The creators of Myler Bits, Ron, Dale and Bob Myler, offer a philosophy behind each of their bits. The bit is a communication tool, and to effectively communicate with your horse, he must be relaxed. If your horse is resistant, he is not effectively receiving your message and needs a different bit which lets him relax. MOUTHPIECES 1. Tongue Relief / Curved Mouthpiece permits horse to swallow freely, encouraging the horse to relax. Many traditional bits lie flat on the horse's tongue, restricting swallowing, often leading to resistance. With curved mouthpieces, Myler Bits distribute pressure more evenly across the tongue than traditional designs. 2. Mouthpiece Metals include Copper Inlay to encourage salivation. Mouthpiece metals vary between Western & English bits with most Western bits made of Sweet Iron & Copper Inlay and English bits made of Sterling Silver & Copper Inlay. Some solid Sweet Iron, Sterling Silver, & Cyprium mouthpieces are available as well. 3. Pinch & Restrict with a release teaches the horse to relax at the poll & stay in his "comfort zone". With rein pressure the mouthpiece collapses inward on the bars & rolls downward into the tongue. Once relaxes at the poll, the pressure is released & the horse learns to stay in the pressure free position. 4. Hooks offer leverage with direct action type bits. This feature rolls the mouthpiece forward & downward into the tongue & bars with rein pressure, encouraging the horse to break at the poll. Most traditional ring bits only apply backward pressure into the tongue & bars which can lead a horse to resist. The bit attaches to the headstall going from outside of the bit, through the slot & fastening as shown. It will appear like a traditional ring bit from the side. With Full Cheek bits that have only one hook, it is important to use a bit keeper to secure the position of the headstall. 5. Independent Side Movement" within the mouthpiece allows the rider to isolate one side of the bit. With traditional bits, a rider is not able to cause only the one side, leading to miscommunication & resistance. With Independent Side Movement", a rider can choose to affect only one side, assisting in lifting a shoulder or for balancing, bending, & collection. Combination Bits 1. The headstall is attached to the purchase. With rein pressure, the purchase tilts forward, applying downward pressure on the poll. 2. The curb strap sits high on the jaw, so to be closer to the rotational point of the second vertebrae or poll. Curb pressure encourages the horse to rotate his nose downward and backward until the pressure is released, hence he relaxes at the poll. 3. The noseband applies downward and backward pressure over points on the nose. In response to the pressure, the horse will drop his nose down and back towards his center. Rawhide noseband. 4. The sliding mouthpiece works lightly in the mouth, applying subtle pressure on the tongue and/or bars, until it hits the "ring stop" when it then applies downward pressure, asking the horse with more of a signal. 5. The rein attachment is on the lower ring. If one chooses to have the option of direct action, a second rein can be used on the center ring, like a Pelham.