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Hello Rhonda,
It's probably not an allergy, just sensitive "pink" skin. Here in 
sunny San Diego some folks have to keep fly masks and sunscreen on 
their horse's face 24/7 to prevent sunburn. Their horses never seem 
to "tan" or get tougher skin around the muzzle and this may be the 
boat your horse is in :-(. I think getting a bit that stays 
completely off her face might be best even if it's not your preferred 
bit type. A grazing bit like this 
http://www.rods.com/p/502,233_Sweet-Iron-Grazing-Bit.html is what I 
use with a leather headstall. The one-piece bit will not pinch and 
holds the leather away from the side of the muzzle. The side loops on 
the bit (that attach to the headstall) can be bent sideways (see 
pictures attached) so that only the headstall touches the horse's 
cheeks up high away from the muzzle. The only time there will be 
muzzle contact is when you pull on one reign more than the other hard 
enough to twist the bit to the side. Your horse will be able to work 
her mouth, shake her head and trot without any constant rubbing 
against the muzzle especially if she learns to "carry the bit" 
herself. I always keep the chinstrap loose enough that the bit will 
drop out of the horses mouth. A loose strap also allows the horse a 
little time to respond to my hand movements before I'm forced to 
apply enough pressure to bring the strap into play. Sometimes I have 
to muscle my horse around but I find that if I continually give him 
just a second to respond to a bit command (like pulling back for a 
stop) he learns to do it at the slightest pull......sometimes. :-[ 
Good luck with your "pink" lady,
Don Huston

At 11:19 AM 6/5/2007 Tuesday, you wrote:
> I have been assuming that these are rubs because she did not react 
> to her web halter rings.  But, on the other hand, she never really 
> wore the halter for any length of time.  By the time that I started 
> riding her a bunch, I had switched to rope halters mostly.  Would 
> she react inside her mouth as well, if it were an allergy?  Also, 
> given the fact that you rub the skin off of this horse's face just 
> with a wash cloth while trying to bathe her, I'm pretty sure that 
> these are rubs.  I gave her scrapes once while trying to get her 
> ready for a NATRC ride.  :-(
>
> Also, as to the size issue, I've checked the size pretty carefully 
> and it's not pinching her.  I've also experimented with different 
> sizes of bits.  The slightly bigger size slides back and forth with 
> lateral pressure on the reins and actually causes worse rubs.
>
> Rhonda
>
> > > > On Jun 5, 2007, at 9:31 AM, RHONDA LEVINSON wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I am riding a very sensitive, thin-skinned, mare with pink skin  all
> > > > > over her face.  I've been riding her in a side pull, but  just can't
> > > > > get her to collect very well in it and would like to  switch to a  bit.
> > > > > I found a bit that works with her extremely  low palate, but  it 
> > > > > still rubs her raw even on a pleasure ride  where she's on 
> > > > > a  loose rein most of the time, and even with  those rubber 
> > > > > bit  guards.  So, any advice for preventing bit  rubs?  Or for 
> > > > > toughening  up her face?
> > > > >
> > > > > Rhonda
> > > >
> > > > Don Huston at cox dot net
> > > > SanDiego, Calif



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