Polymer Bits for Sensitive Mouths
Happy Mouth gives a fussy, head-shy or strong horse an apple-scented polymer mouthpiece he accepts, so he stops fighting the bit and you get softer, steadier contact in the cheek style your riding needs.
By the Tack of the Day Product Team · Updated November 2026
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In the Spotlight
Happy Mouth D-ring bits keep the cheeks steady against the horse's face, and this shelf shows the styles riders pick when they want quiet, even contact.
Happy Mouth D-ring bits
Happy Mouth D-ring bits in single-joint, double-joint and mullen mouthpieces.
Riders tell us Happy Mouth bits help horses accept the bit and soften in the contact, and they say it in their own words below.
We start several young horses and green horses under 10 for beginner riding program. We bought 4 of these. What we noticed is the acceptance of the bit and the rounding of their body. It's big where they respect it. Soft where they accept it and not throw their heads. We use it mainly for training and then we switch to a different field one where they can eat grass and not so bulky. Great bit to start a new horse and soften other horses with a hard mouth due to hard past hands. Not necessarily good for the field. But very good for the horses mental state of mind in training!
I have a spicy ottb chesnut mare and this is the only bit that makes her soft and supple. They can't grab it and run away and it's a nice reminder to them to give. As long as your horse doesn't chew on bits it's pretty durable and i would definitely recommend
Double Jointed Roller 2-Ring Gag
This bit is magic! I had a really hard time finding a bit that worked for mo strong jumper. I had him in a single twisted wire and he would still find a way to get strong and run with it. We finally tried him in this bit and he was so easy to ride. I had full control of him, he could not lean on it, therefore we could turn easier and had a good amount of brakes.
Currently employing this bit for a small quarter horse cross and also for a large welsh pony. It is apple scented and very smooth. It stays warmer than a metal bit in cold temperatures. Both horses seem glad to accept this bit and it provides good contact.
The Happy Mouth Edit
Happy Mouth's apple-scented polymer starts with the fussy, head-shy horse, and the numbered sections then cover double-jointed, mullen, gag and copper roller styles before finishing with sizing from 4 to 6 inches.
Fussy mouths
Happy Mouth apple-scented bits give a fussy or head-shy horse a reason to take the bridle. Happy Mouth describes its space age polymer as a gentler mouthpiece than metal, and the apple scent is there to encourage acceptance and salivation. The single-jointed Jointed Loose Ring is the simplest place to begin, and the Jointed Full Cheek adds fixed arms that help guide the turn.
Shop by mouthpiece: Single-jointed bits
What Riders Say
I found this bit by accident and decided to use it on my sensitive paint mare for fun. (This was when I was just trying to find something that she was happy in). I tried a french link d ring, and a loose ring and she was still strong. Once I put this bit in her mouth, the chewing on the bit immedietly stopped. When I pulled on the reins, there was no head throwing. This bit is an appsolute life-saver for hunter riders! I strongly recomend this bit to anyone!
Double Jointed Roller Racing Dee
For the longest time I've been struggling with my 7 year old hunter on getting him to accept the bit. He avoided my hands and would open his mouth and play with his tongue. I've tried flashes and many types of bits, but when I used this one the difference was like night and day. He accepts the bit so willingly and I barely have to work for it. He's much happier and overall more pleasurable horse in this bit.
Single-jointed Happy Mouth bits
Single-jointed Happy Mouth bits in loose ring, full cheek and eggbutt cheeks.
Double-jointed
Double-jointed Happy Mouth bits are the style to try when your horse leans on the rein, hangs, or grabs the bit and takes off. The Double Jointed Roller Loose Ring keeps the cheeks mobile, while the Double Joint Roller Pro King Dee gives a steadier, fixed-feel dee with the same polymer mouthpiece and center roller.
Shop by mouthpiece: Double-jointed bits
What Riders Say
Double Jointed Roller Loose Ring
I've been riding my 8yr old gelding with just a side-pull but had very little breaks(Whoa). he has great training...i tried a lot of different things on him and tons of different bits. after the 2nd time with this double jointed bit....he rides great. i choose double jointed because it doesn't have the nut-cracker effect. he takes this soft bit and doesn't chew like with metal ones.i recommend this double jointed to anyone on any horse. it's the best in my opinion. Double Jointed with no nut-cracker = no pain if in soft hands. however it doesn't smell apple but may taste like it.great bit i love it but MOST of all my Horse loves it
Double Jointed Roller Loose Ring
This is an awesome bit. I've had it for 5 years and used it on many different horses. It is the perfect combination of softness and strength. Since it's double jointed, it is a soft bit, but the horse is discouraged from leaning into it. Right now we're using it with a figure-8 noseband on a horse that likes to evade the bit and run off. It's doing the trick!
Double-jointed Happy Mouth bits
Double-jointed Happy Mouth bits, the soft choice for a horse that leans.
Mullen mouth
Mullen Happy Mouth bits give a horse a single unbroken bar of apple-scented polymer, with no joint to fold across the tongue. Happy Mouth says its shaped mullen mouthpiece provides stability for horses that prefer little to no movement in the mouth. The Mullen Shaped Loose Ring adds a mobile cheek, and the Mullen Plain Loose Ring is the straight-bar version.
