Where to find nathe type bit for a reasonable price?

[VCT]

Recently had it suggested to me to try a thick and/or rubber bit with one of my horses.

He doesn't like single jointed bits at all, so I'd need to find something like a nathe or some version of a french link. Probably like a nathe would be better because all I've found in a french link type is the metal ones with the thin rubber coating and thats not what was suggested, they wanted me to try something flexible.

I would much prefer an eggbutt or D ring. Loose rings pinch his fat lips.

I saw the D ring Herm Sprenger Duo which probably fits the bill, but at $130 it's an expensive experiment. Anyone know of something similar that is less expensive? Or if anyone has one they'd be willing to loan for the purpose of trying it out? I don't mind buying my own if that's what turns out to work for him.

Or a fatter metal french link type bit?

I have been looking but I have not found the right thing to try yet (unless it's seriously expensive) and thought I'd check on here in case anyone knew of what I'm looking for.

Thanks!

[Posting Trot]

I was just looking, and the cheapest I found the Nathe loose-ring was $60 at Bit of Britain. The HS Duo seemed to be about $10 more.

Anything aside from a loose-ring was seriously expensive.

Good luck, and post if you find some good deals!

[jn4jenny]

Hmm, that's a toughie.

Have you thought about a happy mouth mullen? They are not quite as flexible or soft as the Nathe, but they're a cheaper experiment. I have a 5" Happy Mouth Mullen King Dee sitting at the bottom of my tack trunk if you care to bother it (I thought my horse was going in that direction, but he went in the opposite direction--to a waterford!)

Forgive me if you've thought of this, but why not try a Nathe loose ring with bit keepers to avoid the pinching?

[Peggy]

Hmm, that's a toughie.

Have you thought about a happy mouth mullen? They are not quite as flexible or soft as the Nathe, but they're a cheaper experiment. I have a 5" Happy Mouth Mullen King Dee sitting at the bottom of my tack trunk if you care to bother it (I thought my horse was going in that direction, but he went in the opposite direction--to a waterford!)

Forgive me if you've thought of this, but why not try a Nathe loose ring with bit keepers to avoid the pinching?
Is yours the bumpy one (http://www.englishhabit.com/happy-mouth-pro-king-d-mullen-mouth-bit.aspx)? B/c my horse, who loves his Sprenger duo and his flexible mullen rubber pelham, hated the bumpy pelham and ate thru it in a matter of months.

Maybe the OP could find a flexible rubber mullen D? The mouthpiece that's in my pelham is also available in a D, but probably isn't cheap (given that the pelham wasn't--yup, just checked and it's $121 (http://www.equusport.com/item.php?item_id=640&category_id=48), but they guy on the link (warning -extremely dangerous website) will exchange bits if they don't work, which is one reason I paid the price for the pelham).

A waterford (http://www.stcroixsaddlery.com/D_Ring_Bits_p/mb_wb_13051.htm) might work. That's what I show my guy in and it really isn't a severe bit. Just looks bizarre. I think you're supposed to get them slightly bigger than you would in a regular bit?

And I've seen a french-link type happy mouth where the middle piece is also happy mouth. Not having much luck Googling one tho. And I don't remember what the rings are--might be eggbutt.

[adelmo95]

Ebay!!!

My horse who normally got his lips pinched by loose ring bits was fine with the Nathe one.

http://shop.ebay.de/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=nathe&_sacat=See-All-Categories (many of these shops will ship to Canada if you ask)

[VCT]

Ugh, my head is swimming...

Really the perfect solution is the HS Duo D ring (though I prefer eggbutt). But I'd rather not pay $130 for something to "try and see if it works" ...

PostingTrot - I'll definitely post back if I find a better deal on a non-loose ring type.

jn4jenny, I did think about that but (I could be brain-farting as I'm tired) I think that bit guards aren't legal in eventing and I dunno about H/J but I never see them in the ring?

