happy mouth - sore mouth!?

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hannah87

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my horse goes best in a loose ring straight bar happy mouth, however it always rubs the corners of his mouth. im convinced its the loose rings that are the problem as in a d ring eggbutt snaffle no rubs at all, even tho he can be v srtong in that. in the happy mouth he is v light, happy and sensitive, wet mouth etc but always has sores afterwards. have tried vaseline, bit rings but nothing helps!! it definately fits him correctly. anyone got any tips to prevent it?
 
I despise "happy mouth bits" every one I have ever used has made my horses/different horses at that, mouths sore!! Its the writing on them lol!! Get a stainless steel or another brand of rubber etc.
 
i'd use a full-side-cheeked straight bar happy mouth, if you're positive that he goes best in it. (i've got one to get rid of, used once i think, if you want to PM me to see if it's the right size.)
i'd agree with marsden though, they do cause sore mouths. Eliz Arden 8 hour cream is the best thing i've ever found for sore lips.
 
I've changed from a Happy Mouth to a Nathe and found that my horse is much happier in the mouth with the Nathe, although it's a very similar bit.
 
im just not really sure wat to do - he goes nicer in this happy mouth than any other bit , and i dont really want to start bit hunting again. atm i school him in the happy mouth but hack him and lunge in the eggbutt snaffle, always slathering loads of vaseline on. i find this alteration betwnn the bits keeps the sores to a minimum but i awlays feel v mean wen i see them. i have tried letting his mouth completely heal for a week - but sores reappeared straight away. is it really bad to contiue riding him in the happy mouth?
 
I would bin the Happy Mouth personally. If its making him sore everytime you use it then its not worth it...

There are alternatives out there....
 
We have had a lot of horses get sore mouths from HM,yet be fine in anything else.
I would bin it and look for something else, we find a snaffle with a ring above (hanging cheek) works really nicely on most strongish horses, or a bit with cheeks stops rubbing too.
 
I remember a friend of mine used to ride in a HM and was trained by a top Dressage Trainer in this country. Said trainer made her change the bit and his reason being that apparently the material used in HMs heat up too quickly and in some cases can actually burn the horses mouths and cause sores
confused.gif


She has never looked back since;
 
try using an ordinary mullen mouth and wrap latex round the mouth piece to make it softer. you can buy latex at the saddlers, comes in a wee green box. much better (and cheaper) than happy mouths
 
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