Sweet Iron Eggbutt Ring Ported Mullen

Suitable for horses that:

• Have a large or fleshy tongue and are also busy in the mouth

• Get the tongue over the bit

• Need the bit to stay still and stop moving about

• Are anxious and do not yet trust the contact

• Are rubbed or sore at the corners of the mouth

How it works

Mouthpiece. An unjointed mullen bar formed from a single piece of sweet iron, tapering from 14mm at the cheek to 10mm through the centre. The port measures 80mm wide by 10mm high, low and broad rather than tall and narrow, so the tongue is given room across a wide span while the bar stays well clear of the palate. The mouthpiece is swept forward to follow the arch of the tongue. With no joint there is nothing to close on the bars and no nutcracker action, and port relief moves the load off the centre of the tongue and out onto the bars.

Cheek piece. The bit ring is fixed to the mouthpiece and does not rotate. This prevents pinching of the lips, gives a solid feel against the side of the face and prevents the bit being pulled through the mouth. The release is slower than a loose ring and light poll pressure is introduced. A fixed cheek sits closely to the lips and encourages flexion. Paired with an unjointed mouthpiece it is the steadiest combination in the range, with nothing moving anywhere.

8235

Material. Sweet iron is low carbon steel with no chromium in it, so it is meant to rust. That surface rust is the working part of the bit. It tastes warm and sweet, which draws the horse to mouth the bit and salivate into a softer, wetter mouth. Ours is solid iron right through rather than a coating, and this mouthpiece is formed from a single bar with no joints in it at all. Supplied blue, fading to brown grey as it oxidises in work. Cheeks are stainless steel.

Fit closely, with the lip gently brushing the eggbutt. Nothing rotates, so no clearance is needed. An unjointed mouthpiece does not draw up under contact, so the width you measure is the width you need. Aim for one to two soft wrinkles at the corners of the mouth.

Size and fit

4.5"

4.75"

5"

5.25"

5.5"

6"

115 mm

120 mm

125 mm

135 mm

140 mm

150 mm

Mouthpiece

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

Port

80 x 10 mm

80 x 10 mm

80 x 10 mm

80 x 10 mm

80 x 10 mm

80 x 10 mm

Ring

65 mm

65 mm

70 mm

70 mm

70 mm

70 mm

Wipe dry after use and apply a light food safe oil. Surface oxidation after a period of storage lifts with a damp cloth.