Alternative to a pelham

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howengold

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I am slowly working through my OAP's issues, I am happy with her health now and my next thing was to make her more comfortable when ridden, not just for me but for her. Her tack has slowly been replaced over the past 8 months of owning her but I have kept her pelham until last as I am not sure what to do about it. I do feel however it isn't really helping her much.

Sov has always been ridden in a pelham, even 20 years or more ago with all her previous owners. And to be honest I have wanted to give her a kinder bit but am worried about loosing my brakes and she is a very strong old lady.

I can sometimes ride her in a snaffle in the paddock but its not the best bit for her and I am not one for changing the bit for various reasons (ie snaffle for schooling, pelham for hacking etc). I just don't want to have her in a pelham the rest of her working life as I have noticed the curb (i have changed it when I got her to a leather curb but it was a bare chain previous to me buying her) has scarred her chin and all I can think is that its because of the many years use.

Ideally I want brakes but I also want to give her a break! I bet that doesn't make any sense.

If I describe her it may help with suggestions.

Basically she evades the bit by pulling her head down between her knees, is very heavy on it and will drop head head right down if you canter in an attempt to tank off, which in turn throws my balance out the side door. In the paddock she rides better but will start with her head right down till she gets bored. In the show ring she is funnily pretty good now

I find she is at her worse when left two or three days (which is a pain as I can normally only ride myself two or three times a week).

Should I try something new or just stick to the pelham being as she has wore one for so long it probably won't make any difference?
 
Kimblewick? similar bit but no curb and only one rein or a different type of pelham ie a jointed one.

I found the lady at neue scheule bits very helpful so you could give her a ring - she does offer lots of alternatives and not only with her own make of bits - I think her number is on their website
 
Thanks for the replies! I will try both. I never thought of the neue scheule bits thats my next stop thanks again!

All I got off another forum was someone saying she needs schooling...er well you don't say lol! They totally missed the point of my question, which is more to do with her comfort in her old age.
 
Plunging her head down sounds like a symptom of too much pelham use! As bringing the head down/in is what pelhams do. Therefore keeping her in a pelham isn't going to solve this problem. I can understand your concerns, after years of being in a pelham she probably has a very hard mouth so I'm not surprised she's strong.

I would definately speak to one of the bit bank people. An ordinary snaffle might be too mild, but prehaps a hanging cheek with a lozenge might work? Would give you a bit of breaks whilst not so easy for her to lean on.
 
George isn't that strong, but he does tend to lean on the bit at times causing brake problems! I have found a kimblewick with an elastic curb good for jumping and a myler mullen mouth hanging cheek for other work.
 
We had my old man (25yo) in a pelham, and we've found a copper roller snaffle is immense! Not too tough, but with enough brakes to stop him when he goes on one of his 'sprees'!!
 
I used to jump my rather feisty mare in a mullen mouth pelham with the curb as tight as possible in an attempt to hang on. With little success I must add. I had a lesson with a new trainer and she gave me a ported straight bar snaffle AKA magic bit to try and it worked wonders. I can do X-country and everything in it. Also for the leaning and head on the floor I use a chain gag with a spur srap through the top rings by the cheek pieces. all horses are different so it might not work. Good Luck!
 
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