Sweet Iron Full Cheek Ported Mullen

Suitable for horses that:

• Have a large tongue and fall out through the shoulder

• Ignore the outside rein

• Are newly backed and need both tongue room and a clear steering aid

• Slide the bit across 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 full cheek prevents pinching at the sides of the mouth, and the arms above and below the mouthpiece prevent the bit being pulled through and assist in guiding the head. The upper arm is bent away from the face so it cannot press into the cheek, and both arms taper to rounded ball ends. Release is slower than a loose ring and light poll pressure is introduced. Fitted with keepers the upper arm is held to the bridle cheekpiece and the bit sits at a constant angle, which matters more on an unjointed mouthpiece because the port needs to stay central over the tongue.

8237

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 cheek. No clearance is needed. An unjointed mouthpiece does not draw up under contact, so the width you measure is the width you need. Fit keepers for jumping, and remove a full cheek from a horse left unattended.

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

Cheek arm

150 mm

150 mm

150 mm

150 mm

150 mm

150 mm

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