Shop by mouthpiece: Mullen bits
What Riders Say
I use one as my mare appears to not like links, I have a kimblewick for her for fast work and I tried loads of snaffles and one day I tried this straight bar happy mouth and she accepts it alot better.
Our 128 has a straight bar happy mouth he hasn't chewed through it and he's had it for 2 years and he like it as he can't have metal bits
Mullen Happy Mouth bits
Mullen Happy Mouth bits in loose ring, dee and eggbutt cheeks.
Gag and pelham
Happy Mouth gag bits add leverage to a polymer mouthpiece, so a strong horse gets clearer brakes without a metal mouth. The Double Jointed Roller 2-Ring Gag is a popular jumping choice, and the Jointed Pelham is a two-rein option. On the 3-ring gags, Happy Mouth notes leverage is adjusted by where the curb rein sits on the two lower rings. The Jointed 2-Ring Gag in 4.5 inches carries pony-sized rings, a good match for a smaller head.
What Riders Say
Double Jointed Roller 2-Ring Gag
I just got this bit for my ottb mare. She loves the apple flavor and accepts the bit. My horse likes to get quick and strong during jumpers and I am very small and have trouble controling her. This bit was perfect because it had the soft plastic for her sensitive mouth and had the leverage I needed for jumpers. I don't know how well it holds up because I haven't had it long but overall an incredible bit for any strong horse with a sensitive mouth.
I have a 19 year old hunter/jumper who I have been riding since he was 13. This is my third "Happy Mouth" in this configuration. One of the three is pretty chewed up, but ALL THREE are still completely usable. This bit is gentle in his mouth, yet gives me all the control I need. I highly recommend this bit.
Roller and copper
Roller and copper Happy Mouth bits are built for the horse that mouths, tosses his head, or tries to get his tongue over the bit. The copper styles set a center roller of 99.9% pure copper in the apple-scented polymer, and Happy Mouth says the taste of copper encourages salivation and a moist, relaxed mouth. Try the Double Jointed Copper Roller King Dee or the Double Jointed Copper Roller Loose Ring.
Shop by mouthpiece: Copper roller bits
What Riders Say
I LOVE THE BIT.. MY HORSE HAD A BAD CHEWING ON THE BIT PROBLEM CHEWING THE WHOLE TIME BIT IT MOUTH... USED THIS BIT AND HE HAS STOPPED TAKES THE BIT AND QUITE AS CAN BE LOVE IT ... THIS IS MY SECOND ONE...
Double Jointed Roller 3-Ring Gag
My horse has always had a 'busy mouth' and the noise he makes with the bit is less than relaxing out on the trail, but I've always just ignored it. However, recently he's been doing a little head tossing and pulling on the reins as he seems to be trying to grab the bit or get his tongue over it. I found this bit that I'd purchased years ago for another horse, hanging in my tackroom and thought I'd give it a try - wow! My horse is soft, relaxed and the three times we've used it there has been zero head tossing or grabbing at the bit/pulling on the reins.
Sizing
Happy Mouth bits are sized by width from 4 to 6 inches, and the right one is the width of a bit that already fits your horse. If you have none, measure from one corner of his lips to the other with a soft cord and match that width. Kimberwick styles measure 1/4 inch less than the listed size because of the cheek construction, and the 2-ring gag in 4.5 inches comes with pony-sized rings. Browse by width with 4.5 in bits, 5 in bits or 5.5 in bits, or start from the Double Jointed Roller King Dee.
| Bit size | Shop this size |
|---|---|
| 4 in | 4 in bits |
| 4.5 in | 4.5 in bits |
| 5 in | 5 in bits |
| 5.5 in | 5.5 in bits |
| 5.75 in | 5.75 in bits |
| 6 in | 6 in bits |
Questions riders ask
Happy Mouth bits pair a polymer mouthpiece, which Happy Mouth calls space age polymer and scents with apple, with stainless steel cheeks. Copper roller styles add a center roller of 99.9% pure copper, and the hackamore combinations add a noseband. Check each bit's product page for its exact mouthpiece and cheek details, then pick the style that matches your horse.
Polymer is softer than metal, so a horse that chews can mark a Happy Mouth bit. Riders report mixed results: one has kept a mullen for two years without it being chewed through, and another has three gags that are chewed up but still usable. Check the mouthpiece after your first rides, and shop a replacement when you see a tear.
Start with a double-jointed Happy Mouth bit such as the Double Joint Roller Pro King Dee, since riders say the double joint discourages leaning without feeling harsh. If the horse is strong enough that you need leverage, a gag such as the Double Jointed Roller 2-Ring Gag adds it. Change one thing at a time and ride a few sessions before you judge.
Happy Mouth lists bit widths of 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 5.75 and 6 inches. Measure a bit that already fits your horse, or measure his mouth from lip corner to lip corner with a soft cord, and choose that width. Kimberwick styles measure 1/4 inch less than the listed size, so allow for that. Use the size links in the sizing section to browse your width.
Product details from Happy Mouth's product information.
