® ® Myler Bits are only available through authorized retailers. Please contact Customer Service for more information. 1 ® ® THE MYLER BITTING SYSTEM ® When a horse is resisting the bit, he’s really evading The Myler Bitting System is based on the concept tongue pressure because the bit is interfering with his of tongue relief. The most common traditional bit, BITS ability to swallow. Bits can only do two things: cause the jointed mouthpiece, applies constant pressure by About Myler Bits resistance or relaxation. To effectively communicate with collapsing on the tongue and inhibiting the horse’s ability the horse, the rider needs a bit which allows the horse to to swallow. The unique designs of Myler Bits® offer varying be relaxed. degrees of tongue relief depending on disposition and level of training. 2 RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF RESISTANCE When your horse is resisting the bit, you need to find a a mouthpiece that can offer him the comfort he bit that gives him more tongue relief than the bit you are deserves while giving you the communication and currently using. The Myler Levels match your horse with control that you need. 1. Going behind the bit 2. Going above the bit 3. Overactive mouth: gaping 4. Overactive mouth: tongue out of the 2017/2018 mouth or drawing the 1 2 3 tongue into the throat 5. Overactive mouth: tongue over the bit 6. Rooting/leaning on the bit, running through the bit Cavalier Equestrian Cavalier 4 5 6 Myler Bits® are only available through authorized retailers. Please contact Customer Service for more information. 2 ® YOUR HORSE’S MYLER LEVEL ® The Myler Level of any horse is based on his disposition Levels, the correlating mouthpiece designs offer more and experience. It’s a graduated system, meaning that as he tongue relief and apply less tongue pressure. When the learns, he earns more tongue relief. As you go up in Myler horse resists the bit, go softer not harsher. About Myler Bits BITS LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 2-3 LEVEL 4 • Young or green, just • Young or green, just • Basic training with a good • Performance horse with beginning training, with a beginning training, with a disposition and advanced training and a challenging disposition steady disposition self-control, can handle solid disposition more tongue relief • Riding in a discipline that • Older, just beginning • Experienced trail horse restricts bits to a training, training for a new • Advanced training but a with a solid/trustworthy single-jointed mouthpiece discipline, or retraining after challenging disposition disposition a long lapse — anxious, aggressive, or • Riding in a Level 2-3 curb fearful • Riding in a Level 1 bit and showing resistance mouthpiece and showing • Riding in a Level 2 resistance mouthpiece and showing resistance SELECTING A MYLER MOUTHPIECE 3 Myler mouthpiece designs correspond to the Myler Level Most horses can avoid Level 1 altogether; it’s quite of a horse’s behaviour and experience. The mouthpiece possible that your horse can enter the Myler System at Levels start at Level 1, which apply maximum tongue Level 2, 2-3, or even 3. The overview of mouthpiece pressure, and go up to Level 3, which apply minimum levels below explains how the design and function tongue pressure and offer the most tongue relief. changes from level to level. LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 2-3 LEVEL 3 • Rotates on to the tongue • Offers tongue relief with • Ported, offering more • Curb bits with wider ports to apply tongue pressure either a small port or tongue relief than Level 1 for maximum tongue relief, • Collapses to form a “U” flexible mouthpiece or 2 little to no tongue pressure instead of a “V,” protecting • Rotates on to the tongue • Correctional mouthpieces • Uses primarily bar, poll, and 2017/2018 lips and bars from to apply some tongue that apply some tongue curb pressure being pinched pressure pressure or curb • Curves to allow more mouthpieces that apply • Curves to allow more • Collapses to form a “U” room for the tongue room for the tongue, instead of a “V,” protecting little tongue pressure • Options with and protects the lips and bars lips and bars from being • Uses more bar, poll, chin without independent side from being pinched pinched pressure than Level 1 or 2 movement • Independent side • Curves to allow more • Curves to allow more movement on most room for the tongue, room for the tongue mouthpieces protects the lips and bars • Options with and from being pinched without independent side • Independent side movement movement on most Equestrian Cavalier mouthpieces Myler Bits® are only available through authorized retailers. Please contact Customer Service for more information. 