Experience of Nathe bits?

[sjdress]

I have heard that Nathe bits are good for fussy mouths and horses not keen to take the contact. Does anyone have experience of them? What is the best style for a horse reluctant to take the contact? And are they BD legal?
Thanks all.

 

[fairyclare]

I started my baby in it as I like them for baby mouths ,I think she had been bitted before with something else though.
I have competed under BD rules in it, never been picked up for it - I think because it is smooth, unlike the happy mouth bits.

I did try a Myler and a few of the NS snaffle range, but always come back to the bathe, she just likes it best.

 

[be positive]

I use a full cheek mullen mouth and Miclem bridle on my sensitive ISH who has always been tricky with a contact, he is much happier since changing to it, takes a much more secure contact yet it gives me enough control when he has one of his less sensible moments.

 

[NaeNae87]

I am not super keen on Nathe bits. Ever since a friends 6 week old Nathe bit broke on her in the middle of a cross country course. It had been used only 4 times and split in two.

Lucky neither her nor her horse were hurt. Some quick thinking and some trees came in handy to stop him.

 

[Wheels]

As ever it depends on the horse, I've ridden a few with nathe bits that liked them and a few that didn't. Latest baby horse said they are too thick!!

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

Goof is in a nathe atm

he has a very soft mouth and needs to take the hand forward a bit more, this does the trick lovely (loose ring mullen)

 

[PorkChop]

I love Nathe bits and always start the babies in them - have used the simple ones for dressage.

 

[old hand]

My niece had a jointed nathe bit break whilst showjumping indoors , she had a nasty fall because of it but was ok. I had used my straight bar once but decided to take mine to pieces to see how it was made. Good job I did, it was not connected internally at the point the one in the photograph broke. I had already decided never to use one again that picture had confirmed that it was the correct decision. It is a real shame as my horse went very kindly in it.

 

[GOW]

Luckily I have not had the experience of them breaking (frantically touching wood) as my mare won't go in anything else (except beris which are very similar)! I do change them though if she starts biting them...which is not so easy on my pocket....

 

[Bigbenji]

Can anyone suggest a good site to buy a Nathe from?

I got given a 5.5 loose ring with a middle link to try and my horse loved it but i think it is a tiny bit small so trying to find a 5.75/6 inch and no luck so far.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[ihatework]

What a shame, I have a 6" that's too big and would happily do a swap. Alas mines a Mullen loose ring. Sod's law!

 

[Bigbenji]

What a shame, I have a 6" that's too big and would happily do a swap. Alas mines a Mullen loose ring. Sod's law!

Typical! It's a shame as I put it on and he was just like ahh I love this! It's .25 smaller than his last bit and although it doesn't look too bad I don't want it to pinch him with the loose rings 😬

 

[Fiona]

My TB mare went beautifully in a nathe loose ring for a while, though I eventually swapped to a happy mouth with losenge as she started to lean a little in the nathe.

I'm definitely positive toward them if it works

Fiona

 

[photo_jo]

I am not super keen on Nathe bits. Ever since a friends 6 week old Nathe bit broke on her in the middle of a cross country course. It had been used only 4 times and split in two.

Lucky neither her nor her horse were hurt. Some quick thinking and some trees came in handy to stop him.

Snap-happened to me too- disaster only averted by chance! Being made of plastic they can also cause friction burns in the corner of the mouth if the horse has sensitive skin. J

 

[Liloandstitch]

I used a nathe on my mate when I first got her because she was so sensitive in the mouth and she loved it! She worked amazingly in it! However, after about 3 months of having no issues with it, I went to tack her up and noticed she had chewed the whole side of it and I was quite confused because the nathe is suppost to encourage chewing and produce saliva, so shouldn't they be safe from being chewed through?! I always knew she chewed it but only ever little scratches on it and all of a sudden the next time I looked at it, I could see the wire in the middle! So I went and bought a new one thinking if I keep checking up on it she shouldn't be able to chew through it as quickly, but she managed to chew a whole within 2 weeks! The shop I bought it from suggests wrapping bit bandage around it so I tried that but she absolutely HATED it! It was so thick and she just wasn't happy so I then tried what I was told was the next best thing, the trust. I was told it is slightly weaker but she won't be able to bite through it. When I tried this I had completely NO control!!! She was a pain to ride in it she just kept taking off in her own direction so I never tried it again so I can't say wether it will last as long. I know have her in a classic loose ring snaffle with French link and it took her a while to get used to it because she didn't really like the metal but she works perfectly in it now! And good thing is she can't chew through it

 

[Pc2003]

I use the most basic nathe on my horse. Straight bar loose ring snaffle. Have to say I am shocked by those stories/pics of them breaking!!
However I only changed to the nathe when my horse down graded to a hack as he is not strong in the slightest and I wanted to make things as straight forward and as nice as possible for him. He hacks out nicely on the bit. Interestingly he is a very chew obsessed horse and he rarely chews on the nathe. If I was doing loads of hard/fast work with him like I used to I'm not sure I would use one but for what we do now it's the most softest simple but I can find.

 

[lucemoose]

I use nathes, beris bits, happy mouths and also wrap my bits in latex! HM or shires own brand flexible bits are OK price wise to replace every so ofte .