Rubber bits/Happy Mouths etc

[Toffee44]

What would make you put a rubber bit or happy mouth in your horses mouth?

I realised today, and now feel stupid, that because Toffee has a Happy mouth I automatically got samba a rubber bit.



I rode Samba in a metal snaffle at first but I had no steering so bought her a rubber full cheek snaffle instead.

What would you say justifies the use of a rubber bit? For me I just felt it would be nicer. But cannot justify it with evidence.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

the problem i have with rubber bits is they can be too fat... and i hate happy mouth bits as they get so sharp if chewed...

i think we presume rubber/plastic are kinder than metal. but it all depends on the horse. raff hated them as his big fat tongue couldn't squeeze in alongside the bit fat rubber bit!

 

[Doncella]

the problem i have with rubber bits is they can be too fat... and i hate happy mouth bits as they get so sharp if chewed...

i think we presume rubber/plastic are kinder than metal. but it all depends on the horse. raff hated them as his big fat tongue couldn't squeeze in alongside the bit fat rubber bit!

I agree. Ideally I want a rubber straight-bar about as thin as a colt bit but bendy.
The original rubber (not vulcanite) snaffles used to be like this but they were very friable one 'went' with me half way round a sj course.

 

[Girlychu]

I like to use happy mouths/rubber bits for starting off youngsters. They seem to like the apple tasting ones for some reason On the down side they dont last very long and are expensive.

 

[eva]

my horse chews a lot, so I wouldn't dare put him in anything non-metal but my instructor says that metal bits are actually not that unpleasant to horses, because they are nice and smooth and not as bulky. it's more to do with individual bit configuration and hands methinks.

 

[Toffee44]

Hmmmm I dont think this bit will last long as Samba is still a bit chewy, might just bite the bullet and buy her a metal one if she gnaws this one. If anyone has a 5.5" full cheek snaffle for sale let me know lol.

 

[night_mare]

Nothing - hate rubber bits as too fat and every time I've used a happy mouth the horse ended up with sores on the outside of its mouth even if the bit was bigger than needed.