Myler combination bits ban and the internet

[Cloball]

I find it very odd when you consider what the SJers put on their horses heads. I'm pretty sure there's a female American eventer whose name escapes me that competes in a double jointed twisted wire mouthpiece.

 

[marmalade76]

I find it very odd when you consider what the SJers put on their horses heads. I'm pretty sure there's a female American eventer whose name escapes me that competes in a double jointed twisted wire mouthpiece.

Marilyn Little, yep, and it was a gag IIRC, mouth bleeding, and rode xc in a Pelham meant for show hunters (also bloody) and has used chains instead of flash straps. When stuff like that goes on, I am wondering why the Myler is being picked out and not other bits with nastier mouthpieces.

 

[daffy44]

Dont expect logic from the FEI, this is the organisation that allows a show jumper at a 5* GP to wear every kind of tack all at the same time and warm up in draw reins, but does not allow a dressage horse at a 5* GP to wear a snaffle.....

 

[Wishfilly]

Long story short - and just my regurgitation of what has been on internet, so may not be factually correct:

Myler combo has been used widely in eventing and sj for years - and been through hundreds of FEI steward checks
At Kentucky (5* eventing) a rider was eliminated after their SJ round for being in the Myler combo.
Said rider (I think) had worn that bit xc in the same event and gone through the stewards fine.
Apparently (I'm just paraprasing) other rider(s) also used myler combo at Kentucky and weren't eliminated
Rider lodged an appeal at Kentucky
Of the 3 FEI stewards, 2 thought bit was fine, 1 didn't
Head of GJ rejected the appeal and sided with the 1 x objecting steward - rider was eliminated (but not other people using the bit).

The stance was related to some wording in the rules about action/modification of the bit - which you could read two ways and is therefore a little grey area.

So instead of letting it go for now and adding it to the rules committee for further review and future clarification, this rider drew the short straw.

Eventing riders have since been advised not to use it.

I saw a report of a SJ'er pulled up in advance at FEI and they apparently cut off the rope element and then were fine to ride ... despite that supposedly altering/harshening the action of the bit.

FEI = federation equestrian incompetant

Liked this for providing context, not for what the FEI have done as that sounds extremely messy to say the least!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

There's some horrific contraptions used in sj you can barely see the horses face for all the gumf on it

 

[Wishfilly]

My horse is very similar. Except he opens his mouth and ploughs into the pressure, which isn’t pleasant for anyone. He also dives down onto the hand like you’re saying.

In the Myler combo, he is soft to the hand and quiet in the mouth.

I’ve tried various bitless things. The mechanical hack, like I said, bosal, and sidepull. In the latter two, I completely lost steering a few times.

I guess horses don’t read the internet.

I don't fully remember Finn's history, but am I right in thinking he was an older feral pony, who people tried to back and messed it up? If so, he may have all sorts of trauma associated with traditional bits like snaffles etc?

I think, from what I remember of his history, you've done amazingly to get him going and give him a future, and in a way for a horse like him, I feel it doesn't really matter if the bit is "harsh"- because outcomes for him could have been so, so much worse?

At the time, wasn't there a couple of horses from the same herd who ended up in really awful situations?

 

[quizzie]

Dont expect logic from the FEI, this is the organisation that allows a show jumper at a 5* GP to wear every kind of tack all at the same time and warm up in draw reins, but does not allow a dressage horse at a 5* GP to wear a snaffle.....

And to add insult to injury, they then banned rotating mouthpiece weymouths which allow the bit to sit where it is most comfortable for the horse and reduce tongue pressure......while still allowing sliding cheek weymouths alongside the fixed cheek ones!

 

[Caol Ila]

I don't fully remember Finn's history, but am I right in thinking he was an older feral pony, who people tried to back and messed it up? If so, he may have all sorts of trauma associated with traditional bits like snaffles etc?

I think, from what I remember of his history, you've done amazingly to get him going and give him a future, and in a way for a horse like him, I feel it doesn't really matter if the bit is "harsh"- because outcomes for him could have been so, so much worse?

At the time, wasn't there a couple of horses from the same herd who ended up in really awful situations?

Yes, to all of the above.

He was at a pro backing yard (with a good reputation) for about two months, just before I first met him at his old owner's place. I don't know what they did, but he had all the behaviours I described earlier in this thread regarding bits/contact.

Tbh, I was really surprised by how pants his steering was. When his owner said he’d been at x’s yard getting trained, I thought he’d go pure deid sweetly. He’d been home for two weeks, but I was the first person to sit on him after his stint at the training yard (some good horse buying procedures there!!). Owner also seemed a bit surprised and said something about the trainer saying he’d had “tantrums.” Whatever that meant.

I think some of the other ones from his herd found okay owners in the end, but most never became rideable. Others did end up in awful situations. We don't know where all of the recently captured ponies wound up.

