Myler Users/Experts Please Help

sjp1

sjp1

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My bitting nightmare continues! After having trialled a NS hanging cheek trans angle baucher bit (awful), a Bomber Happy Tongue (better, but not much good), used a Happy Mouth plastic snaffle with flash (had better hacking brakes but not happy in it), Myler single jointed curved snaffle (thin and better designed snaffle but backed off the contact) and finally MB05 - I have a fat tongued shallow palate appy with thick lips and sensitive corners.

MB05 lovely for schooling. Hacked out yesterday - not on a fast ride but with a group - generally just hack with friend and MB05 is good. However, yesterday when trotting we had head up hollow back and ploughing forward. No matter how much leg I had on him to push him up into the bridle and then down, it didn't work.

Whilst this is fine trotting along the road, I know this is not going to be fine when out with loads of others through the woods and on tracks!

I am minded to keep with the Myler because they are nice and thin, and don't take up a lot of room.

I currently have the MB05 on the top hooks, but haven't used the bottom hooks because I am not sure he is that keen on poll pressure - hated the baucher with a passion. Or am I better to use the bottom hooks?

What other of their range would give him the tongue relief, but give me some form of control?
 
if he is backing off the contact then I wouldn't try with bottom hooks as it will then be giving poll pressure, even a smidge of poll pressure might encorage him to back off more. Also, the MB05 you have is ported, which might be a problem for him if he has a low palate, perhaps a NS verbindent or Myler MB32 might suit better as space is given for the tongue without a port potentially affecting the palatte?
 
With the MB05 he isn't backing off the contact, but setting his neck and going above it when wanting to go faster?

Shall google the MB32. The verbindend has a lozenge doesn't it? He doesn't like lozenges. I have tried the tranz angle lozenge and also a jeffries eldonian revolver, both of which he really hated.
 
The angle of some lozenges can give more tongue pressure which can be a problem for some, the verbindent has the lozenge at a different angle to avoid this so it does make it good for sensitive large tongue types with not much apace in their mouths. If he is just setting his neck and going above the contact then try both hooks on but be sure to use enough leg. A smidge too much hand and not enough leg will pretty much guarrantee a horse above the contact, is all too easy to do though esp if you have brakeing worries!

Lots of work in walk (then trot when he gets the idea and keeps balanced - don't forget to support with your leg to get a flex not a wiggle!) getting him to flex the neck when asked gently should help also so that if you do feel him locking his neck you can ask for a flex to 'break' the neck and give you some control back.
 
Thank you - we are fine when schooling, but seems to be at times of excitement (clearly trotting down a tarmac road with other horses in front and behind is exciting?!!) that he is not listening at all to me.

Will look at the Verbindend and also the MB32 - I am kind of thinking the MB05 is too high a level for his behaviour/training, but can always keep it for schooling, or non exciting hacks!

Had a lot of leg on when we had the head up, but yes, could have had too much hand.
 
I use the MB04 on my girl. She hates a lozenge bit or a loose bit moving around in her small mouth. If you try her on both hooks it will give a clearer and steady aid.

Mylers are different and both you and she will need time to get used to the action of it. They work on pressure and release and a light hand, not a forced contact. A little tickle is all that you need and she will learn to come into the bridle in time. Also, don't have it on so tight as that is a common mistake which confuses a lot of people, it's not an English snaffle and they hang lower in the mouth when fitted properly.

I ride with my seat and legs and she'll jog on grass with me just holding on the buckle end, so is the power of Myler.;):D
 
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