Can somebody explain mylers to me please?

starryeyed

starryeyed

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Apparently new horsey used to be ridden in a combination of a happy mouth loose ring (she despises the taste/feel of "normal" metal bits), and a myler.
Now, I've heard of mylers, and know that some people swear by them - but haven't got a clue about why they're so "special"!
Can somebody fill me in please?

She has a happy mouth but they don't really seem to fit her quite right - I bought her one 1/4" bigger than what she usually is to allow for the loose rings to turn, but its ever so slightly too small so is rubbing the side of her mouth. I have a nasty feeling the next size up will be too big - so its on order, but if that fails then I'm looking at other ideas!

She's very sensitive in the mouth and is a million times happier with the taste/feel of a happy mouth, but if this next one doesn't fit then I'm not sure what to try next! Sweet iron? Or this mysterious myler?! x
 
My girl works beautifully I'n a hanging cheek Myler. It's a Mullen mouth one so it one thickness the whole way through and both sides work independently so it moves I'n the mouth when using one rein. They have a variety of bits for different purposes and of a variety of severities. There are also different levels of toung ports making them a very flexible fit as there are many things to try. Hope that crude explanation makes sense?!
 
I have three horses who are happier in Mylers than any other bits that I have tried. All of the horses have small mouths and this is one of the reasons that I believe makes them like the Mylers. The second thing is that the joints either side of the middle section only bend a certain, small amount. Therefore they have no nutcracker action at all.

I have this one
myler-full-cheek-comfort-snaffle_1.jpg



and this one
13950.jpg


You can hire them to try before buying as they are expensive and, of course, some horses don't like them. I have found that they come up a bit big compared to a french link or lozenge snaffle. I was lucky (had a friend with lots of bits that I could borrow) and once I knew what size and style I needed, I was able to search for a bargain. :)

Do be careful though, as the ported Mylers or Mylers with 'hooks' that you thread the reins through, are not dressage legal.
 
Sorry for the late response, completely forgot I made this thread! Thank you for the explanations, very helpful - will see if I can find some to try :)
 
Doncella said:
Would a Myler be useful for a horse with a big thick tongue and top tushes quite far back in his jaw?
Click to expand...

almost certainly! try the 04 mouthpiece!

Faracat said:
I have three horses who are happier in Mylers than any other bits that I have tried. All of the horses have small mouths and this is one of the reasons that I believe makes them like the Mylers. The second thing is that the joints either side of the middle section only bend a certain, small amount. Therefore they have no nutcracker action at all.
...
Do be careful though, as the ported Mylers or Mylers with 'hooks' that you thread the reins through, are not dressage legal.
Click to expand...

both our horses go in the 04 mouthpiece without hooks, (not dressage legal) and it's the only thing they will work consistently in. Tom has a pony mouth (shallow palate, thick tongue) and he also has a tilted atlas so wants to tip his head. Ron just has thick tongue, and thick lips. Both boys seem to like that you can move one side of the bit and not the other to correct a tilted head, or dropping onto one shoulder like Ron does.

when we come to do a dressage test, we warm up in the normal bit, and then swap 5 or 10 mins before into a dressage legal bit (Ron goes into a standard french link and Tom into an 01 (mullen type) mouthpiece.
 
Myler bits are designed to be more ergonomically shaped to fit horses mouths. Each side of the bit works independtley of other other so can be a great schooling aid.

They incorporate a curved mouthpiece for tongue relief, and research into equine dentistry and equine physiology to the connection between bitting and the horses mouth.

Last October I got a little Exmoor and he was incredibly heavy on the forehand and would lean on my hands (especially the left) until I thought that if I dropped all contact he would fall on his nose. Tried him in a myler pelham I had and he improved a lot.

Like others have said, there are lots of different types for different requirements (including thinner bits for horses with fat tonges / small mouths etc). These bits aren't cheap but the bit bank has them so you can try before you buy.
 
My WB has a small mouth but fleshy tounge, the Myler comfort snaffle works really well with him, I have a hanging cheek for dressage and a Pelham for SJ. Brilliant bits, Ive tried NS in the past and he hated them, I also lunge him in a happy mouth full cheek
 
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