I would like to try an eggbutt or D ring nathe bit but am only seeing herm sprenger with these options. Is there a difference in the mouthpiece texture/rigidity that is noticeable? Anyone notice a difference between your loose ring vs fixed ring? Present bit (loose ring) getting a bit chewed up so about to order a new one. Thanks in advance for any reviews.
If your horse can take a bigger mouthpiece then Winderen gel bits can come in either a D or eggbutt cheek piece - they are modular so you can build the bit you want.
Trust Inno Sense and Beris also both do D or Eggbutt
I’ve never used a Nathe but my understanding is that it’s thicker than the HS Duo. I tried an HS Duo a few years ago, and I was pretty disappointed in how rigid it was. Everyone online described it as being soft and flexible, but seemed really stiff to me.
I had a Nathe ordered and received with labels as a Nathe, and a few years later ordered another Nathe which looked identical but was received with labels as an HS. I thought HS acquired or was otherwise the parent company of Nathe.
I believe Nathe does have a line that has no steel core- I’m assuming both of my bits must be a steel core Nathe & “regular” (steel core) HS since both are identical in dimensions and feel/flexibility.
I have both a nathe and a duo (albeit both loose ring), and the nathe is definitely a) thicker and b) more flexible (though the duo definitely isn’t what I would call rigid). Herm Sprenger is the distributor for Nathe now so it’ll come Nathe-labeled/packaged with a HS tag on it.
If you buy anything labeled as a duo it’ll have the steel core. Unless it’s mislabeled by whatever tack shop, nathes won’t have that.
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Okay, I’m surprised that the Nathe doesn’t have a wire core. I will need to get my hands on a duo to see if it could be a good choice for my light mouthed sensitive horse.
I was also surprised with how rigid the Duo is. I thought my sensitive TB mare would like it but she was not a fan.
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Same, my horse is also sensitive and has a very low palette with a thick tongue, so he doesn’t have much mouth space. The Duo didn’t seem too thick for him, but he was severely backed off/intimidated by it. He might be like that in any mullen mouthpiece, I’m not sure because that’s the only one I’ve tried on him. A lot of other people seem to have good luck with them though.
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It turns out that the Nathe does have a wire core, so that’s the good news. Has a fixed d ring or eggbuttt made life easier or better for these horses that are light in the mouth? Is there a bit more stability?
I have a loose ring Nathe, loose ring Duo, eggbutt Duo. I now ride in a Bombers moulded mullen D ring.
Duo - steel core, firm rubber-like material, 16mm diameter
Nathe - steel core, softer rubber-like material, 20mm diameter
Bombers - no steel core, extremely soft rubber-like material, 45* angled square-ish mouthpiece thinner in height than a Duo, maybe 20mm wide across the surface of the tongue
My one horse is light in the bit and did not love a loose ring. I switched him to a D ring as he’s green and could use the extra lateral support. He’s happier in it.
I have the HS duo in eggbutt and loose ring - the eggbutt gives more stability with minor hand movements, the loose ring keeps him looser for lateral work.
I like the eggbutt more for over fences work and the loose ring now for flat work.
(In my sensitive TB who doesn’t love mouth contact)
