Imus Comfort Gait Bit vs. Mylar Comfort Snaffle

[pasobeat]

I have looked at the Imus Comfort Gait Bit on the Gaits of Gold website, and it APPEARS to be similar to a bit I already own, a Mylar Comfort Snaffle (D. 89-20035 5" HBT, Sweet Iron copper inlay comfort snaffle wide barrel with roller (MB 03) Mouth as listed on this website http://www.kellystackshop.com/mylerhbt.html).

Can someone please tell me if there are any differences, and what they are? Has anyone used the ICB and have any comments, good or bad?

Here is the info on the ICB from the Gaits of Gold Website:

The Imus Comfort Gait™ Bit a mouthpiece that offers plenty of tongue relief for the horse, encouraging him to drop his head into the bit, rather than stiffening up against it. It boasts flush brass fittings in the pinchless mouthpiece and cheekpieces, and smooth, independent action from side to side. This allows the rider to work the horse laterally, as well as lift a shoulder or use a leading rein.


These actions are enhanced by the shape and length of the mouthpiece, which is designed to extend slightly beyond the horse’s lips, and gives a smooth, rolling request at the lips, rather than a direct yanking action. This eliminates any chance of lip irritation and increases willingness, suppleness and communication. It also enables proper sizing for mouths ranging in width from 4-1/2" to 5-1/2". The rings at the cheeks allow the rider to use the bit with either snaffle or curb action, making it a perfect transition bit for young horses.

Brenda has designed the mouthpiece to perfectly suit the shape of the horse’s mouth, added a smooth copper roller, and shortened the stainless steel shanks to 5 inches. Only top quality materials and craftsmanship have gone into the The Imus Comfort Gait Bit ™, making it beautiful, well balanced and light weight. You and your horse will enjoy this bit for many years to come! Featuring a rust-proof mouthpiece.

Sorry - couldn't get the picture to post, but it can be seen here:

http://gaitsofgold.info/wowbb/forum53/3994.html

[Pinto Paso]

here you go
http://www.gaitsofgold.net/images/stories/bits/new_imus_bit.jpg

Bit D
http://www.kellystackshop.com/Resources/mylerbithbtcomfort.jpg

[CarolU]

Interesting. It does indeed look "pinchless." It doesn't say in what you posted, is it made of sweetiron? I think it resembles their Mullen bits more then the comfort snaffles, but I'd like to hold one and work it around to see where it swivels and bends, and how and where it applies pressure.

[Terry Wallace]

broken mouthpiece bits with shanks are not "snaffles".
Snaffles do not have shanks!
Shanked bits are curbs...even with a broken mouth piece...
The action is accentuated BY the shank....

A comfort snaffle by Myler has NO shanks...

A comfort mouth kimberwicke has two different places to attach reins, which makes it have a different action than a comfort mouth snaffle...but only slightly different.

[pasobeat]

Yeah Carol, I had those same thoughts - where does it bend and how does it move. I am hoping that someone sees the post and can help answer those questions without me buying the bit! I suspect the mouthpiece is made of stainless steel, as they advertise it as being rust-proof, but I've posted that question on their message board and will let you know when I find out.

Hey Terry, yeah, I know, it's not a "true" snaffle, but that's what they called it in the ad, and I simply didn't want to confuse people reading the post, as that's the wording they used.

[Terry Wallace]

Pasobeat..was there a photo of the backside of the mouthpiece?
Since it appears to have a copper center...I wonder if it has sweet-water copper inlays on the back side?

[pasobeat]

Good question Terry. No, there wasn't a picture of the back.

I did receive a reply from the GOG message board. They said the rest of the mouthpiece was stainless steel, but no comments on inlays.

[CarolU]

Terry, the way Myler sells their bits, they call ALL the broken mouthpieces in the above picture "comfort snaffles." You can buy the same mouthpiece with your choice of cheek pieces, with a number of different shanks, or O-rings, D-rings, Double-rings, etc.

I know what you are saying. I have heard snaffles defined both ways and there really is no point in arguing about it (and I won't) But, if you went to buy one of the bits in the above picture, it would be sold as a Model MB__ Comfort Snaffle with 5" shank.

[TrueStepPaso]

Right....they call them snaffles because they were originally designed to replace single jointed snaffles, but now they offer them with ANY cheek design/style...it's just the "name", I guess....

But the Imus bit is the one that mentioned it can actually be used as both because it offers the shanks AND the immediate cheek pieces on the same bit (1st pic)...

[CarolU]

An interesting note, Mylers have designed a new comfort snaffle for Parelli's. It is thicker on the sides and I believe has more copper. It is a more humane bit. It is available on Parelli's site, but pretty expensive. I think they'll be coming out with it in their regular line, and hopefully will sell a smaller version for small mouths.

[pasobeat]

Well, I've gone and ordered the ICB from Gaits of Gold. I'll let you know what differences I detect and how my horse responds to it when I get it all figured out!

[CarolU]

When you get it, would you post some pictures of the back side, how much the bit bends over the tongue, any other contortions you can think of. I'm curious about it, wonder how it is compares to the comfort snaffle. Might just try one. :D

(yeah, I know, I REALLY need more tack! LOL)

[pasobeat]

I've been using the ICB for about 4 rides now, and find that my bit-hating paso is very happy with it! I have the reins attached to the snaffle ring, and have been able to get him to collect nicely without a fight, which we always had with other bits. He responds easily and lightly. The mouthpiece does have copper inlays on the back, but no sweet iron that I can see.

How it works - I hope I can explain this! It does not break in the middle, but it does rotate around the copper ingot. (The Mylar does break somewhat in the middle, just not as much as a regular snaffle.) The purchase and shank swivels from the mouthpiece and it does appear to be pinchless. It is very well made, and while not cheap, I feel you get a quality product for a reasonable cost.

I don't have a digital camera (yeah, dinosaur age girl!), but I'll see if I can get one and post some pics.

[CarolU]

It sounds more like a mullen mouth, perhaps. They swivel and don't break in the middle.

http://www.toklat.com/myler/mbits_06.html

[djculp]

We've never used bits in our 20 years of riding Pasos, but last year we bought an Imus Comfort bit for a new gelding that seems to prefer a bit to a bosal. Hmmm, he loved it; just loved it. So we tried it on a gelding that had never been bitted. He did great, too! This weekend we're picking up another gelding that has always been ridden bitted, so we have a NEW Imus bit already waiting for him. For being anti-bit people, the Imus bit has made us converts. Obviously, we can't compare it to any others, but the horses find it to be very comfortable, and they gait so happily with it.

[Kcdives]

We have both the Imus and Mylar bits. We purchased the Imus bit first and had moderate success with it. The problem that we faced wass that the Imus bit only comes in a 5" width, which we felt was too wide for our horses. With the 5" bit, there was a lot of side to side movement of the bit in the horses mouth. The Mylar 4 3/4" bit eliminates the side to side movement.

[CarolU]

djculd and Kcdives...

WELCOME TO THE BB!!!!!! Nice to have you!!! :-))))