Bitting advice needed for showing

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EarlGrey

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Ok, the time has come for Earl to be introduced to a big boys bridle (aka double bridle!) and I am clueless as to what is the best bit for him. I think the weymouth and bradoon may be too much so i need an introductory bit like a pelham to show him in, although won't use it this year in competitions, just want to school him in it and get both of us used to it this year.

A little history on Earl...
He's a 15hh, 4 year old show cob. Clydesdale x hackney. He has a very strong, thick neck. Typical of a Clydie breed he has quite a big tongue and lips (I had read that ported bits were better for this but then someone told me that they are more severe). He takes 6" in bits.

I have had him since April where they had a magennis snaffle on him (not sure what this does but am guessing is a fairly severe snaffle?) I ride him in a french link as the lady that broke him in (not the previous owner) said he would be fine in that but to get a waterford snaffle if I was to take him hunting or felt him getting too strong. I have one but have not needed to use it.

He is strong when he wants to be and will grab the bit in temper when schooling in canter. When schooling in canter you can feel every bit of a 15hh cob underneath you and through your arms but he isn't leaning on the bit in canter (???) so don't know why he feels like this. When he is lazy he will try to lean on the bit in trot though. Just to reiterate, he is only strong when he wants to be, either in the school as described above or in the show ring where there are other horses. In this scenario, he tends to carry his head very high with his chin tucked in and TANKS! TBH now i'm struggling to hold him and it looks very bad in front of the judge. He is oblivious to the fact i'm even on him which suggests it is probably getting to the stage where he needs a bit he'll listen to a bit more at a show. For everything else I am happy in my french link, although I know if I went hunting in that you may never see us again!
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So...
My instructor suggested a rubber pelham, which I am thinking will be no good to show him in?
Three other people have said a jointed pelham but I have read the nutcracker action can upset some horses.
And i'm confused as to whether I have a horse who leans on the bit, grabs the bit or has a high head carriage as he can do any of them.

I only have the money for one bit so don't want to get it wrong and I don't really have anyone I can borrow from.

I know this is long, but advice please???
 
A lot of people (myself included) use a rugby pelham for showing in a double bridle. It has an extra ring for the head slip and looks like a double. You can get them with a french link mouthpiece if your horse prefers that.
 
I would try a mullen mouth pelham. My Clydey x goes very nicely one, but I use something else now. Alternatively, a ported pelham may encourage him not to pull.

The only thing with a rubber bit is that they are thick and clydey Xs do not have enough room in their mouths to take these and if the horse has a dry mouth, it can cause bit sores

I have a mullen mouth pelham 6 inches not doing anything at the moment, you are welcome to give that a try. It has the curb chain and lip strap too. PM me if you wish.
 
I wouldn't go the rubber route, you've already said he has a big tounge.

As for ported being more sevear its a load of bollocks! Anything is sevear if it doesn't fit your horses mouth conformation. A fat jointed hollowmouth in mouth that can't accomadate it is a milliontimes more sevear than a thin ported mouthpiece that provides room for the tounge and doesn't pince/nutcracker.

I'd try for any mouthpiece that he's already comfortable in and if he's going nicely a rugby pelham is a good route.
 
I show my trakehner gelding Mav in a rubber pelham as he finds one with a metal mouthpiece too sharp but he tries to tank off in the show ring (you can feel him thinking I know I get to gallop in here...). The answer with him was to put him in as many ridden classes as I could find until he got a bit bored with it and calmed down.

You can get pelhams with a happy mouth mouth piece which isnt as thick so that might suit him, but it sounds like he is just being a baby and getting over excited.

It might be that he needs some work on his balance so that he doesnt need to lean on you. Have you tried one of those pessoa training aids, they really make the horse work properly (Mav hates it because it means he cant be lazy and have his hocks trailing behind him!) Alternatively (and much more cheaply) you can make a pair of running side reins using about 7' of rope and they make the horse work in an outline but they cant just lean on it whilst they go round, they have to carry themselves.

Hope some of this helps
 
Neue Schule do a very slim mullen mouth pelham which is very good (although not cheap). I got one for an anglo-arab with a tiny mouth but have ended up buying another in a different size as my other horse also preferred it to any other pelham.
 
I personally would not go for the rubber pelham, it will take a lot of room up in his mouth.

The common mistake I see peole making is big horse, big mouth, must have a big thick bit - nnnnooooooo

H used to have a thick eggbut and he was awful in it - go for thinner. I have, and use on company hacks, a ported pelham and it is not too severe, as long as you have soft hands. I find that H respects it and only needs a little guidance and you have a response.

H sound like yours, 6" bits, strong neck neck and shoulder = a lot of cob x

Bits are not bad - it's the hands that control them that make them bad !
 
Have found out that J takes a 6 1/2" bit which is why the pelham is no longer used, was a bit small for him.

There are many other bits which are stronger than a pelham.
 

Why not try a Sprenger bit? I show my horse in a Sprenger Pelham, it is jointed with a lozenge in the middle and is not thick bit, my horse goes a treat in it.
 
One of my horses has a fat tongue and small mouth (great combo!). I spent ages trying to find a bit she was comfy in, but still gave me control as she can be strong.

With her it was obvious what caused discomfort as she just would put her tongue over the bit. INSTANTLY. ie while you were tacking up! If it was comfy she never did it. I found that a ported and thinner bit was what she liked. If yours has similar tongue issues I would go for a ported pelham and look for one that is not mega thick in the mouthpiece. I find a pelham gives good control for me
 
NB Meant to say a Rugby Pelham is a very good showing option as it looks very like a double bridle (it enables you to put sliphead on to give the double bridle look)
 
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With her it was obvious what caused discomfort as she just would put her tongue over the bit. INSTANTLY. ie while you were tacking up!

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One of the boys does this but he's 19 now and whatever has been done to stop it it doesn't work, he's rather cunning. Although i wouldn't do this with another horse we've given up correcting him as he goes brilliantly into a contact with perfect brakes just if you happen to lift his lips or he yawns it all looks a bit odd! Oh and when you off him a drink at break time he has to sort himself out.
 
Alot of cobs don't comfortably have the room for two bits but pelhams are just as good for showing at any level. As he is a baby I think you just need to keep him in something simple and get him out lots and used to show atmospheres and he will eventualy learn how to behave. It took mine a few years lol. Echo trying a pelham in whichever mouthpiece he is already happy in at home. I normaly use a mullen mouth for my maxi which he is happy in.
 
Ezme that is funny because I have to say that the horse I was talking about was always nicer to ride when her tongue was over the bit - light as a feather and in a lovely shape. A bit gutting really as now we have cracked it with a bit she keeps in the 'correct' position she is a bit of a plank to ride!! Perhaps I should have left well alone!!
 
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