Myler bits

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Walrus

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Has anyone had any issues with a Myler, specifically the Myler Mullen mouth snaffle, nipping or rubbing the insides of the lips / cheeks?

Pony has a very very fleshy mouth with very fat chunky lips, he has developed a tiny sore spot on the inside of his mouth, it looks like it's on the inside of his lips and pretty much where the bit sits. He's in a Myler Mullen mouth snaffle, he has his teeth checked regularly, we have regular lessons and he is going the best he's ever gone (out competing prelim /novice, schooling novice/elem-ish at home). He gets a nice wet mouth when schooling so I don't think it's friction and I don't think my hands are that terrible!

When I looked in his mouth with the bit in-situ it looks like the spot lines up with the edge of the central barrel of the bit, especially when you "steer", I'm wondering if his very fleshy mouth is trapping in the join? Giving him some time for it to go and then going to try wrapping the middle of the bit in vet wrap to cover the gap but wondered if anyone else had experienced this?

Thank you :)
 
Yes, exactly the same problem, in our case I established that if you used a contact on one side of the mouth ie when steering or flexing the edge of the roller was jabbing into the inside of the cheek or lips. Same with low ported mouthpiece. Pony was much happier when I changed the bit and I haven't used a Myler since.

I would think wrapping in vetwrap would remove the play in the central roller?
 
Thanks for the replies. Old Bat, you have no idea how pleased (in a strange way!) I am to see your post! I have spent ages feeling so guilty that somehow my hands were that bad I was literally ripping his mouth (sounds dramatic for a tiny spot but you get the jist).

Old Bat, what do you use instead of the Myler now if you don't mind me asking? We had such a struggle to find this, we've worked out he hates anything that moves too much and doesn't like losenges or joints which is why the Mullen mouth Myler was perfect.

I know I can't compete in the vetwrap, I was hoping it might help to pinpoint if the edge of the barrel was actually what the problem was, plus we're on a countdown to our first regionals so I was hoping that would at least keep us in work.
 
Hi! We had the same mouthing problems as well! And the massive guilt complex. I moved to a mullen mouthed eggbut which did the job. The people who now have the pony changed to a single joint which made her a bit fussier but they don't seem too bothered by that.

You could look at Hilary Vernon bits? I wasn't aware of them at the time, this was a few years ago, but they might be a way forward for you? Good luck...
 
Thank you, I hit Google and the various bit hire sites after your post and have found the informed designs bits (think they're Hilary Vernon) which do look the right shape, although the basic shires Mullen mouth comes in a hanging cheek and looks quite curved too (and considerably less pennies).

Thanks for your help. :)
 
You could try acavello gel bit guards and take them off for dressage tests. My experience is that they make most bits more comfortable anyway. I have one that hates metal bits yet will go nicely in any bit with the bit guards on. he even hates a kk eggbut without them. It is not his teeth but does seem to hate any pressure from even loose rings. It is not me as one of the others has a happy mouth full cheek and likes that. they help with steering on youngsters too. the acavello ones cover the cheeks and the first part of the bit.
 
thinking about it I did have a horse that was allergic to cheap stainless steel, his whole face peeled where the eggbuts were. the only bits that didn't do this were myler , particularly the sweet iron ones. Very old stainless bits were fine too which may have had something to do with the quality of the metal. Have had horses allergic to nickel too but wouldn't use a nickel bit nowadays anyway as they break.
 
Walrus said:
Thank you, I hit Google and the various bit hire sites after your post and have found the informed designs bits (think they're Hilary Vernon) which do look the right shape, although the basic shires Mullen mouth comes in a hanging cheek and looks quite curved too (and considerably less pennies).

Thanks for your help. :)
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Our pony has a very fleshy mouth and an instructor recommended the Hilary Vernon loose ring square shaped Mullen and we went from a Pelham to that and she loves it. However she is too strong jumping in it so I have just got her the Hilary Vernon Dalehead which has transformed our jumping! I just love her bits!
 
I've got a very fleshy mouthed, big tongued horse in a myler comfort snaffle and never had an issue. In fast she goes better than she's ever gone in any other bit :)

No good with bitting so no other bitting ideas I am afraid.
 
Thanks all, it's right inside so I'm not sure bit guards will extend that far.

Cherio1, I'm gutted, he goes so well in the Myler but this flipping sore spot keeps coming back!
 
The closest I found for my mare, before I found the myler, was a thin loose ring lozenge snaffle, have you ever tried something simple like that? :)
 
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