Happy mouth bits, or gentlest bit out there

Horsekaren

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I have had a lot of success with my bomber bit, it is my fav so far but i want to compare it to something very very gentle to see if it is better or worse.

I dont want to spend a fortune and i want to try rubber.

I am liking the look of the happy mouth range (probably because of the apple smell and the name fooling me)

Is a Mullen mouth gentler than a single jointed snaffle?

Also when comparing Eggbuts, Loserings, D rings ect what would be most forgiving on a horses mouth, my hands are getting there but still not as still as i would want so would a piece with movement be better?

Bit is for a 15.2 traditional cob, 5 inch mouth, doesn't lean but does lock his neck
 

Leo Walker

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You might find he hates a rubber bit. They tend to be thick and most cobs don't have a lot of room for a bit.

The action of a mullen mouth is different to a jointed snaffle, but I'm not sure you can say its more or less gentle. I wouldn't want a mullen mouth anything for a riding horse. They can muffle the aids and are perfect if the horse wants to lean on it.

I'm not a fan of happy mouths at all. I've seen them rub the lips on a couple of horses. I would say I'd never use one but my little mare is away being broken and she has decided that that is the bit she prefers, so looks like I will be using one after all! In her case shes being broken to drive and jointed bits arent generally recommended for that, so I think in her case she prefers the slight flexibility of it as opposed to metal.

I'm not sure I'd be looking to change a bit that the horse is currently happy with when theres no issues
 
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Horsekaren

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You might find he hates a rubber bit. They tend to be thick and most cobs don't have a lot of room for a bit.

The action of a mullen mouth is different to a jointed snaffle, but I'm not sure you can say its more or less gentle. I wouldn't want a mullen mouth anything for a riding horse. They can muffle the aids and are perfect if the horse wants to lean on it.

I'm not a fan of happy mouths at all. I've seen them rub the lips on a couple of horses. I would say I'd never use one but my little mare is away being broken and she has decided that that is the bit she prefers, so looks like I will be using one after all! In her case shes being broken to drive and jointed bits are generally recommended for that, s
hmmm i'm wondering if there is anything gentler than what i am actually using in that case :/
 

Cortez

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Bits are only as gentle as the hands using them. Straight, or mullen, mouth bits are very dull rather than gentle in their action, and whilst they can be useful, they are rarely used for anything that requires proper communication. I have used straight bar rubber bits, but only for horses that were seriously afraid of the bit and backed off - they will encourage most horses to lean.
 
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Merlod

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I used a happy mouth for my young welsh cobs first bit (lozenge link) it marked easily and became rough quickly. Rubber and plastic can cause more friction, especially if the horse doesn't have a particularly wet mouth. Traditional rubber bits are often quite chunky too so depends how much room there is in the mouth.

It's often a case of trial and error as to what the horse prefers. Mine, for example seems happiest in a lozenge link, he didn't like the mullen and i've not tried him in a single joint. I ride in the verbindend loose ring for schooling and he goes sweetly, he tends to lean a little more in a fixed cheek.

If you have had success in the bomber than maybe myler type bit would work for you as they have a little more independant side movement but won't collapse like a jointed bit.
 

paddi22

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the rubber ones often don't suit a lot of horses. Your best bet would be to ask somewhere like the bit bank for advice and bits to trial.

Im another one who hates the happy mouth bits - they market them well but in practice i have always found them horrible bits to use.
 

be positive

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hmmm i'm wondering if there is anything gentler than what i am actually using in that case :/

It is not really about the bit and whether or not it is gentle but far more about whether the horse is comfortable and the riders hands are sympathetic, I am not a fan of mullen mouth or happy mouth bits but some horses are very comfortable in them and they are fine.
If he is going reasonably well in what you are using stick with it and work on your hands, seat and softening him so he doesn't lock his neck, that usually comes from further back than the mouth anyway, get the hind quarters more engaged and the front end loosens up.
 

ihatework

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The most gentle bit is the one that fits their mouth and is connected to great hands and good riding.

Bitting, unless you have a major issue, is usually a case of fine tuning and I’m not quite sure you have reached that stage yet.

If it appeases you I would suggest a bitting consultant, get them in to evaluate you and the horse together. Use whatever they suggest and then invest any further funds on training
 

9tails

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I think you're looking at this the wrong way. If your hands aren't steady or you're hanging onto the reins for balance, all bits are going to be rather unpleasant. Work on your balance, take up yoga or pilates to get a good set of core muscles and work on your seat for more effective riding. If you're really worried about his mouth, try a sidepull.
 

