Happy mouth bit rubbing the corners of the mouth?

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crestagold

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Well my horses staraight happy mouth 2 ring gag is rubbing the corners of her mouth. So i was wondering would a fixed bit such as a hanging cheek snaffle - happy mouth be better? Also would a straight bar or jointed with a french link be less severe? I don't need anything too severe but i dont want it to rub
 
I have the same bit and it rubs my mares mouth too. I also have a HM straight bar loose ring snaffle with bit guards that doesn't rub. So I think it's just the fact that the gag is a stronger bit and so it rubs, with a weaker bit it shouldn't rub.
I think a hanging cheek snaffle would be a good one to try.
 
If the bit is rubbing the mouth. Do one of two things. Check to make sure that the bit size you are using is correct, even quarter to half of an inch can make a difference in my experience. If the bit size is correct then why don't you use rubber bit/cheek pieces on the bit? I use them on my horses and they do prevent rubs. Bits shouldn't rub a horse's mouth in my opinion. If the rubbing causes painful sores which consistent rubbing may well lead to then you will either risk riding a horse that is uncomfortable in its mouth. It will either be stoic and not show signs of discomfort until the rubbing gets very severe. Or else you may find said horse being reluctant in their work or even start to resent having the bit put in its mouth.
Rubber cheeks are very cheap to buy and you can fit them to dutch gags it just takes a bit more work lol and is easier if you try to fit it with the help of someone else, with each pulling a piece of baling twine threaded through it so that it will stretch and fit over. Putting the rubber into hot water first also helps to make the rubber a bit more pliable. Apologies if you know this already.
 
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Well my horses staraight happy mouth 2 ring gag is rubbing the corners of her mouth. So i was wondering would a fixed bit such as a hanging cheek snaffle - happy mouth be better? Also would a straight bar or jointed with a french link be less severe? I don't need anything too severe but i dont want it to rub

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Are you sure it's not a burn?

I ask this as my instructor and I were talking about bitting today. I ride my mare in a happy mouth hanging cheek for schooling/hacking and was asking about a happy mouth gag for hunting/farm rides.

She advised me not to as she's known of a few horses that were actually burned by the happy mouth material when using the bits for sustained faster work. Something to do with friction.

Anyone else heard of this?
 
Ditto Patches. Happy mouth bits can cause friction burns. Particularly if your Horse has a dry mouth. Personally I've never liked them. They aren't any softer than metal and can easily get sharp edges if your Horse chews.
 
That's interesting, I haven't heard about the possibility of friction burns with Happy Mouth bits. I used to hunt my hard pulling TB in a straight bar Happy Mouth with cheeks and it never rubbed her. I used to use it with a grackle noseband so it was quite a 'snug' fit. If I used a metal bit she would get bruises on the bars of her mouth.
 
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