Am i wrong for....

[gemz666]

putting my 5 year old in a pelhum?
At the moment he is getting very full of himslef and taking off alot so my instructor surgested to ride him in the pelhum which he shows and hunts in. it is only a very mild pelhum and i dont feel im misusing it and he works very nice in it and instn strong or trying to fight but.
how ever last night a darling lady came over to me and said dont you think your being abit harsh he is only a baby, you will ruin him in that bit! im not planning on keeping him in it forever just till i can find somehting abit milder but still gives me the control on him!
he never shows any sign he is not happy with it if anywthing he works btter in it!

 

[carthorse]

I think it is better to use a bit that acts on more control points than use a snaffle and have to fight and bruise the mouth.
Our young horse was on his forehand in a snaffle but in a myler he is lighter and responds to a lighter aid.
Just be careful that you use the minimum needed and do schooling to get him to understand the aids. Go back to basics and teach him to stop and start from light aids and not to lean on your hands [make sure it is not you keeping the hand aid on too long and too strong]

 

[HDT]

A bit is only severe in the hands that control it, I have seen horses in snaffles with mouths like iron and hard as nails and the rider being pulled around like a rag doll.

It is also mentined how with correct schooling you should get lightness with a mild bit but sometimes that just don't work.

I myself am not in favour of using pelhams as the straight bar makes it fixed in the horses mouth. (unless your using a jointed one ) I prefer Myler and KK bits and they shape to the horses mouth and the Myler are independant with the rein aids.

Saying that if your horse is soft and repsonsive and carries himself well in the pelham then don't change what ain't broke.