And to think I was always tought that a pelham was a 'harsh' bit!

ex racer rider

ex racer rider

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 August 2011
Messages
1,038
Location
County Durham
Visit site
Well, I think this post is well overdue.

I started riding ML after losing my mare, it has been a turbulent time filled with tantrums and disagreements (on both sides!) we have had some good times but tbh more often than not a lot of “discussions”

SO

We switched her to a Heather Moffet treeless saddle as we thought it may help as she is super sensitive through her back especially during seasons and she is a different horse. Relaxed, free moving and settled.

So now to tackle the ‘contact’ and her gobby mouth, we went from a happy mouth to a happy mouth hanging cheek etc etc and it was ‘okay’ still gobby but not so much.

Then and here is where the breakthrough happened we started with Enlightened Equitation (heather moffet) riding and lessons. It’s not vastly different…. Holding your reins/giving your reins slightly differently, splitting your seat bones and using your leg at strategic times. Not big differences in how you ride but the differences in ML are MASSIVE.

We then decided to change her to a happy mouth Pelham (upon recommendation of the instructor) and to think I was always tough that a Pelham was a ‘strong’ or ‘harsh’ bit… my deity how it has improved ML. the action of the extra rein and curb (on loosely) stabilises the bit in her mouth preventing any ‘jiggling’ and helps her to relax her jaw.

She is now consistently on the bit, in a correct (ie. Poll highest point and on the vertical) outline with impulsion not speed, and she is producing some fab lateral work tbh she is really getting there. :D
 
It doesn't work for all 'gobby' horses, but some seem to really love pelhams. We have a mare at my yard who was ruined by schooling in draw reins. We tried her in all kinds of bits, andshe went well for me, though it took all my strength to contain her at first. But every time I got her nice and light and gave her back to her slightly elderly and much smaller owner, she became gobby again. Finally, we tried her in a pelham and she was instantly more relaxed and more importantly, her owner is able to ride her in it.
 
I think it's very old thinking that pelhams are strong bits - generally stemming from pony club days. ;) Used correctly, they're no stronger than anything else. The majority of the cobs work much better in them we've always found. :)


Granted, I've also known horses that hate them and are ones I'd never suggest putting a pelham in. One that comes to mind was a very rangy eventer type who's owner had trouble bringing him together [though the actual case was, he was just much longer backed and different conformationally and not schooled like her much shorter backed, springy show jumper type she was used to]. A change of bit, rather than schooling exercises, was done contrary to advise....and well, it didn't go well. I've never seen a horse try and kick itself in the chin with his front feet to get rid of a [somewhat loose] curb before till then! Needless to say, he did not like and ended up rearing quite a bit.
 
Last edited:
I think the general rule is, the more complicated a bit looks- The harsher it looks! Which does make sense- especially with a pelham, double reins/roundings, lip strap, curb chain... similarly many people who've not heard of one before, tend to think a waterford must be very gentle as it looks simple from the outside and has a moving mouthpiece (which is quite the opposite from gentle :p ) I do believe a pelham can be very strong though if used heavily on the curb rein - or with roundings.. (or so my friend's very strong horse appears to show)

Very glad to hear things have gone well for you and your horse! :)
 
Yeah, well, it's all to do with areas of control. The snaffle can be a very nasty bit in the wrong hands, and the pelham (part of the curb family) can be a delightful release for some of the heavier fronted type of horse = lots of cobs. Snaffle works mostly on the bars, corners of the lips and tongue and has a pinching action (if it has a single joint, less so if it has a lozenge); it's a hard bit to release and many people end up hanging on the reins and deadening their horses. The curb works on the bars, chin groove and slightly on the poll and has an immediate release (woe betide the rider who doesn't let go!) and a lot of horses which are miserable in snaffles (the supposed "mild" bit) are delighted to be ridden in a curb action bit. NOTHING works if the rider has hands like hams, though.....
 
Best of both worlds: double bridle - lets you really talk to the horse and make use of the whole "vocabulary" :-) Very good incentive to all novices to really learn and make the step up to being a completely educated horseman. Bliss!
 
I think some do like a very still bit and a pelham helps although we get similar work from Cally with a mullen mouth hanging cheek, we didn't try the pelham for years though even though I had it for my boy as she isn't at all strong! I don't think she would ever get on well with a double.. as mouth room is part of her issue. Interestingly she is PBA and our previous loan arab was similar and much better in a pelham.
 
