Myler combination bit..

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Who uses one and how do you find it?

I'm thinking of trying Badger in one. So far everything I've tried either doesn't make any difference or feels a bit much for him.

Nearest thing I've had to working is an american gag with 2 reins, but i'm not sure if his jumping felt quite right in it... he fell in a bog at a similar time though so that could have been it!
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do you think it might work for us?
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Also where might I be able to get my hands on one to borrow...?
 
I used one of my tb/wb. He was very very strong xc(everything flat out). With this bit I had control and could stop him within 100yds or so. With a snaffle it took about half a mile to pull him up.. He took to the bit very well for sj and flatwork too. After a few months I could go back to a snaffle for sj and flat, but xc was always looney!!!!
Hope this helps
 
Hi, just answered your post below!!
Well I tied my horse (which is written about in below post) in this and he was an angel first time round a xc course, had to kick to go faster and that is unheard of!! Well next time xc I had no steering or brakes at all and felt very very unsafe. But this is my own experience and others love them but I don't from my experience!!! This horse was tried then in a american gag and if was far to strong for him, I didn't even attampt to jump him in it as I couldn't get him to canter in it!!! He is now in a balding (big ring) cheltenham gag and this seems great and has been his xc bit for the last 2 years (he does all dress and sj in kk snaffle). This bit does somewhat limit steering but my boy is pretty good at steering so not a prob for us!
Good luck
 
I use one - I was using a Waterford for jumping but I found she still got strong and went downhill on me and it was very hard to get her 'up' particularly on landing and moving away.

I have found it absolutely fantastic, no more heaving on her mouth, I can hack with a featherlight contact now which must be much better for both of us. I do find she throws her head up every now and again with it though (can't use a martingale with it). I think she is protesting a bit when she doesn't want to be held and knows she can't do much about it. It's not really a problem though.

I ditched the snaffle for schooling too and now use a Myler comfort snaffle which I also find she's much happier in.

I hired mine to try from Myler Bit Bank It costs £5 to try one and I found her really helpful
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I use one - I was using a Waterford for jumping but I found she still got strong and went downhill on me and it was very hard to get her 'up' particularly on landing and moving away.

I have found it absolutely fantastic, no more heaving on her mouth, I can hack with a featherlight contact now which must be much better for both of us. I do find she throws her head up every now and again with it though (can't use a martingale with it). I think she is protesting a bit when she doesn't want to be held and knows she can't do much about it. It's not really a problem though.

I ditched the snaffle for schooling too and now use a Myler comfort snaffle which I also find she's much happier in.

I hired mine to try from Myler Bit Bank It costs £5 to try one and I found her really helpful
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Sound exactly like my chap, only thing I can stop him in is a waterford but is shreds his mouth as he bears down on the bit if he's 'on one'!!

What mouthpiece and length shank have you got?

I have tried a short shank myler with a port and he doesn't fight but I haven't got enough control in it!
 
I ride my friend's tank-like cob in a short shank combi with a triple barrel mullen mouth. She used to go well in a loose ring French link but got a bit strong for her novice owner. She now rides her in a Cambridge mouth kimblewick which the poor horse loathes - she throws her head in the air and still tanks off, and when she's not tanking off she backs off the bit the whole time. A kind friend lent me a few bits to try (happy mouth single joint pelham she also hated and I still had no control) and one of them was the Myler combi. I didn't think it would work, and Kit looks like a warhorse with it on, but she absolutely loves it. Her mouth is so soft and closed and still, but not dry, she loves to take a contact but doesn't pull or lean, and she is 100% stoppable in it. Bonus point is that she's not only stoppable, she's holdable in the first place! Kit can be headshy so I was worried about the nose pressure, but she far prefers it to mouth pressure and if I had the guts I'd try her in a hackamore.
I'd recommend trying one, it must be worth a shot anyway!
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Adrian is tricky in his mouth cos he's a stroppy little madam. His dr bit is a Myler comfort, & I got the combi in the same mouthpiece. In anything else, I either can't hold him *at all* or he won't jump *at all* or he does his giraffe impression or a variation of it with his head upside down.

In the combi, I've got the right amount of whoa with him still going fwd.

I got one from a bit bank first as they are £££££ & I didn't want to be landed with yet another bit that he hated.

The only prob I've found is that the front rawhide is v hard. It's made the bony bit of his nose come up in a bony bump which hasn't gone away. I think I'll try padding it.

I use mine with a martingale - don't know if you should or shouldn't but it works for me.
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The only prob I've found is that the front rawhide is v hard. It's made the bony bit of his nose come up in a bony bump which hasn't gone away. I think I'll try padding it.

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That's half the reason my friend's little coloured cob looks like a warhorse in the Myler - it has sheepskin over the nose and I'm too afraid of it rubbing if I take it off so she has to look like a prat (it draws attention to the bit and we've had some passing comments out hacking about over-bitting...) I think she looks cute though
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I have never heard of not using a martingale with a bit like this. Really don't see why. Seems a very strange thing to be told. Look at how many of the top riders use these types of bits with martingales. I would personally be more inclined to put a martingale on with one of these bits!

I covered my mare's nose part in sheepskin from a craft shop as she started to get lumps on her nose. It is thick enough to protect her but thin enough to still be effective. I still have to change my mare's bit from time too time as I have to keep her on her toes!
 
also guys - i was told by an EDT that if you use mylers, due to their curved mouthpieces you should make sure your horse has bit seats done to accommodate for this.

i know people that do and dont - just thought it was worth a mention.
 
our big grey went very sweetly in a combination bit, tried all sorts of different ones previously,but with no luck! A cheltenham might as well have been piece of silk in his mouth.All went well until Pony Club decided to disallow myler combination bits - back to the drawing board! Eventually settled on myler ported pelham,on two reins. Mouthpiece is the same as combi,so he doesn't actually notice any difference.Even tho' he is not going PC now,we will stay with pelham.New horse also had bitting issues SJ and XC but at that time was going to PC. We used the pelham,but was just a little too much and he was unhappy with it.For various reasons,he also is no longer PC,so the combination bit was dusted off - fantastic. We have brakes and steering,and I think the beauty of it is that if the horse listens straight away,the bit remains relatively simple. If he ignores you and you have to be a bit more determined,the bit reinforces the message and he comes back. I think it's very much a pressure on,pressure off, system and the horse quickly learns that it doesn't pay to pull. I am no expert,but I think if you are sensitive with your hands it is a great piece of kit. A hackamore has nose pressure and you have to be sensitive with that too. I cannot understand the thinking that it is preferable to have a child hauling on the third ring of a gag,still unable to stop,than using a different (albeit disapproved) bit with a happy,sweet going (more importantly -SAFE) pony? If a child was incompetant with a snaffle,it would be advised accordingly,and IMO each case should be viewed on it's own merits.Obviously bitting rules for dressage are a different kettle of fish and I would never suggest a similar approach!
I also wonder how many people are aware that if they compete at an open pony club event,run under pony club rules,if they have incorrect tack or bits,they will not be allowed to run? Even if it is a class restricted to non PC members. I have even seen a non pony club event,run under PC rules, impose it's tack restrictions. I will stress this is only my opinion,but I do feel quite strongly about it,hence the soapbox!!!
 
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