ouch!...I have had that problem with my mare and even when I was loping through some tall grass she would seem to somehow get grass in her mouth silly girl!....but I put these rubber rings that go one the bit they are velcrow so you can take them off and clean them don't know what they are called but they worked for me ... also you can get those muzzle things you where talking about off of horsehealthusa.com ...hopw taht your hip feels better