My horse always chew anything that she gets in her mouth. I'm going to start riding her soon and I want a bit that makes her salivate well enough to keep a tender mouth, but not something that she will hurt her mouth or teeth while chewing on. I thought of rubber or happy mouth, but I heard that those dry out the horse's mouth. And I can't find a copper happy mouth. =P Now I just don't know what to do. I also had my heart set on fulll cheek, but if anyone can help me find anything; it doesn't matter as long as it's good for her mouth.
Well, Happy Mouth strictly uses polymers for their mouthpieces, so you wouldn't find one made of copper. I use almost nothing but rubber and happy mouth bits, and I've never had a problem with them drying out the horse's mouth. My horses all salivate, and most of them relax into the rubber bits sooner than they would metal. I've shown my 4'6 jumpers with rubber snaffles and pelhams. I swear by these bits. If you're just starting your horse under saddle, or if you plan on riding her in the hunter ring, I recommend the full cheek. It's dead useful for teaching a horse to steer, and it's one of the two most commonly accepted bits in hunters (the other being a D-ring). Rubber and happy mouth bits do a great world of good in preserving/creating a soft mouth. If your horse really likes to play with the bit, some of the happy mouths now come with polymer-coated rollers in the center of the bit. I wouldn't start her with a roller, but she may enjoy playing with it as she progresses in her training and learns to accept the bit.
I started my 4 yr old in a plain rubber dee, he has a very soft mouth because of it. I also do jumpers on my TB in a loose ring, which he goes fine in. It basicly whatever suites your horse.
But it makes the horse really play with the bit and respond, quite aot of them chew it and it doesn't hurt them. I don't like the rubber ones because the horses we have chew them so much they bite bits of rubber off. But thats just the bit most of our horses prefer. They have a coper full cheek too! www.surreyequestrian .uk/produc...
I use a copper mouth full cheek that I love. My gelding has just been started and he started in an eggbutt snaffle. I like the full cheek better as it really helps him understand the cues for turning. I got my bit at a tack shop at the Arabian Horse Nationals in Tulsa this year and it was $27. When horses chew on their bits, they generally don't use their teeth unless the bridles is adjusted too loosely. Usually they just play their tongue around the bit and chomp a little. In this regard, rubber vs copper doesn't make a difference. I think that some people like rubber because it is softer for jumping if you happen to check the horse hard when coming off of a jump.
