[saultgirl]

What are the hooks for?

[luise]

They add leverage.

[saultgirl]

Do you have to use the hooks or can you still use it like a regular bit?

[Woodland]

Both - I cut mine off usually

[saultgirl]

So, are the hooks for connecting a curb chain?

[Woodland]

Yes, the hooks are for connecting the curb chain. They are designed for curb chains. However I have a few horses that like the mouth piece, but do not need a curb. And others that need the curb. I take the pliers and widen them to remove or a bolt cutters to clip them off.

[PNWjumper]

Yes, the hooks are for connecting the curb chain. They are designed for curb chains. However I have a few horses that like the mouth piece, but do not need a curb. And others that need the curb. I take the pliers and widen them to remove or a bolt cutters to clip them off.

The hooks are not for curb chains. In actual Myler bits (not sure about the knockoffs) there are holes drilled in the bits behind the hooks that are where the curb chain hooks go. The hooks themselves are to connect the reins to in order to add leverage to the bit. If you don't want the leverage, you can simply hook the reins the bit like you would any other bit.

[Ambrey]

It depends on the bit- the hooks would kind of interfere with the reins if you didn't use them. Most myler bits can be ordered without hooks.

[Woodland]

Which are you talking about?

http://mylerbitsusa.com/bitshanks.shtml

or

http://www.toklat.com/dyn_prod.php?p=89-0010&k=26498

Or the "hooks" at the cheek piece for this bit

http://www.toklat.com/dyn_prod.php?p=89-34025&k=26498

Post a picture of what you want to know about please

[Ambrey]

When people talk about myler bits with hooks, they almost always mean the first.

[sublimequine]

When people talk about myler bits with hooks, they almost always mean the first.

And basically, it acts like a kimberwicke. Just a touch of leverage. Curb chain can be used in the little hole drilled into the cheekpieces, but I don't THINK the curb chain's totally neccessary.

[Ambrey]

Most people don't use curb chains with myler bits, in my experience. I've read that without the curb chain, the action is actually a bit more like a gag.

[Woodland]

Most people don't use curb chains with myler bits, in my experience. I've read that without the curb chain, the action is actually a bit more like a gag.

That depends on the mouth piece, how it is attached to the cheek pieces, and where the reins are positioned. And then is it legal in the show pen - all things to consider.

[saultgirl]

I was looking through the myler bits, and this one, for example

http://www.doversaddlery.com/myler-m...01198/cn/1585/

says "with hooks"... which is what I was wondering about...

then I did some reading on the myler website and I'm fairly sure now that they are talking about the holes in the bit ring to attach the reins/cheekpieces to.

[smid2]

I use the hooks on my Myler bit. I actually had a problem with the bit when I wasn't using the hooks because it caused the bit to rub my mare right in front of her molars and caused her mouth to bleed a little bit. It seems the bit needed the reins to be placed in the hooks in order for the mouthpiece to engage properly and not rub her.

[PNWjumper]

I was looking through the myler bits, and this one, for example

http://www.doversaddlery.com/myler-m...01198/cn/1585/

says "with hooks"... which is what I was wondering about...

then I did some reading on the myler website and I'm fairly sure now that they are talking about the holes in the bit ring to attach the reins/cheekpieces to.

The bit in the Dover ad has the hooks that Woodland posted the first link to:
http://mylerbitsusa.com/bitshanks.shtml
It's confusing because they call them "hooks" when they're really "slots," and it's all the more confusing since you actually use some type of a hook to attach a curb chain.

But any time you see the phrase "with hooks" on a Myler bit it means that it has the fixed slots for the headstall and for the reins.