Marks on either side of the mouth

[welshcobabe]

I have just bought a really nice cob he is everthing I want and has not got problems but I have noticed some dark marks on either side of his mouth. They are not sore or raised just hairless it almost looks like he has been rubbed by a bit guard. The previous owners did ride him in rubber bit guards. They don't seem to bother him at all and are on both sides any one come across this before ?

 

[lucy_108]

It can be where a bit is sitting too high and therefore the skin is wrinkling around the mouth and causing friction which usually leads to the hair loss. Make sure you're bit isn't too high and no skin is folding back against itself, hair in that area takes a lifetime to grow back too so don't worry if it doesn't reappear quickly!