Happy Mouth bits- Opinions needed

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bushbaby28

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I have a tb with a very sensitive mouth who likes to chew the bit, epsically if stressed/tense i.e. having a tb day! When I got him he was in a happy mouth bit but chewed it and it got sharp edges so bought a new one but once again, lasted a couple of months.

I've had him in normal french link snaffle for last few months and he just seems to fight it more and gets upset when he can't really chew it... just mouths a lot.

Am working on trying to get him to relax but wondering if he just doesn't like the metal in his mouth?? should I try getting another happy mouth? Still has fantastic breaks but seems to just grab and resist it that bit more.

Other side of point is i've heard happy mouths are actually more abrasive and because they can chew them and get sharp edges, can cause more problems, espically with a horse with a sensitive mouth.

Confused!!!
 
That is absolutely right DB - it is a known issue with nathe type bits. One of my lads chewed them too

Actually becuase of their width they are soemtimes not the best fo bits and he could be chewing it becuase it is too fat in the mouth

Think about the Myler comfort snaffle - yes it is a thin bit with a little port (counter-intuitively a thin bit is better for some horses - despite the generally accepted wisdom that a thicker bit is more "gentle" )- but may be more comfortable if he has not much space in the mouth.

His tongue and palate may just not have enough space for that kind of bit.

What is bad to se is someone put a thick bit in a shallow mouth - then hold it closed with a flash!
 
I don't like happy mouth bits - if you want to use that type you are better with a proper nathe bit as they are softer and more flexible and don't get rough bits on them if horse chews them. Alternatively I have found a myler comfort snaffle brilliant for my soft mouthed TB as he has a narrow mouth with not a lot of room.
 
Ok thanks for you help, i won't convert back to the happy mouth
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My other horse has a myler comfort snaffle, specifically because he has large tongue and small mouth so might give that a go to see if it fits in his mouth a bit better. the bit i currently have is a Korsteel one which is shaped in the same way as the mylers and slightly thinner so hoped he'd find it ok.
 
Exactly my experience DB.

A lot of the TBxID types are short of mouth space. If you have been using a conventional type snaffle just check round his top pallete for any tender or inflamed areas. Likewise down the side if his tongue for small petechae

Good luck!
 
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