3 ® MYLER MOUTHPIECES ® Mouthpieces with English cheekpieces are stainless steel. Mouthpieces with Western, Parelli and combination bits cheekpieces are sweet iron BITS which turns grey when exposed to moisture, releasing a sweet taste in the horse’s mouth. All mouthpieces have copper inlay to encourage Myler Mouthpieces salivation. Myler bits offer special features that make them truly unique. ISM Curved Mouthpiece Mouthpiece Thickness 1 2 3 1. Independent Side Movement™ The barrel in the center acts as a bushing, allowing each side of the bit to move independently of the other. When you lift one rein, only one side of the bit moves, giving the horse a very clear signal. Provides excellent shoulder control as well as lateral flexion. 2. Curved Mouthpiece Myler mouthpieces have a distinctive curve that creates more room for the tongue to pass under the bit so the horse can swallow more freely. Although Level 1 mouthpieces have a more pronounced curve, all Myler mouthpieces are curved to some degree. 3. Mouthpiece Thickness Most Myler mouthpieces are 7/16 thick (11.11mm), a thickness that allows the bit to fit comfortably in the horse’s mouth. In English bits, we offer a selection of mouthpieces that measure 14mm at the cheekpiece, 4 tapering to 11.11mm inside the mouth. This provides a slightly larger surface area on the bars and lips, but still provides ample room for the tongue inside the mouth. MB 01 MB 02 MB 03 MB 09 MB 10 Comfort Snaffle Comfort Snaffle Comfort Snaffle Traditional Traditional Narrow Barrel Wide Barrel Copper Roller Single-jointed French Link More comfortable More comfortable 02 with copper roller. Curved for comfort. Traditional three-piece. alternative to the alternative to the Alternative to the Consider the 02, 03 Consider the 02, 03 single-jointed mouthpiece. three-piece mouthpiece. three-piece mouthpiece. or 01 with ISM. or 01 with ISM. MB 11 MB 04 MB 32-3 MB 32 MB 06 Traditional French Comfort Snaffle Triple Barrel Traditional Mullen Low Link Copper Roller Low Port Mullen Mullen Port Barrel 2017/2018 Traditional three-piece. Slight (1/4") port allows Flexible and forgiving when Curved solid bar restricts the Slight (1/4") port offers Consider the 02, 03 for more tongue relief than relaxed, solid with tongue tongue. Consider the 32-3 tongue relief; does not rotate or 01 with ISM. Level 1 mouthpieces. pressure when engaged. for more tongue relief. on to the tongue. MB 13C MB 36 MB 27PB MP MB 27PB MB 27LP Narrow Medium Mullen Low Port Correctional Correctional Correctional Port Cathedral with Forward Tilt Medium Ported Barrel Low Ported Barrel Low Port Applies palate pressure. The solid Cavalier Equestrian Cavalier Slight (1/4") port offers tongue Allows room for tongue; Similar to the 27PB but w/ no ISM; 27PB with a medium port for mouth offers significant tongue relief; forward tilt applies rotates on to tongue to apply rotates on to tongue to apply more tongue relief relief with mild tongue pressure. some tongue pressure. two points of pressure. two points of pressure. Myler Bits® are only available through authorized retailers. Please contact Customer Service for more information. 4 ® MYLER MOUTHPIECES ® MEASURING FOR A BIT The goal of Myler Bits® is to make your horse as comfortable as possible. One simple step BITS towards this goal is to make sure you have Myler Mouthpieces the correct size of bit. Myler bits fit a little differently than traditional bits because of their distinctive curve. If the bit fits properly, you should see at least 1/8 to 1/4 of bit on both sides of your horse’s mouth. To measure your horse accurately, you will need a wooden dowel or the handle of a wooden spoon. 1. Insert the dowel in your horse’s mouth where the bit would normally sit. 2. Wait until the horse relaxes in his mouth and stops chewing the dowel. MB 27PB HP MB 27 MB 29 Correctional Traditional Traditional Correctional 3. Mark the dowel on each side of the face, where the High Ported Barrel Correctional Cathedral Port lips end. 4. Remove the dowel and measure between the two marks. Choose the size nearest your measurement, but go up, not down, to make sure 27PB with higher port for 27PB HP without ISM. Applies palate pressure. 5 that the bit won’t be too snug. more tongue relief, possible Rotates on to tongue to apply two palate pressure. Possible palate pressure. points of pressure. MB 41PB MB 43LP MB 43MP MB 43HP MB 47PB Correctional Narrow Narrow Narrow Correctional Ported Barrel Low Ported Barrel Medium Ported Barrel High Ported Barrel Ported Barrel Offers same tongue relief as Mildest 2-3, does not rotate Correctional version Level 3, but applies tongue on to the tongue. Offers Offers more tongue relief than 43LP with higher port for of the 43HP, rotates pressure for control. significant tongue relief. the 43LP, no palate pressure some palate pressure. on to the tongue. MB 47 MB 05 MB 12 MB 16PB MB 16 Traditional Correctional Low Low Narrow Port Wide Ported Barrel Medium Wide Port Correctional Medium Wide Ported Barrel 2017/2018 47PB without ISM.