An Eye-Opening Seminar: Myler Bits

(This blog was originally posted on May 31, 2011)

 

Several years ago Dale Myler, a co-creator of Myler Bits, presented a seminar about the philosophy behind and benefits of their bit system at the Valencia Sport Saddlery in Santa Clarita, California. Following are my notes about the general role and function of bits, various kinds of Myler Bits that are available, how this product facilitates effective communication between riders and their equine partners, and more.

Signs of resistance to the bit: rooting àMB01 (comfort snaffle/narrow barrel)

Ron Myler started the Myler bitting system. RM rides cutting horses. Bob Myler does cowboy shooting.

Don’t expect more from the horse than you put into it.

When you start working with the horse, handle their face. Better-educated horses need very light contact.

How relaxed is the horse when you handle him?

The horse follows his shoulders. The head and neck are balancing points.

Look for: How can you keep the QD, Master of Equine Dentistry, says: The most important thing about bitting a horse is to make sure the mouth is in excellent condition.

Horse age: 1 year of a horse’s life=3 human years

Myler does dentistry 2x year through first 5 years of its life

Wide/think tongue vs. shallow palate

The lip cushions the bar of the mouth, but the skin at the corner of the mouth is very sensitive

Levels of bits:
·         Pressure points
·         Bars
·         Tongue

On the ground, the bit goes into the palate.

A bit will never collapse enough to be free in the mouth and create even pressure=least amount of resistance.

The animal avoids tongue pressure, not bar pressure.

The horse’s tongue twists and elevates when the animal swallows.

Horses are willing to close off their airway to protect their mouth/tongue.

There is a direct connection between the heart and tongue. The tongue is a sensory organ.

Check the color of the horse’s gums and tongue.

Damage to the tongue can cut off oxygen supply.

The tongue is connected to the horse’s sternum and shoulders.

The tongue is the strongest muscle in the horse’s body. It is directly connected to the horse’s sternum and shoulders. Tension in the horse’s tongue creates tension in the sternum…resulting in the inability to round up.

Muscles in the TMJ control balance and proprioception (coordination)

When the tongue is soft, the horse moves more freely. Restricting the jaws and neck movement/creates tension that alters movement patterns.

Robert Miller, DVM, observed “how little the horse world—including me—knows about bits and bitting.”
·         According to Miller, bits are “instruments of discomfort.”
·         “Clinging to bits because they are traditional is not justified.”
·         Prey animals’ instincts/response to pain is to flee, and horses enter “flight” mode.

Most people change bits because of resistance, not connection. The horse is trying to release pressure of the bit.

We don’t bit a horse to hurt it; we bit a horse to handle it. Put a bit on the horse that has no collapse/take some pressure-points away. Don’t presume that the horse is being bullish/belligerent if it evades…the only way it communicate.

99% of recreational horses never need a correctional mouthpiece.

Myler bits only use the part of the bit that you need to achieve the maneuver.

How much freedom can we give you and still be able to handle him?

The more places on the bit that you ask from, the less pressure/easier it is for the horse to find you.

Go to www.mylerbitsusa.com to look at the combination bit.

There should always be an introduction to the bit.

Every time the horse does something/makes and effort to do what you ask, he deserves praise/a reward.

Choose the combination bit when taking into account the pressure-points in a horse’s mouth/face include:

·         Hard palate
·         Nose
·         Bars
·         Tongue
·         Chin
·         Groove
·         Outer lip
·         Poll

Look at the size of the horse’s mouth and bit to determine where he’s comfortable to close his mouth.

Horse=prey. Rider=predator.

The more relaxed the horseßà the more relaxed the rider.

The average human produces 32-51 ounces of saliva per day. The average horse produces 10 GALLONS of saliva per day.

Humans and animals will always seek the comfort zone in the job they’re doing. If the horse is interfered with, it can’t stay in that comfort zone.

When you collect a horse, he collects from the brain first. He has to be relaxed into the bridle to lift his withers and back, to move through the hindquarters.

The brain is the most important thing to the horse. He must be relaxed in his mind so he can lift in his withers and move from the back.

When you bit a horse up and he gets nervous, he starts evading again.

MouthàMindàMouth

The horse must press his tongue against the palate to swallow…imagine the discomfort/pain at the dentist.

Bits will not train the animal. People train the horse. The more relaxed the horse is, the more you can do with/teach it.

We need to figure out and develop equipment that is comfortable for the horse, not develop equipment to force the horse’s mouth closed.

Never put more bit on a horse than we take off.

The point is: How can we go out and have fun with our horse?

You want the horse’s withers and back up so he can carry the rider more easily.

Every time you step up on the horse, he’s learning. But he’ll only show you what he’s learned when his mind can relax.

It’s virtually impossible to develop a good/nice set of hands if the horse is always moving away from you.

Help the horse to get relaxed into the bit/bridle so the rider can learn to use other aids.

Horses are like people: they remember the last thing that happened to him.

MB Level 1 bit: anyplace he goes except where you want him, he applies pressure to himself. Correct position I s comfort.

Will the horse allow you to pick up and school/teach him something new?

Only the horse’s lower jaw moves—like people!

Go to the questionnaire on MB Web-site: www.mylerbitsusa.com

Tradition is held by members of the discipline.

The mouthpiece is for the horse; the shank is for the rider. A long shank is OK for gentle hands.

MB01, MB02 bits are acceptable in dressage competitions!

MB Level 2, 04 combination is for starting the horse.

Transitioning from the O-ring snaffle to the Myler bit is no different from any other bit.

You should have 1 to 1 ½ wrinkles at the corner of the horse’s mouth.

The curb balances the bit; the head-stall pulls the bit back into the horse’s mouth.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

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