Rubber bit guards

[Gorgeous George]

Sorry me again! I hack and jump George in a happy mouth straight bar dutch gag and despite being the correct size this bit seems to slightly rub his lips (no other bit does this). So I use bit guards (but wish I didn't have to as I think they are ugly

) - but I'm never sure how best to fit his drop noseband, over the top and the noseband doesn't fit right, underneath them means the bit guards are only partly doing their job and look naff! Anyone else have this problem............or is it just me?

Thanks

 

[Kallibear]

I suspect it's the happy mouth material. Unlike metal it has 'drag' and causes fiction. I rarely use them but did and they often caused rubbing.

Try the same bit in a metal, possibly an alloy if he doesn't like the traditional stainless steel.

 

[Gorgeous George]

If someone can find me a straight bar dutch gag in metal I would be happy to try it but I've not been able to find one anywhere

, hence why I ended up with the happy mouth which wouldn't be my first choice of bit material but other than that the action seems to suit George.

 

[Kallibear]

Have to say I can't remember ever seeing a metal straightbar or mullen mouth. They must exist though!

Could you try a pelham instead? They definitiy come in straight or mullen (or low port too) versions and have a similar stopping power. They are often well liked too, esp the low port.

 

[Santa_Claus]

noseband should be in contact with the skin at all times all the way round. The bit rings work by stopping the skin getting caught in the sliding action of the loosering section of the bit, this is why you don't have bit rings on eggbutt bits as there is no sliding action where the skin can catch.

Technically you 'shouldn't' really be using a dutch gag with a drop though as they were designed to be used with snaffles, but on the same vein you shouldn't use a flash with a double bridle or pelham but this doesn't stop anyone!!

The rotating action of the dutch gag will put a different force on the corners of the mouth and if the drop is tight or too close to the corner of the mouth, the bit cannot move freely as the lips around the corner cannot move and so the friction on the corner of the mouth is increased and unless your horse is a natural slobberer the bit will rub instead of slide.

I would suggest if it is still rubbing to either loosen the drop to allow the jaw more movement which rather contradicts the reason of a drop. Alternatively change to a loose fitting flash so the lips are able to move so helping to prevent the friction caused by the bit.

To illustrate press your thumb and finger next to your thumb together hard the entire length now try to push through a finger from your other hand through at effectively the corner. You can but you get quite a lot of friction. Now relax your fingers but still together and push a finger from the other hand through it should go through smoothly without friction.

 

[Shipley]

I would try a grackle or flash with the gag as drop nosebands and gags have different actions which could be causing the friction / rubbing.

 

[Kat]

It could be the material of the happy mouth that is rubbing and not actually the edges of the bit. I have seen a few horses get sore mouths with happy mouth bits as the plastic they are made from gets rough with use.

If he doesn't like a fench link dutch gag and you can't find a mullen mouth why not try a different bit. Most horses I have come across that wear a dutch gag go better in something else when tried.

A pelham would be worth a go, lots of horses respond really well to them. Or if you don't need the full power of the dutch gag what about a wilkie snaffle or a hanging cheek?? Or you could try one of the myler bits that has the loops for the cheekpieces and reins to give a bit of leverage.