping to the right. Saddler watched me ride and moved a girth strap over and re-flocked and once I was straight in the saddle the problem disappeared.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Same as HufflyPuffly, I increased the size of the bit and added bit guards for a while and used bit butter.

I still use bit butter almost as a lip balm for him and never had any further problems.

 

[tatty_v]

Thank you - bit guards and bit butter ordered. He does wear a loose flash strap (legacy from when I first got him and he was a mouth gaper) so I could definitely take that off and see if it improves things. I think I am also guilty of dropping my right hand when on the right rein so it’s possible that’s exacerbating the issue ? just so odd how we’ve been trundling along for years and all of a sudden have a problem!

 

[Otherwise]

Once they've been rubbed they seem to be a lot more prone to it so you'll probably always have to keep an eye on it. Could you try bitless to give it a longer break and a chance to become old skin? Anusol is good at helping the skin heal, I'd try a bit before and after each ride.

 

[tatty_v]

Once they've been rubbed they seem to be a lot more prone to it so you'll probably always have to keep an eye on it. Could you try bitless to give it a longer break and a chance to become old skin? Anusol is good at helping the skin heal, I'd try a bit before and after each ride.

I’ve never ridden bitless and at 20 neither has he, although I am intrigued as to how he would take to it.

I’ll dig out the tube of anusol as well ( a reminder of dark, post pregnancy times lurking in our bathroom somewhere ?)

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Erm I did attempt bitless (just off the noseband) to let things settle, I erm wont be trying it again!

Got cocky so tried cantering ? being good:

Going:

Gone ?

So my advice would be if trying bitless get a proper noseband to do it from that your horse doesn't just shove their head down and piss off with! My flash wasn't tight and used to be fine, but I've had no more rubs since I took it off...

 

[tatty_v]

Erm I did attempt bitless (just off the noseband) to let things settle, I erm wont be trying it again!

Got cocky so tried cantering ? being good:

Going:

Gone ?

So my advice would be if trying bitless get a proper noseband to do it from that your horse doesn't just shove their head down and piss off with! My flash wasn't tight and used to be fine, but I've had no more rubs since I took it off...

That’s exactly what I fear could happen to me ? I’m really intrigued to see if taking off the flash helps, I’ve been meaning to do it for ages as it isn’t doing anything anyway!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

That’s exactly what I fear could happen to me ? I’m really intrigued to see if taking off the flash helps, I’ve been meaning to do it for ages as it isn’t doing anything anyway!

She was so good in walk and trot lol, one circle of canter and off she went ?.

 

[tatty_v]

She was so good in walk and trot lol, one circle of canter and off she went ?.

That could very well happen to me ? I’m hoping a bit of rest, anusol, bit guards, bit butter, removal of flash and constant vigilance over my wandering right hand might do the trick ???

 

[Otherwise]

Erm I did attempt bitless (just off the noseband) to let things settle, I erm wont be trying it again!

Got cocky so tried cantering ? being good:

Going:

Gone ?

So my advice would be if trying bitless get a proper noseband to do it from that your horse doesn't just shove their head down and piss off with! My flash wasn't tight and used to be fine, but I've had no more rubs since I took it off...

Haha well the horse looks like it had fun! Definitely try it in an enclosed space first and it's not necessarily for every horse. I was lucky and mine was still very responsive to a micklem on the headcollar setting as I call it but it's definitely one of those know your horse things. I didn't take him out hacking like that as whilst he was a lamb in the school I didn't think I'd be able to get his head up if he took off outside. If you do find something they tolerate it's worth it though as you can give the mouth all the time it needs to heal.