[rennyben]

I'm currently borrowing my trainer's HS Duo loose ring for my guy. He LOVES it. I LOVE it. I have a whole new horse who accepts and seeks contact with the bit, keeps his mouth closed without a tight noseband and is so much calmer and forward to ride. (Yes I said calm and forward - how awesome is that?)

So, it's time to buy my own but the price is putting me off a bit. Would a happy mouth be the same or is the Duo unique? What about those black rubber bits? I've never used a happy mouth or rubber bit and nobody in our barn has one to try. If they are different types of bits I'll just suck it up and get the Duo but if it's different brands of the same thing I could save money. FWIW, the duo is very soft and flexible - almost to the floppy point.

Does anyone out there have insight as to how the Duo compares to a rubber bit or Happy Mouth? Thanks in advance!!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

no. A happy mouth and the black rubber bits are not the same. They are both typically a lot harder although you can sometimes find a soft black rubber bit (but it isn't shaped like the Duo). Closest thing to a Duo is a Nathe bit and they cost about the same.

I would just suck it up and get a Duo. I have one and have more than gotten my use out of it on multiple horses.

[eqsiu]

I think the nathe bits are closest to the duo. The happy mouth plastic is harder.

[Simkie]

Both the Nathes and the Duos pop up on eBay every now and then. Sometimes you can get a lightly used one for less.

But really, in the grand scheme of things, $80 is just not that much money for a bit. Some of the more complex specialty bits are just so much more. And I agree with BFNE--the nathe or the duo is one that you will likely use on multiple horses. They're both worth the spend.

[Simkie]

Both the Nathes and the Duos pop up on eBay every now and then. Sometimes you can get a lightly used one for less.

But really, in the grand scheme of things, $80 is just not that much money for a bit. Some of the more complex specialty bits are just so much more. And I agree with BFNE--the nathe or the duo is one that you will likely use on multiple horses. They're both worth the spend.

[fordtraktor]

Agree they are different and that some horses care. Happy Mouth is too bumpy for my TB that likes the Duo; black rubber is too thick for him.

BUT -- see if you can borrow a happy mouth first. Your particular horse might not care and that could save you a lot of money. Several of my past horses have gone in mullen happy mouths with perfect complacence.

[Heinz 57]

I found a Nathe "used" (as in, tried on a horse once) for $50 on a tack trader page on facebook. I'd keep an eye out for a used one, but if you want one ASAP - might as well just bite the bullet and spend the money.

[purplnurpl]

sucks for me. The one that I want is 300 bucks.

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...category_id=59

or the next best thing.
150 bucks.

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...ategory_id=129

[wildlifer]

Geezil crap, purp, how do they even justify that? I mean, I sucked it up and paid $74 for my Nathe, even though I didn't like it. But a $300 D-ring -- what is in that plastic, transparent aluminum (ok, maybe I've been hitting the Star Trek a little too hard lately). That stuff drives me nutso. I love my bit, but seriously....

[Simkie]

sucks for me. The one that I want is 300 bucks.

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...category_id=59

Maybe one of these?

http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/pro...88e1d5c83719de

Equusport says Nathes are being discontinued...

CUSTOMER NOTICE ALL NATHE BITS ARE DISCOUNTINUED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Those customers wishing Nathe Products please look at the Beris Bits contained within the various subcatagories. Beris is very likely to be Nathe's successor. Equusport for the time being still has reasonable quantities of Nathe bits. We are however are moving forward with stocking levels of Beris Bits. What is pictured here are samples of the Beris Line. Additional styles will be posted as they become available.

First I've heard of that?

This sure is interesting:

http://www.beris.co.uk/Dring_butterfly.html

[bornfreenowexpensive]

sucks for me. The one that I want is 300 bucks.

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...category_id=59

or the next best thing.
150 bucks.

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...ategory_id=129

Damn. I have that D-ring HS Duo. I know I didn't pay 300 for it but I do remember it being expensive. Better make sure I don't lose that sucker....