 

[daffy44]

And to add insult to injury, they then banned rotating mouthpiece weymouths which allow the bit to sit where it is most comfortable for the horse and reduce tongue pressure......while still allowing sliding cheek weymouths alongside the fixed cheek ones!

I know!! Like I said, dont expect logic from them.

 

[Wishfilly]

Yes, to all of the above.

He was at a pro backing yard (with a good reputation) for about two months, just before I first met him at his old owner's place. I don't know what they did, but he had all the behaviours I described earlier in this thread regarding bits/contact.

Tbh, I was really surprised by how pants his steering was. When his owner said he’d been at x’s yard getting trained, I thought he’d go pure deid sweetly. He’d been home for two weeks, but I was the first person to sit on him after his stint at the training yard (some good horse buying procedures there!!). Owner also seemed a bit surprised and said something about the trainer saying he’d had “tantrums.” Whatever that meant.

I think some of the other ones from his herd found okay owners in the end, but most never became rideable. Others did end up in awful situations. We don't know where all of the recently captured ponies wound up.

Given everything you've said, if it were me, I would keep him in a bit he was happy in and where you've got control. It sounds very much like he is one of the lucky ones!

I know we can argue a horse is not "lucky" per se to be ridden, although it does seem like he enjoys his work with you. But he is lucky in the sense that he likely has more of a secure future than many others in the herd?

 

[Caol Ila]

Given everything you've said, if it were me, I would keep him in a bit he was happy in and where you've got control. It sounds very much like he is one of the lucky ones!

I know we can argue a horse is not "lucky" per se to be ridden, although it does seem like he enjoys his work with you. But he is lucky in the sense that he likely has more of a secure future than many others in the herd?

Yeah. Had a whole thing about that on Facebook, ‘cause someone posted a photo of his still wild mates in Dallas and I said I felt bad that he was taken from that. Not lucky, in that sense.

Said I felt guilty that he has to carry a wee twat around Mugdock but I don’t know if living a life in a small monoculture field with no mental stimulation is great, either. Certainly risks obesity, EMS, all that. He likes wandering around the park. If he could be owned by someone with a Highland estate who could turn him out on wild moors and glens, that would be ideal. But highly unlikely.

 

[maisie06]

I've read that the FEI has banned the Myler combination bit. That has no bearing on my life because I will probably fly a rocketship into space before I compete anything at FEI level (or any level) eventing.

However, I do ride in a Myler combination bit, and I stumbled across an FB post today asserting that it's a horrendous contraption, which contravenes everything else I'd read asserting that it's less harsh than other types of gag bit.

I use it because I tried Fin in many different types of bits. Snaffles of various sorts, Bomber happy tongues, lots of things. With most of them, he'd open his mouth, throw his head around, and you'd have very little steering. However, with the Myler combo, he seemed to understand what was asked of him and would comply calmly and easily. Game changer. I rode exclusively in that for a while, then resumed futzing with milder options, including mechanical hacks (is that milder...?), bosals, more Bomber bits. These days he hacks in a little Fager Maria snaffle, but I usually school him in the Myler because he schools in that better than anything.

So which is it? Is it the harshest gag bit ever, like someone on the internet has said (and apparently the FEI), or at least no worse than Dutch gags, elevators, and all the other weird and wonderful shanked bits that are out there?

Any bit is only as harsh as the hand at the end of the rein, if he likes it, understands it and goes calmly then don't fix what aint broke!!

I also LOL at your first paragraph about flying into space!!

 

[Wishfilly]

Yeah. Had a whole thing about that on Facebook, ‘cause someone posted a photo of his still wild mates in Dallas and I said I felt bad that he was taken from that. Not lucky, in that sense.

Said I felt guilty that he has to carry a wee twat around Mugdock but I don’t know if living a life in a small monoculture field with no mental stimulation is great, either. Certainly risks obesity, EMS, all that. He likes wandering around the park. If he could be owned by someone with a Highland estate who could turn him out on wild moors and glens, that would be ideal. But highly unlikely.

But the flipside is that he could have gone to another home that didn't understand him, been passed around, maybe ended up at a bin end dealer or as a welfare case. Or even PTS.

I've also seen moorland ponies in the South West left to get in an absolutely horrible state or left without vet treatment when they're ill. To be clear, some are really well looked after, but this summer I've seen a lot with pretty rubbish feet (probably because the ground is so wet) and historically ponies with e.g. strangles have been left untreated. I've also seen one dead this year after being hit by a car. Occasionally I also see one that looks really poor as well. Finn's situation may have been different but I'm not convinced it's all fun and games being a "wild" pony in the UK.

It's a shame that staying wild wasn't an option for him, but I do genuinely think he's had a good outcome given the circumstances. You didn't make the decision to take him off the moor, but you did make the decision to give him a chance and I genuinely don't think you should feel guilty about any of that.