Nathe bit for horse who cuts mouth?

A

Ahrena

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 June 2007
Messages
1,898
Visit site
My mare keeps cutting the corner of her mouth in her bit.

I've tried tonnes; bit butter, she is now in a hackamore for hacking and jumping, bit guards, anasul to heal it quicker ect ect ect.

She's in a happy mouth loose ring snaffle ATM. She's super sensitive and I put her in that 3 years ago as she used to hide behind the contact. She's now taking the contact and generally goes beautifully BUT no good if her mouth keeps cutting. It was fine until April when it started happening. Also happens in a straight bar, her teeth are fine ect ect.

I thought we were on top of it as it hadn't cracked for 3 weeks then at the weekend she got a cut just warming up. She doesn't lean and is generally very light.

But £80?!?!

I don't want to buy it then find it still cuts her. The bit bank doesn't offer them on trial. Does anyone have any experience?
 
You almost certainly ride way better than I do but surely it is not the pony who cuts the mouth but whoever is on the other end of the reins?

I mean a pony can't physically do that to itself (unless you mean getting a bit of skin pinched which I don't think you do). A rider does that to a pony that either can't or won't do what the rider is asking of the head surely?

Edited to add: not intentionally obviously!
 
I am not sure I understand what's causing the injury, but if it's the lip being pinched between the mouthpiece and the bit ring, could it be worth trying an eggbut cheek on the same mouthpiece?
 
Well yes perhaps my choice of wording wasn't the best but I don't think it's down to my riding.
I absolutely do not jab or saw at her mouth, I ride her off my seat and legs; she's incredibly sensitive.

I ride her on a light contact and my instructors would certainly of said if I were being too handy. Equally I've had her 4 years and it's only been the past few months (in the same bit all along) this has been an issue. My theory is it's a result of her actually taking the contact now opposed to being fractionally overbent and behind the bit. She certainly puts more weight into the contact than she used to (doesn't lean and isn't strong but she's 'there' when before she wasn't)
 
Last edited:
It's right in the corner of the mouth.

I've tried an eggbut (although it was a straight bar) and had the same results 😞 A metal Pelham doesn't seem to cut though so I wondered if the friction of the HM was causing an issue. I'm reluctant to use a metal bit as she's so sensitive I don't want her to start sucking away from the contact again hence I thought about the nathe bits
 
She is probably very dry in her mouth so will be prone to cracking whatever the hands are doing and the hot dry weather will probably make matters worse, with the tb here that had similar issues, although he pulled like a train so didn't help himself, we always put some vaseline or sudacreme on before the bit and found giving him something to chew on, a polo or sugar lump helped get some saliva going so his mouth was wetter which seemed to help, it also gave him something to think about rather than grabbing hold.

As for bits I use a nathe straight bar on my sensitive horse and it is far better than a happy mouth, it is narrower in the middle and far more flexible he was not happy in the HM, preferred a chunky eggbut to anything narrow and the nathe was a worthwhile purchase if rather expensive.
 
She's a dribbler! Always froth round the bit, down her legs and chest. I will certainly try though to see if it helps.

Might be worth trying a nathe I think. Sounds like a good addition to my bit stock even if it doesn't resolve this particular issue.
 
Ahrena said:
She's a dribbler! Always froth round the bit, down her legs and chest. I will certainly try though to see if it helps.

Might be worth trying a nathe I think. Sounds like a good addition to my bit stock even if it doesn't resolve this particular issue.
Click to expand...

That surprises me, does she struggle to swallow when she has a bit in? it may be the opposite that being constantly wet causes chapping rather than being too dry so encouraging her to swallow may help, a micklem may work but that is even more expense if you don't have one, mine was treated to a micklem and the nathe the same week not good for the pocket but helped him immensely.
 
I don't /think/ so but I can't say I've ever thought about it? There isn't insane amounts but enough to suggest she's not dry if that makes sense.

I tried a micklem and she was foul in it 🙄 She regressed straight back to old bad habits and it just seemed to annoy her (again no idea why, she's a bit of a special case!)

She's generally in a grackle noseband, she seems to prefer that over canvession or flash, I only tried it out of fluke but seems her favourite.

Edited to say I do actually have that rubber I just havnt put it on yet (her mouth had been fine for ages so I didn't bother!).

Would anyone know if that's dressage legal incase it did work? Although I suppose if it works then that would suggest a nathe would work as that's rubber too 🤔
 
The nathe is dressage legal. It is very flexible, more so than rubber straight bar or happy mouth. It is great for getting a sensitive horse to take a contact.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top