Talk to me about Mylers ......

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spacefaer

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Mylers are a bit I admit I know very little about but I suspect the new mare might like.

She was very gobby when she arrived, has had teeth done (pretty sharp) back checked (no issues) and has had a break over the summer.

So, this autumn, I started her off in a loose ring lozenge bit - hated it, opened mouth, throws head up violently whenever I ask her to do something she doesn't want to (downwards transition, accept contact.....) In running martingale and flash noseband to start with.

Tried her in an old school single joint eggbut snaffle - improved, but still resisting. also put a loosely fitted drop noseband on as she doesn't like a flash. Still in running martingale to stop her breaking my nose.

Next step, straight bar plastic bit. Much better, still throwing head but not as violently or as often, still quite snatchy in transitions, but whole resistance lark much more muted. Drop noseband adjusted to act like cavesson.

So...... I think a mullen mouth would be more comfortable, something thinner than the plastic straight bar, something that will encourage her to salivate.......

She hasn't got the biggest mouth, and has a decently thick ID tongue too.

Would one of the Mylers do this? Or something like a bombers happy tongue
 
Have you tried a sweet iron bit cheaper alternative to the others and it may just work without you having to fork out loads, I have only ever used a myler Pelham which I really like and so do both of my horses they go really well in it and I only use it for showing.

have you tried an eggbut snaffle as well as a loose ring, I find my horse that chomps and fiddles is worse in a loose ring he is much stiller in an eggbut, I currently ride him in a sweet iron hanging cheek with a copper lozenge he seems to really like it.

just seen you have tried an eggbut maybe try a lozenge bit I find not many horses like single jointed bits at all I always go for the lozenge type and mine seem to like them, both my horses have quite small mouths and one has a large tongue, failing that how about a happy mouth bit they are quite thin.
 
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thanks pinkyboots
I started with a loose ring lozenge, which she hated, moved to a single joint eggbut which she hated slightly less, and am now in a straight bar
So I am working on the principle that she doesn't like joints.

I have tried sweet iron bits in the past, with great success in terms of encouraging salivation, but I haven't come across many mullen mouth ones (apart from the bombers, which I asked about)

The straight bar is too thick for her mouth - it's stretching the corners of her lips - so I was thinking of something thinner, mouthpiece wise, and possibly mullen mouthed, rather than straight, to sit better across her tongue.

Hence asking if anyone had used a Myler bit in a similar situation, or could recommend something else.......
 
My grey loves her Myler comfort snaffle and she didn't like a lozenge snaffle so it is worth trying one. I did need to go down a size (quarter of an inch) compared to the lozenge.
 
I use both the Myler comfort snaffle and the myler pelham, the older Appy likes them both (I prefer her in the pelham, as she has very little acknowlegement of the snaffle in anything like an exciting situation!) The younger Appy likes the comfort snaffle, I thik they both like the fact that it stays quite still in their mouths and the messages tend to be a bit more subtle than if you use a mullen mouth or a straight bar.
 
Our fussy mare went quite well in a comfort snaffle, arguably she goes better still in a mullen mouth hanging cheek, it seems she like things as still as possible. If she were still doing actual work she would certainly be one I'd be interested to try the bomber happy tongue on.

NB we have a non port myler and ported version of the myler.. there is a lot less movement in the side arms without the port IMO. I have use the ported one as something 'different' on the welshie (who goes in whatever) to get him to back off my hand a little.
 
The MB02, MB04 and MB32 are useful additions to my bit box.
As with everything it's all a bit trial and error mind
 
YorksG said:
I thik they both like the fact that it stays quite still in their mouths and the messages tend to be a bit more subtle than if you use a mullen mouth or a straight bar.
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Talk me through the theory.....

All I am aiming for is a still, consistent contact, which is what she gives me when she is happy - totally even in both reins, and a light, secure contact. I have that in the plastic straight bar, but it is too thick, and I suspect too large in her mouth.

Can you explain why the comfort snaffle would be better than a mullen mouth, or something like a bombers tongue relief version?
 
Some folk just can't accept that a horse is not happy in a jointed bit!

I like to use a normal Pelham, just trial and error as to the thickness of different makes, you don't have to use the curb rein if you don't need to ☺

If you want to do dressage, a straight bar eggbut will give a similar feel.
 
I like Mylers in theory. Less collapse on the bit than a single jointed or lozenge bit so doesn't pinch their jaw. But the two sides move independently which is supposed to give clearer signals than say a Mullen mouth which moves as one unit.

