TinselRider
Well-Known Member
As title really I am looking into trying one but would like others opinions on them first
Myler short shank combinations, anyone tried?
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dieseldog
Well-Known Member
Depends what you think you are going to get out of it? My mare likes hers as it is milder than a normal 3 ring. I like it because it is stronger than a snaffle and I can actually take a contact in it. Mine though has 3 rings on it so I can move the reins up and down.
Joss
Well-Known Member
I have one, which I actually found stronger than a 3 ring (dutch gag). I found the nose pressure useful in getting him back under control.
My main problem was a really needed to keep his mouth closed as he is a real monkey for opening it very wide & getting his tongue over the bit. I did manage to use it with a grackle for a while but it was such a pain to try to get the 2 nosebands lying comfortably but effectively that I gave up & changed to a cheltenham gag. Latest XC bit is a waterford dutch gag (3 ring whatever you want to call them).
My main problem was a really needed to keep his mouth closed as he is a real monkey for opening it very wide & getting his tongue over the bit. I did manage to use it with a grackle for a while but it was such a pain to try to get the 2 nosebands lying comfortably but effectively that I gave up & changed to a cheltenham gag. Latest XC bit is a waterford dutch gag (3 ring whatever you want to call them).
Weezy
Well-Known Member
I prefer the long shank.
kerilli
Well-Known Member
it depends hugely on the mouthpiece. the 02 mouthpiece one worked beautifully on one i had to event last year, he loved it, but it had no effect at all on another horse, who goes better in the high ported one.
just be aware that they are designed for western riding so for a tug-and-release style, if you riding style is a looseish contact with the odd tug they are great, but they are not ideal for the "permanent contact" style as there is no let-up of the pressure. some horses invert in them for this reason.
just be aware that they are designed for western riding so for a tug-and-release style, if you riding style is a looseish contact with the odd tug they are great, but they are not ideal for the "permanent contact" style as there is no let-up of the pressure. some horses invert in them for this reason.
Cyberchick
Well-Known Member
I use one for SJ and it has been great. Infact I borrowed one from Joss before I bought one as they are expensive but it has been worth it.
He really backed off it at the beginning because of the extra poll and nose pressure which he wasn't used to and went from a very strong horse to not wanting to go forward but did get used to it quite quickly. I have the comfort snaffle mouthpiece and that is fine for me but you have a choice of mouthpieces to choose from.
Be aware the nose can rub so you have to soften and shape it or pop some vet wrap round it. I use a thin piece of sheepskin and that works.
He really backed off it at the beginning because of the extra poll and nose pressure which he wasn't used to and went from a very strong horse to not wanting to go forward but did get used to it quite quickly. I have the comfort snaffle mouthpiece and that is fine for me but you have a choice of mouthpieces to choose from.
Be aware the nose can rub so you have to soften and shape it or pop some vet wrap round it. I use a thin piece of sheepskin and that works.
TinselRider
Well-Known Member
Mmmm I think I might have to find someone to borrow one off of. Ban is very strong SJ and I was thinking of trying one for that, he tends to just stick his bum under and tank off but getting flatter in his stride as he does, he also has very high head carriage if that would make any difference to how the bit would work?
Casper_cb
Well-Known Member
I use a short shank on one of mine. It works really well, but he's not at all srong, he just respects the pressure on his nose and I'm not confident enough to ride him in a hackamore SJ/ XC.
I tried the myler on another one of mine that tanked and pulled. It did not work at all. My horse quickly worked out that once the nose pressure was there and that when he pulled harder it got no worse. It resulted in him sticking his head between his legs and bolting at fences! It was very difficult to release the contact as he'd just fall flat on his face and he did not learn. I ended up doing what I should have done originally, popping him back in his KK snaffle, taking a step back from competing and lots of grid work, he's now a sweetie.
For the Myler to work in my opinion you need to have a horse that accepts the bit and the nose pressure only comes into play to remind them not to tank or lean, if you have a horse that leans on the bit they don't really work. You can obviously play with the mouth peices and get a ported one which the horse won't lean on but it really depends how your horse reacts to it, he'll either respect it and behave or hate it and just become beligerant and unhappy in his work.
For a horse with a v. high head carriage a fluffy nose band can help as the horse has to lower it's head to see where it's going.
I tried the myler on another one of mine that tanked and pulled. It did not work at all. My horse quickly worked out that once the nose pressure was there and that when he pulled harder it got no worse. It resulted in him sticking his head between his legs and bolting at fences! It was very difficult to release the contact as he'd just fall flat on his face and he did not learn. I ended up doing what I should have done originally, popping him back in his KK snaffle, taking a step back from competing and lots of grid work, he's now a sweetie.
For the Myler to work in my opinion you need to have a horse that accepts the bit and the nose pressure only comes into play to remind them not to tank or lean, if you have a horse that leans on the bit they don't really work. You can obviously play with the mouth peices and get a ported one which the horse won't lean on but it really depends how your horse reacts to it, he'll either respect it and behave or hate it and just become beligerant and unhappy in his work.
For a horse with a v. high head carriage a fluffy nose band can help as the horse has to lower it's head to see where it's going.
gemjar82
Well-Known Member
I have one for cross country i love itbut as someone said you really have to pull and release. I show jump in a german hackamore so find that the combination gives me a bit extra when out on the cross country course. The myler bit bank let them go on trial then if you like it you buy if not you can send it back. Have you tried jumping in a hackamore? If Ban doesnt like it he may not like the combination either.
qwertyuiop
Well-Known Member
I used to use 1 and it served its purpose at the time (tanking off with me). I now use a french link for flat work and hacking, and a hanging cheek waterford the jumping. He likes the waterford more in his mouth, and I like that he cannot take hold of it (he could with the Myler).
charliebo
Well-Known Member
Best to use two pairs of reins with it. Any bit with leverage provides a false contact and having another pair of reins on the snaffle ring helps the rider have a real contact, with the other pair of reins at the ready to be used when needed. You have to have VERY good hands to be able to ride correctly in such a bit with one rein. They give a very false feeling of how much contact you have (not myler bits in particular, all bits with leverage). Also, the horse needs to be advanced enough in its training for these bits to have the correct effect. They should not be used as a short cut, covering up problems with the horse's training.