Myler combination. Any users?

suzysparkle

suzysparkle

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I have used one before on a previous Horse with great results (very sensitive in the mouth) so I'm not a complete stranger to them but would like some more opinions if possible.

My Horse doesn't have the best skin and unfortunately, it affect his lips - particularly in the corners. Change in diet has really helped and he has a lovely shiny coat but he still gets very dry skin round his lips. Initially I thought it was the bit rubbing but even after time off it's the same. Have tried bit guards and a full cheek but no help. I use a hanging cheek french link with a grackle. No issues really, can be a bit strong but only when things are 'exciting'. I do use topical things (emu oil seems to be the best) which help.

So, I thought a combo might help as it takes the emphasis off the mouth and I remember how the cheek attaches....keeps it off the corners of the mouth. My question is do you find you can still ride in a contact?? Also, I'm torn between the low port comfort snafle and the tripple barrel so any thoughts on the two would also be great. He does split his mouth sometimes as well, which I'm convinced now is down to his skin. Sometimes he can pull hard with no splitting, then he'll get a split after a 'non -pulling' ride if that makes sense.

Many thanks!
 
I sometimes ride a small tank-like cob for a friend, and the Myler combi I borrowed off a friend is the only thing I have control in that she actually WANTS to take a contact in. She took a contact in a happy mouth pelham but then buggered off with said contact
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She is ridden by her owner in a Cambridge mouth kimblewick which she loathes IMO (but I won't let novice owner near the Myler, and owner doesn't want to change the bit). It's the triple barrel in short-shank style I have. Kit loves it as she can play with the mouthpiece and move it about (unlike her kimblewick!) but when I need to apply sull braking power it turns into a solid mullen mouth which she respects. She also seems to prefer the action of the combi - nose pressure first - so I don't ever feel the need to haul her in by her back teeth as mostly, light nose pressure is all it takes! It has been suggested to me that I try her in a hackamore but I'm not brave enough to go all the way to taking the bit out of her mouth!!
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Can ride to a contact but its generally a much lighter feel in the hand. The nose effect comes on first so this is the contact to ride off. If you allow them to take the contact strong enough so that you can feel the mouth the nose action is always fully on and therefore they stop responding to the nose and you might as well have a bit and cavesson on.

IME the triple barrel is basically stronger but does depend on the horse. I do find some horses tend to sit behind the triple barrel if they find it to much. I only have the combo with a low port and haven't had anything object to it. Some still wouldn't stop though!
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I usually rode my boy in a hackamore at home, but out hunting he just got a bit too happy and a LS combo was the only bit I found that he had any respect for and was happy with. Mostly I rode just on the 'snaffle' reins, bottom rein was reserved for our happier moments. I think the mouthpiece was an 04. I particularly liked the fact that he never had any split lips, purely because he never fought this bit as he did with snaffles of any design, regardless of the mouthpiece. This is the only myler mouthpiece I have ever used, so I couldn't comment on others.

I had many people say "Oh it shouldn't be used with two reins" or "you've padded the noseband, why?"
 
I ride in my myler combination in the same way I ride in my hackamore ie loose reins unless they mess around.

I wouldn't school in my combo for that reason, I use it for control when the brakes fail. I do love the bit and it's not overly severe compared to gags and hackarmore with curb chains but I still take a softly softly approach when riding in it. My girl will jog and brace against the combo and I have to do half halts to get her off the bit otherwise I'd be hauling the whole way and the bit would gradually become ineffective.

The triple barrel collapse on the tongue faster than the low ported snaffle so is more severe esp if your horse has a chubby tongue
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it would stop them locking onto the bit or twisting to get the bit between their teeth but if your horse is not guilty of that sortof nonsense I'd stick with the low ported.
 
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He is lovely, does he have a long mane? I wish I could so Arab plaits like that, mine all fall out about half way down!

Great idea with the double rein, I have the short shank as I thought the long shank would be overkill (then again I don't hunt, if I did it would be an American gag all the way!) but I hadn't consider splitting the reins. Wonder if you could do it with the short shank...might try that this weekend
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Hi, I only jump in mine which is a short shank with a comfort snaffle mouthpiece. As someone said earlier, there horse got used to it, which is what has happened with mine and he is npw very strong again, I am going to change a long shank with maybe a different mouthpiece as Myself and the horse are very happy with it (I also have sheepskin on nosepiece as being a sensitive grey he marks very easily ) I think I might try split reins.
 
does any one ahve any recomendations for a reasonable place tobuy the myler combo from as have been thinking for a whilethat they may suit my mare i offten ride her in either a hackamore or 02 snaffle find she goes best in hackmore but have all or nothing when get excited and very little brakes hacking in one but she is very fussy in the mouth the 02 suits her quite well but wondering if less pressure on mouth would be better.
p.s did read on the myler website it is perfectly accaptable to ride with two reins
 
I've just recently got one for my TB- he's quite fussy in his mouth, and although I can ride him in a hackamore, its not enough when he gets giddy.
I only jump in it- he isnt too bad when we're doing 'boring' things. He respects the nose pressure and likes the mouthpiece- mines the short shank with the low port comfort mouthpiece.

I did stumble on this bit by accident tho- I'd gone to our local 2nd hand tack place to look for a Cheltenham gag, after a stupidly out of control hunter trial at the beginning of the month. They didn't have one but asked if I wanted the Myler instead- for £20!! I knew that at that price, it'd sell on Ebay f i didn't need/want it- but I wont be- as far as I'm concerned, it's my wonder bit.

My horse likes it so much that I bought him a comfort snaffle for schooling/hacking- so we'll see how it goes!
 
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