Hallo2012

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whilst taking all the above in to account if you are set on trying plastic you need a nathe or a trust.

HM bits seem to wear badly and rub. the designs are also not very ergonomic.

i have one pony is a straight bar nathe that is narrower in the centre, he is not strong but rather afraid of his mouth and tends to fix in a high, tight way. in the nathe he 100 x happier stretching down and is starting to work at medium. back in a metal bit and he quickly reverts to tensing and rushing in a hollow frame.
he HATED the HM i tried!

the other will only go in a trust ported snaffle. i agree its a bit of a blunt instrument but despite trying many jointed bits incl lock up type snaffles, he simply will only accept that bit. (he has had a full dental check up incl x rays btw).

of the 3 i find the trust the most hard wearing.
 

HeyMich

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If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Stay with the bomber if he likes it. No point changing for the sake of it, in my mind anyway! A gentle bit yanked around can cause a lot more pain/discomfort than a stronger bit used sympathetically.

As others have said above, work on your position and contact, and only if there is a problem after that then maybe look at another bit.
 

F&B

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I found the happy mouth to big & chunky for my arab x, it rubbed him causing the skin to split - he is much happier in his NS lozenge, its quite slim, but as others have said, a bit is only as severe as the hands. I have a friend who rides her Welsh cob in a pelham, due to her having weakness due to an old wrist injury - she rides with next to no contact most of the time, but knows she can stop if she needs to.
 

Annagain

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While there is science behind bitting, horses don't seem to know this! My horse is only happy in 2 bits - believe me I tried them all when I first had him! 99% of the time he's in a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle. So many people told me he'd lean on it, but he doesn't even though he leaned terribly on other bits that are, apparently, designed to avoid leaning! He also has a Waterford three ring gag for fun rides and beach rides when he has the potential to lose his head a bit. I hate having to use it but his issue isn't one which schooling will solve as he never does it unless he's in an open space in a big group and I need to to keep him, me and other people in the area safe. He wears it 8 or 9 times a year max and I don't even have to use it, I just sit up and say woah and he stops in it.

You couldn't get two bits further away from each other on the spectrum but they are the only two he's ever been comfortable in. He has run through bits that are much less mild than the mullen mouth and and has complained very strongly about bits that are nowhere near as harsh as the waterford (he nearly went over backwards in a Neue Schule universal) yet I have brakes in the snaffle and he seems very calm and happy in the Waterford. There's no rhyme or reason to it that I can see! If he's happy in what you have, don't change for the sake of it.
 

Pinkvboots

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I tried a straight bar happy mouth on my Arab and it made the corners of his mouth bleed after a short hack, it's not uncommon apparently some horses don't get on with what they are made of.
 

ozpoz

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Another one with a sensitive horse in a straight bar, loose ring nathe - soft and flexible. I really like this design which is flat and shallow and narrow in the middle and my horse does too. But, if your horse is happy in the bomber, I'd stick with it.
 

claret09

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my boy has a loose ring rotary snaffle, he is 17.2 we do dressage, show jumping and some showing in it. he loves it. might be worth a try
 

ohmissbrittany

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The gentlest thing I've ever used was a mullen mouth, loose ring Nathe. But it really depends on what the horse tolerates, too- my current one does not care for any kind of rotation, loose ring so I ride her in a french link baucher or a D-ring because the fixed rings are "quieter" in her mouth. You might find the Happy Mouths are too thick, or that a loose ring is too much "noise" or that you need a small port mullen because he has a fat tongue. I'd try a few from a bit bank before committing, and then you can confidently spend money on a good one (I know Nathe's aren't cheap) because you'll know it works.
 

WHWMo

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https://www.horsebitbank.com/trust-soft-flexi-eggbutt-990.phtml

I use this. It’s so flexible and soft that I can easily fold it in half in my hands. It is also BD legal. I’ve had no issues with chewing, marking, rubbing etc it looks as good as the day I bought it!

She was in a happy mouth and when the her teeth were being done the first time I had her I was told she had a really odd mouth shape- very small and oddly put together
with regards to spacing etc. She had apparently been very bit resistant when being backed and had hated metal. I was told to use this as it is so soft and flexible, with that little bit of extra tongue space. She loves it and no longer tries to clamp down and pull down her head at the end of longer periods of work.
 
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