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Dover has it for 144...

http://www.doversaddlery.com/hs-16mm...cjj345omzgaw55

[Simkie]

Dover has it for 144...

http://www.doversaddlery.com/hs-16mm...cjj345omzgaw55

What purpl linked is the 23 mm mouthpiece, not the 16 mm, which is the sticking point, I assume...

[poltroon]

The Duo is not at all like the Happy Mouth or the black rubber mouthpieces. The Duo is flexible and tasteless; the Happy Mouth is stiff and also straight (ie, does not conform to mouth shape at all) and the black rubber mouthpieces are thick and taste like tires.

Dover has the D-ring version for about $150. http://www.doversaddlery.com/hs-16mm...b4p3450rbuj3bb

I love this bit; I only wish I didn't have a chewer.

I've put a lot of thought and some experimenting, and I think that the next closest bit is probably something like this Myler:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/myler-c...b4p3450rbuj3bb

It's metal, and not really jointed, but has some flexibility in that it allows the horse to reshape it a bit to make it comfortable for the tongue.

I know my horse values the stability of the mullen mouthpiece but prefers to shape it in a particular way.

I wish someone would make a knockoff of the Duo. Unfortunately, I need the dee, and it frosts me that it's twice as much as the loose ring... and that unlike most bits, they don't last forever because of the chew-factor.

(HS does have a warranty, but I figure it's only fair to ask for one replacement per purchase. )

[bornfreenowexpensive]

What purpl linked is the 23 mm mouthpiece, not the 16 mm, which is the sticking point, I assume...

I've got no idea which one I have but 16mm works well for a lot of horses, especially for TBs.

[Simkie]

I've got no idea which one I have but 16mm works well for a lot of horses, especially for TBs.

I don't disagree, but I can't imagine a need for a custom $300 bit unless the horse requires something very, very specific. It looks like the Equusport bit is the larger Duo mouthpiece on custom check pieces.

They also have a leather mouthpiece bit. Too bad it's also 300 bucks because I'd love to try something like this:

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...category_id=59

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I don't disagree, but I can't imagine a need for a custom $300 bit unless the horse requires something very, very specific. It looks like the Equusport bit is the larger Duo mouthpiece on custom check pieces.

They also have a leather mouthpiece bit. Too bad it's also 300 bucks because I'd love to try something like this:

http://www.equusport.com/item.php?it...category_id=59

search the forum....there is someone that got a tack place to make the leather bits affordable.

ETA: Here you go

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/sh...ht=leather+bit

[rennyben]

Ok the Duo it is. sigh. Was really hoping everyone would say, the Happy Mouth is just a non-fancy, non-German brand....

I really like the bit so I think it's worth the money. My horse has an old jaw injury that made him back off the bit no matter how light the contact. I had him in a light weight french link which was OK. But with the Duo I'm able to have a a lovely give/take conversation type contact and because I have contact I can now really use my leg = I have a whole new horse. And, because he's not in pain anymore he become so willing and fun to ride. I won't begrudge him a bit but was hoping for a generic knock off!!

[kcmel]

(HS does have a warranty, but I figure it's only fair to ask for one replacement per purchase. )

OK, I just tried to figure this out from their website, but didn't see any info. What kind of warranty? I have a WH ultrasoft that has a crack in the rubber. Soon it's going to be a very expensive french link!

[Hilary]

I would try to find a Nathe - at $80 it's pricy but it's not $300. My mare really liked it, but after about 6 months she had the ah-ha moment of running through it. But prior to that her regular black rubber D (which is just rubber coated metal) was backing her off. She learned to accept the contact with the Nathe

Of course she also chewed it to her liking in about a week. In 3 months I could see the cable inside. She is now back in the black rubber D and totally fine with contact (and it too is chewed just to her specs).

The Happy Mouth I have is not at all like the Nathe - it is all plastic but it's hard and bumpy where the Nathe is like slightly used chewing gum. Or Silly Putty.