> Dr. Hilary Clayton, Bit Study: > > http://iceryder.net/bitstudy.html
Additional info from the studies: Myler comfort snaffle. A wide range of Myler bits is available. One of the bits evaluated in this study was the Myler comfort snaffle. As shown in Figure 4a, the two arms of the mouthpiece meet within a central barrel that allows a swiveling motion but does not permit any nutcracker action. The radiographs showed that the mouthpiece was positioned quite high on the horse's tongue and tended to be pressed deeply into the tongue, indicating that the tongue muscles were relaxed. The position and angle of the Myler mouthpiece did not change when tension was applied to the reins, but the bit moved away from the palate by further indenting the tongue. Some horses that resist the action of conventional bits perform well in a Myler bit. This increased acceptance may be related to the smoothness of the surface of the barrel, the higher position of the mouthpiece on the tongue, the fact that the angle of the mouthpiece does not change when tension is applied to the reins, or all three. Another possibility is that the relatively rigid Myler mouthpiece allows the horse to push against it with his tongue to control pressure on the bars. Choosing a Bit The results of our study indicate that the size and shape of the oral cavity vary among horses, and that these differences are likely to affect each individual horse's comfort with different types of bits. ____________________________________ Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