I considered trying the Happy Mouth Mullen Mouth but it does have those bumps and I didn't think he'd like it. He hates single jointed bits so I thought the bumps being there would feel like the joint of a single bit to the roof of his mouth. Plus, those Happy Mouth bits are really HARD... not very flexible... I dunno.

I guess I just need to decide whether to get a loose ring nathe and see if it doesn't bother his lips or get the more expensive HS Duo D ring.

In my dream world I could find a Eggbutt Nathe in 5 1/4"... heheh.

[jn4jenny]

Ugh, my head is swimming...

Really the perfect solution is the HS Duo D ring (though I prefer eggbutt). But I'd rather not pay $130 for something to "try and see if it works" ...

FWIW, the resale on those is pretty good. You'd get most of your money back on Ebay if the experiment failed.

jn4jenny, I did think about that but (I could be brain-farting as I'm tired) I think that bit guards aren't legal in eventing and I dunno about H/J but I never see them in the ring?

They're illegal in the dressage stage, but not elsewhere. You are, however, allowed to warm up in any kind of tack you like as long as you get bit checked coming out of the ring. ;)

I considered trying the Happy Mouth Mullen Mouth but it does have those bumps and I didn't think he'd like it. He hates single jointed bits so I thought the bumps being there would feel like the joint of a single bit to the roof of his mouth. Plus, those Happy Mouth bits are really HARD... not very flexible... I dunno.

The "regular" happy mouth bits are hard because there's metal inside them. The mullen versions have a wire inside them. They're not nearly as flexible as the Nathe (says jn4jenny the bit nerd who has compared them in the tack store) but it's more flexible than the average Happy Mouth.

As for the bumps, it sounds like you've pretty much decided to abandon the idea without trying it. It seems there's no harm in trying it, right?

In my dream world I could find a Eggbutt Nathe in 5 1/4"... heheh.

It's so weird that they don't make that. They do make a Nathe full cheek, which I hear you can get through Cabin Branch Tack Shop in Southern Pines:
http://www.bitworld.co.uk/popup_image.php?pID=2150

[vineyridge]

I've been looking for a nathe type bit as well. Found the one at BoB, but I seem to recall that Happy Mouth or one of the other white plastic ones makes a mullen mouth that doesn't have the bumps. Not sure where I saw it though. I've decided to go with the BoB genuine nathe.

[pony grandma]

VCT had a thread started on H/J about nathes.

Someone there posted this bit, very affordable, and a flexible mouthpiece.

http://www.horsetackco.com/flexible-rubber-mouth-Pelham-bit.html?currency=USD

It may not do for you, but a very good price - and a nice bit to have in your bag of tricks anyway.

[VCT]

Thanks for all the input you guys... really appreciate it. :) Sometimes it helps to just have your questions/thoughts bounced off of others and hear others ideas.

Anyways, I'm going to try to the HS Duo. It's the most like what I was told to get, while hopefully protecting his lips/corners of his mouth. Lets hope it makes a difference to the horse :)

SmartPak is going to see if they can order it for me. They rock. I had called them to let a CSR know, who was interested in possibly getting the same bridle I had ordered a couple months ago, not to bother. I'm not impressed with how it's holding up at all and wanted to save her the experience of buying it. I got a different CSR and was just giving her the message to give to the first one... and they offered to take it on return and give me a store credit on it. I couldn't believe it! I wasn't expecting that at all. So I ended up ordering a much nicer bridle, which will look just awesome on my horse :) I'm so excited.. and it feels like I'm getting a great deal because of the store credit. That is really above and beyond!

[ASB Stars]

I have a nathe type bit in the tack room that was way too big for the horse I bought it for. It is a dee ring, and I will measure it. It has never been used- I got it home, held it up to his bridle, and said, "what WAS I thinking?" :lol:

[Ltc4h]

I was in the Tack Exchange, a consignment shop in Middleburg Va, earlier this week.
They had a Nathe in the 5 1/4 to 5 1/2 section.
Most of their bits run in the $10-$20 range.
Wasn't looking @ that size, so no specific info, sorry.

[trainingtree]

They have some new ones for $19
http://greenrivertack.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_87&products_id=3117