My mum's cob works in a snaffle day to day, but yesterday we went showing, she is 18 and never done any showing, and I put her in a pelhem with 2 reins, and she had schooled in it once before.
Well she was actually amazing to ride and did a brilliant show. She is normally very heavy on her forehand, but yesterday she was lovely doing mediums etc. I was a bit shocked!
 
YP loves his pellham, but sadly I need him to be dressage legal :(. Intrestingly wagtail he has also had a lot of draw rein use before I got him and aside from him not being hard to hold together, quite the opposite, he loves the pellham and is a delight to ride in it.

In his pellham there is far more power and its all where and when I want it, he is far more settled in a contact aswell.
 
dafthoss said:
YP loves his pellham, but sadly I need him to be dressage legal :(. Intrestingly wagtail he has also had a lot of draw rein use before I got him and aside from him not being hard to hold together, quite the opposite, he loves the pellham and is a delight to ride in it.

In his pellham there is far more power and its all where and when I want it, he is far more settled in a contact aswell.
Click to expand...
Yes of course he is: THIS is why the curb is cited as being the "refining" tool, not because it is harsh, but BECAUSE IT IS NOT - but you do need to have enough skill to be able to use it. So, snaffles for beginner hands and mouths, (and for "direct" reins such as racing/galloping, and driving - although more advanced driving also benefits from a curb action bit such at the liverpool, buxton or hannoverian), and the curb, using the finer areas of the horses anatomy, for slightly more advanced/less dull riders and horses.
 
Cortez said:
Yes of course he is: THIS is why the curb is cited as being the "refining" tool, not because it is harsh, but BECAUSE IT IS NOT - but you do need to have enough skill to be able to use it. So, snaffles for beginner hands and mouths, (and for "direct" reins such as racing/galloping, and driving - although more advanced driving also benefits from a curb action bit such at the liverpool, buxton or hannoverian), and the curb, using the finer areas of the horses anatomy, for slightly more advanced/less dull riders and horses.
Click to expand...

well said :D

When we have a dressage comp coming up i will switch her back to her snaffle but with the straight happy mouth bar (same mouth piece as the pelham)
At the mo im schooling her in the pelham so she can achieve the correct muscles and have a 'propper' self carriage. :D
 
Wagtail said:
It doesn't work for all 'gobby' horses, but some seem to really love pelhams. We have a mare at my yard who was ruined by schooling in draw reins. We tried her in all kinds of bits, andshe went well for me, though it took all my strength to contain her at first. But every time I got her nice and light and gave her back to her slightly elderly and much smaller owner, she became gobby again. Finally, we tried her in a pelham and she was instantly more relaxed and more importantly, her owner is able to ride her in it.
Click to expand...

This^^^ I know of a lot of 'gobby' horses with high head carriage who detest and fight against anything with poll action...

Im glad however that you have found something that works for your mare, but remember some bits only work effectively in the early days and then the horse sort of becomes 'dull' to them.


Also I have never held with the fact that a pelham is a harsh bit, a snaffle can be like barbed wire in the wrong hands and on a strong horse.;)
 
I have used a Myler pelham on both my Arabs with great success: they both have narrow mouths, low palates and thick tongues. The curved profile of the mouthpiece and roller covering a joint in the middle seem to suit both very well. I always use double reins, and they respond to the lightest contact.
 
I mainly ride my 19hh WB x Shire in a snaffle. But for showing classes he is ridden in his Pelham (double reins) and he is a much happier horse.
He is an ex 2* eventer and has obviously spent many years in a double bridle.

I don't know why it is, he just seems far more relaxed in his Pelham.
 
Cortez said:
Yes of course he is: THIS is why the curb is cited as being the "refining" tool, not because it is harsh, but BECAUSE IT IS NOT - but you do need to have enough skill to be able to use it. So, snaffles for beginner hands and mouths, (and for "direct" reins such as racing/galloping, and driving - although more advanced driving also benefits from a curb action bit such at the liverpool, buxton or hannoverian), and the curb, using the finer areas of the horses anatomy, for slightly more advanced/less dull riders and horses.
Click to expand...

Would you ride a horse like this in a pellham for the majority of its schoolimg work? With two reins, obviously. I'm torn between riding him in it more often and him going well and persevering with a snaffle until I can find an arangment that he likes as much as the pellham thats dressage legal. He is far more forward, soft, positionable and actually seeks a contact in the pellham but even in a hanging cheek with the same mouth piece he isnt as happy, although strangley enough happy in pellham without curb chain (dont shoot me, was trying to isolate which part of the pellham he likes as he goes well in it even with no curb rein).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top