Happy mouths and Nathes

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BeckieSobol

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Hey! I have a horse who goes beautifully in a happy mouth full cheek french link (lozenge) however after 6 rides he's chomped a crack in it, he's just had his teeth done to so that's not the issue... i guess i want to know if the Nathe would be any better? Is it more durable? I have tried a metal loose ring french link but he just isn't as soft or settled in it and anything thinner he can't stand... Thanks in advance!
 
In my experience Nathes are softer than HM. If you've got a chomper, he might well chomp the nathe too.
I have used them with latex bandage wrapped around them to protect them if I know that the horse will chew the bit, though it does make the mouthpiece quite a bit thicker.

It's old fashioned, but what about a black rubber bit? Vulcanite? Some of them seemed to be pretty tough but don't tend to see them in the shops now.
 
If you can't find a vulcanite full cheek snaffle (tbh I've never come across one) you should be able to find a vulcanite pelham, which at least gives you cheeks of sorts. It doesn't give quite the same feel though, the vulcanite mouthpieces are half-moon shaped not jointed. All the jointed bits I've seen are rubber covered metal and just as succeptible to being chewed up as happy mouths. Also, was the metal snaffle you tried a lozenge one like the happy mouth or a french link one? They'll have a slightly different action. You could try different metals as well, some prefer something other than stainless steel. It's also possible to get a french link snaffle with loose rings and hollow mouthpiece either side of the french link, which sits very lightly in the mouth. I imagine the happy mouth bits are fairly light because of it being plastic, even if it has a metal inner.
 
Have a look at Berris bits, they do soft, medium and hard.

They are good quality, the Nathe and Berris bits will definitely last longer than Happy Mouth's.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
If you can't find a vulcanite full cheek snaffle (tbh I've never come across one) you should be able to find a vulcanite pelham, which at least gives you cheeks of sorts. It doesn't give quite the same feel though, the vulcanite mouthpieces are half-moon shaped not jointed. All the jointed bits I've seen are rubber covered metal and just as succeptible to being chewed up as happy mouths. Also, was the metal snaffle you tried a lozenge one like the happy mouth or a french link one? They'll have a slightly different action. You could try different metals as well, some prefer something other than stainless steel. It's also possible to get a french link snaffle with loose rings and hollow mouthpiece either side of the french link, which sits very lightly in the mouth. I imagine the happy mouth bits are fairly light because of it being plastic, even if it has a metal inner.
Click to expand...

This is the metal one https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=f...oose+ring+sanffle+tjick&imgrc=cw4lZT3tlpX8EM:

This is the happy mouth one: http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=155 he doesn't like the nutcracker action, maybe i'll just have to play around and see
 
IIRC nathes and HM bits are pretty unsubstantial underneath the plastic coating. If they chomp too much they will reveal the wire which isn't the most helpful thing to have in a horse's mouth!
Most vulcanite bits I've seen have a standard looking, albeit thinner, metal version of the same bit underneath. The vulcanite also seems to be really tough and chew resistant.

OP there's a french link version here http://www.sydneyfree.co.uk/full-cheek-french-link-vulcanite-snaffle.ir though it's blooming pricey. The nathe version wouldn't be any cheaper though IME.
 
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