Sweet Iron Hanging Cheek Ported Mullen

Suitable for horses that:

• Have a large or fleshy tongue and cannot settle on a moving bit

• Get the tongue over the bit

• Are worn or sore at the corners of the mouth

• Are sensitive over the poll

• Come high in the neck and need to work down and forward

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 upper cheek holds the bit to the bridle cheekpiece, so the mouthpiece stays in one position in the mouth. It does not drop onto the incisors, slide sideways, or move when the hand moves. The cheeks lie flat against the face and pressure is concentrated on the bars. A hanging cheek does not create poll pressure: with no lower shank and no curb chain there is no leverage, and cheekpiece tension reduces rather than increases when the rein is taken. Holding the bit still also keeps the port sitting centrally over the tongue.

8241

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. 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

Rein ring

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

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