My Angloarab who hated any jointed bit and ended up in a Mullen mouth Pelham and very happy with it too has recently been hacking out in a hanging cheek Myler with a drop nose and and I wish I'd found this combo when she wasn't half retired as shes even happier than she was in the Pelham and would have been dressage legal. However the reason she's got the bit is cos the IDx it was bought for hated hated hated it. But she goes happily in a loose ring lozenge bit. The Anglo had a Myler before but it was a loose ring and she didn't like it... think she's a stickler for stability hence the hanging cheek drop nose and combo being preferred as well as the Pelham.
 
tda said:
Some folk just can't accept that a horse is not happy in a jointed bit!

I like to use a normal Pelham, just trial and error as to the thickness of different makes, you don't have to use the curb rein if you don't need to ☺

If you want to do dressage, a straight bar eggbut will give a similar feel.
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She just hacks and hunts! I wouldn't want to put a curb chain on her though, with a pelham, and would be worried about the hooks dangling loose if I didn't.
 
PapaverFollis said:
I like Mylers in theory. Less collapse on the bit than a single jointed or lozenge bit so doesn't pinch their jaw. But the two sides move independently which is supposed to give clearer signals than say a Mullen mouth which moves as one unit .
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And I don't think I need independent movement - she seems to like the comparative stillness of the straight bar.....
 
For goodness sake Spacefaer, can you not tell that she isn't happy in a jointed bit and come to terms with that? Oh......but then she isn't happy in a straight bar.... I know, bitless! Put her in a hackamore :)
 
Lévrier;13652182 said:
For goodness sake Spacefaer, can you not tell that she isn't happy in a jointed bit and come to terms with that? Oh......but then she isn't happy in a straight bar.... I know, bitless! Put her in a hackamore :)
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ok no problem ..... and you can come up and hunt her for me !!!!
 
Awkward irish youngster works lovely in the myler comfort snaffle for everything except jumping, then when we jump I have an "MB 04" which is the combi with a two ring comfort snaffle.
Like you I'd tried various different snaffles with varying degrees of ineffectiveness - not happy in a straightbar, NS turtle top she just ran through, eggbutt made her open her mouth and yaw on the bit, she was doing damage to herself resisting and being uncomfortable. I think the myler is more still in the mouth, and also has space for a fat tongue being a thinner bit.
I'd happily ride mine in a hackamore but the fine control wasn't there and that's what made me try the combi - it's the first bit for jumping that she accepts, no leaping about, no backing off the contact (pelham/kimblewick/gag), we're still a bit quick but she accepts the pressure on the nose for a woah where she won't in a stronger bit than the comfort snaffle.
 
spacefaer said:
And I don't think I need independent movement - she seems to like the comparative stillness of the straight bar.....
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If she likes the mullen mouth, and you want brakes - I would still head towards a mullen pelham, but use an elastic curb on it. Much more forgiving than leather or chain - my super sensitive mare accepted the elastic curb without hesitation when she fussed with a chain / leather curb. Ride with two reins, but just leave your curb rein long :)
 
How about a little cambridge mouth snaffle (magic bit) - nice & neat, stable and easy to get hold of cheaply to try
 
Abbeygale said:
If she likes the mullen mouth, and you want brakes - I would still head towards a mullen pelham, but use an elastic curb on it. Much more forgiving than leather or chain - my super sensitive mare accepted the elastic curb without hesitation when she fussed with a chain / leather curb. Ride with two reins, but just leave your curb rein long :)
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Thanks for the suggestion - I don't need brakes - she stops on a sixpence in the plastic bit - she's just got a very light mouth, and being a girl, has opinions on what is acceptable to put in it!!
 
Don't know if this is much help, and I haven't read through the whole thread but my pony chomps and bites any other bit he wears. He will be chewing for the whole ride and grabbing it in his teeth, pop a myler in and he is completely quiet in the mouth, perfectly still and relaxed.
 
I've just bought this:

http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1201

This is for a driving pony but they come in snaffle versions as well. I havent actually got it in my hands to have a proper look at it, but I'm hoping my fussy little cob will like it. Hes light in the hand and a very sensitive little flower, and as I have upped the intensity of his work hes not happy in his current bit. He will have it on the top ring with a gel pad on the curb chain as too much pressure on his mouth in any shape or form ends in a melt down!

I'm hoping it arrives tomorrow and I can have a good fiddle about with it in my hands before I even think about putting it in his mouth. I am interested to see if and how it goes from jointed to fixed.
 
spacefaer said:
Thanks for the suggestion - I don't need brakes - she stops on a sixpence in the plastic bit - she's just got a very light mouth, and being a girl, has opinions on what is acceptable to put in it!!
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Ah sorry - I misread an earlier post - my bad!

My very sensitive arab mare liked the Myler MB04

http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=87

But have actually now found that a double jointed bit with a lozenge, rather than a french link "plate" is preferred even more!

For super soft bits, I would also look to the Beris bits - they do a softer and harder version, and do a nice little snaffle with a port in it for the super sensitive! :)
 
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