Happy Mouth Full Cheek - Not Happy!!!

trefnantblackknight

trefnantblackknight

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So 2nd ride on baby today in his Full Cheek Happy Mouth with French Link, it had fulmer loops and bit guards and guess what half way around I notice its rubbed the outside of his mouth and the inside had disintegrated from him chewing on it, needless to say I took it off straight away and led him home luckily I had a halter and lead rope on him already!

Not impressed with the quality at all have sent them an email and pics complaining.

I've put some derma gel on his small sores - there only tiny, I think I noticed them just in time.

So now I'll have to wait for them to heal, the bit has gone in the bin but I have nothing to replace it with....

I do have a Full cheek snaffle just normal metal with a single joint but I wasn't sure whether to use it because of the nutcracker and I wanted to use a French link to give clear signals.

I also have a sprenger French link snaffle which I was going to use after he graduated from the full cheek. But as its only a snaffle I can't really use it for a while.

I can't afford anything until the 18th of next month - all my money is accounted for and I've already bought horse feed etc.

What would you suggest? I would love to buy him a sprenger french link full cheek but I just don't have the funds to spare.

Do you think he will be okay with the single joint or shall I just wait until I can afford a normal metal French link??
 
Ha, yes the happy mouth that isn't so happy! I used one on my youngster to start with. It didn't make his mouth sore but he did chew it enough that it went sharp inside so I ditched it and just bought him a French link fulmer instead and he's been great in that.

Maybe just buy a normal French link fulmer? I got some keepers with mine as well as was advised to.

You could use a snaffle -p no reason why no. I think the fulmer helps with steering a little but I am pretty sure many, many people start horses in plain snaffles.
 
my horse was exactly the same - small sores on the side of the mouth -
now he is in a full cheek French link (lozenge) copper snaffle and going great
I would recommend one of those :)
 
If the horse chews the bit, happy mouths are a bit useless :) Reg has had the same one for 3 years now, no sign of wear on it. Bee had one for about a minute before she was swapped to a plain metal bit!

It's not really a design fault, just that the bit is inappropriate for your horse at this stage IMO.
 
ladyt25 said:
Ha, yes the happy mouth that isn't so happy! I used one on my youngster to start with. It didn't make his mouth sore but he did chew it enough that it went sharp inside so I ditched it and just bought him a French link fulmer instead and he's been great in that.

Maybe just buy a normal French link fulmer? I got some keepers with mine as well as was advised to.

You could use a snaffle -p no reason why no. I think the fulmer helps with steering a little but I am pretty sure many, many people start horses in plain snaffles.
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Yes I was pretty shocked when I saw it had rubbed his cheeks purely from the material poor baby but he wasn't bothered which was very good :)

His steering is very iffy.... so I think I need to use a full cheek :) I've just seen this on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dorado-Fu...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item1e6e3a85cb

So may have to beg & borrow to get this for him ;)
 
trefnantblackknight said:
Yes I was pretty shocked when I saw it had rubbed his cheeks purely from the material poor baby but he wasn't bothered which was very good :)

His steering is very iffy.... so I think I need to use a full cheek :) I've just seen this on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dorado-Fu...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item1e6e3a85cb

So may have to beg & borrow to get this for him ;)
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I think with a lot of babies they are quite mouthy so really a happy mouth isn't ideal. If you didn't want metal then you'd probably be better with vulcanite.

However, when they are used to a bit then I am sure a happy mouth is suitable for some horse who aren't inclined to chew. Mine seems to have stopped fussing with his mouth now but I have no reason to change him from the metal bit. I do have a happy mouth with lozenge waiting in the wings should I fancy trying a change!
 
Lolo said:
If the horse chews the bit, happy mouths are a bit useless :) Reg has had the same one for 3 years now, no sign of wear on it. Bee had one for about a minute before she was swapped to a plain metal bit!

It's not really a design fault, just that the bit is inappropriate for your horse at this stage IMO.
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My Welsh D has a mullen happy mouth - its about a year old and is still going strong :)

Its just Bambi the destroyer of bits .. I was just so upset that I put something in his baby mouth and it hurt him :( I'm a mean mommy ;)
 
It is nice you are being so careful. Personally, I believe if you have good hands and you know how to train a youngster then the type of bit you use matters little. If a rider has rubbish hands and no idea how to train, then you are doomed.

I am sure you are the former and not the latter!
 
GGRider said:
It is nice you are being so careful. Personally, I believe if you have good hands and you know how to train a youngster then the type of bit you use matters little. If a rider has rubbish hands and no idea how to train, then you are doomed.

I am sure you are the former and not the latter!
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Thank you :) I have just ordered him one of these ; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130698347...eName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

after a lengthy moaning phone call to my dad he coughed up ;) so I should have it by the time his little sores are healed poor boy :( :)
 
The absolute best thing for healing the sores is alum solution. Get the crystals (very cheap from chemist), dissolve in warm water and apply with cotton wool. You can even soak some gauze and wrap it round the ends of the bit and leave the Horse wearing it for a few minutes. Heals them within a day or two, fantastic stuff (very old fashioned remedy but it works!).
 
Lolo said:
If the horse chews the bit, happy mouths are a bit useless :) Reg has had the same one for 3 years now, no sign of wear on it. Bee had one for about a minute before she was swapped to a plain metal bit!

It's not really a design fault, just that the bit is inappropriate for your horse at this stage IMO.
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You know what's weird? I shall tell you... ;) I was convinced LC was chewing his judging from the noises in his mouth. Took bit out... not a mark on it. Have NO idea what he's doing but it sounds exactly like the demise of a plasticky bit (he's not griding his teeth; I know what that sounds like and it's not it ;) )
 
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