Can Anyone Help Me Find This Bit?

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Dex has a loose ring copper lozenge snaffle which he was always pretty happy in, but I hacked him in a straight bar rubber coated pelham as I needed more breaks.

When we first started canter work I popped him in the pelham to school in as the lacking balance and resultant wall of death speed was affecting my confidence, and whilst it probably sounds mad to you guys it worked lovely and we have cracked it and could do with going back to the snaffle, but actually both myself and my instructor think that he really prefers this mouthpiece to the jointed one as he;s much more consistent in the contact, more supple and more relaxed in it.

Can I find one? Can I heck! All the snaffles I can find either have no rubber, or are purely rubber rather than a rubber coated metal mouth piece. That or they are that happy mouth material that gets sharp.. Has anyone seen one online? I ideally don't want to spend £100's

 

[Meredith]

Maybe daft but as a stop gap
Could you use what appears to be called 'bit wrap tape'?
I used some crinkly stretchy beige tape on a youngsters bit. I can't remember what it was called but it was 30 years ago.

 

[Maddie Moo]

This one says it has a steel core - is that the type of thing you’re looking for?

 

[I'm Dun]

Dont spend a lot on it. I had a very big strong cob who went beautifully in a rubber covered pelham and was totally different in a snaffle of the same mouthpiece.

Can you ride off the snaffle rein with no curb on to see if it is the mouthpiece or not first?

 

[ihatework]

Shires do a hard and a soft version of the rubber Mullen.
There are also some vulcanite/nylon versions around that are smoother than happy mouth

 

[Errin Paddywack]

This was my go to bit, used on most of mine, even strong pullers.

Vulcanite Mullen Mouth Snaffle - Snaffles - Bits

Snaffles - Bits - The vulcanite mullen mouth snaffle is a very mild bit for a young horse.

www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

This one says it has a steel core - is that the type of thing you’re looking for?

It also says flexible, which is what makes me think perhaps it doesn't in the way I am looking for - his pelham mouthpiece isn't flexible at all.

Dont spend a lot on it. I had a very big strong cob who went beautifully in a rubber covered pelham and was totally different in a snaffle of the same mouthpiece.

Can you ride off the snaffle rein with no curb on to see if it is the mouthpiece or not first?

Actually, I am unsure why this hasn't occurred to me to try before now I will do that! What did you end up putting your cob in? I am pretty keen to have something dressage legal, otherwise I'd just leave him in the pelham as he's so happy in it

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Shires do a hard and a soft version of the rubber Mullen.
There are also some vulcanite/nylon versions around that are smoother than happy mouth

I'll have a look at the hard one, thank you!

I don't think he'll like a flexible one, I tried to back him in one and I think he just prefers no movement in his mouth, something with a bit of security if that makes any sense at all!

 

[Northern Hare]

Along with trying to find a similar mouthpiece, are you also looking for a "hanging cheek" bit to replicate the Pelham?

I searched for something similar for my horse. One bit I found for sale second hand looked like it had just had the lower part of the Pelham bit cut off on both sides, so it was just a hanging cheek mullen mouth vulcanite snaffle. It was a neat job and I was quite tempted to try.

 

[I'm Dun]

It also says flexible, which is what makes me think perhaps it doesn't in the way I am looking for - his pelham mouthpiece isn't flexible at all.



Actually, I am unsure why this hasn't occurred to me to try before now I will do that! What did you end up putting your cob in? I am pretty keen to have something dressage legal, otherwise I'd just leave him in the pelham as he's so happy in it

the really weirdly named stubben max control bit! Its a jointed but but locks into a straight bar. Really hard to describe and so weirdly marketed as its pretty mild. Best bit I ever bought and had a succession of strong little cobs in it. It just seems to make sense to them.

Sprenger Max Control D-ring Snaffle with lockup - Double Jointed

Sprenger Max Control D-ring Snaffle with lockup is a double jointed bit with a locking action which is used as a correction or training bit

saddlemasters.co.uk

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Along with trying to find a similar mouthpiece, are you also looking for a "hanging cheek" bit to replicate the Pelham?

I searched for something similar for my horse. One bit I found for sale second hand looked like it had just had the lower part of the Pelham bit cut off on both sides, so it was just a hanging cheek mullen mouth vulcanite snaffle. It was a neat job and I was quite tempted to try.

See I have always thought that without a shanked bit, a hanging cheek is completely redundant, as when the reins are pulled upon there is no rotation that would be needed for the bit to do what it looks like it should, the bit remains where it is and simply moves further 'up' in the mouth. I may be wrong though

Thanks @I'm Dun - a bit out of my price range for a 'try it and see' but I'll bear it in mind for sure.

 

[rabatsa]

Have you tried a metal mullen mouth bit? You may still have the nice acceptance with one and they take up less room in a mouth than vulcanite or rubber.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Have you tried a metal mullen mouth bit? You may still have the nice acceptance with one and they take up less room in a mouth than vulcanite or rubber.

I haven't yet, a fully metal one feels a bit 'mean' because with no joint there is no movement at all just metal on gum essentially... maybe that's me overthinking it, I will see if someone at the yard has one to give it a go he's nice and light in the hand so shouldn't be too much pressure on it

 

[Northern Hare]

See I have always thought that without a shanked bit, a hanging cheek is completely redundant, as when the reins are pulled upon there is no rotation that would be needed for the bit to do what it looks like it should, the bit remains where it is and simply moves further 'up' in the mouth. I may be wrong though

Thanks @I'm Dun - a bit out of my price range for a 'try it and see' but I'll bear it in mind for sure.

Have you tried the Pelham with just a single rein on the snaffle ring? I think some horses do prefer a hanging cheek bit as it stabilises the bit.

 

[ycbm]

It's really easy to turn a Pelham into a hanging cheek D ring snaffle with an angle grinder!
.

 

[Roxylola]

Bomber happy tongue? It's sweet iron not rubber but nice and still. Bon went from a rubber trust but (which he chewed and was expensive to replace) to that very happily

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Bomber happy tongue? It's sweet iron not rubber but nice and still. Bon went from a rubber trust but (which he chewed and was expensive to replace) to that very happily

I have tried ported snaffles before and he's not keen, he's definitely a straight bar kind of guy

It's really easy to turn a Pelham into a hanging cheek D ring snaffle with an angle grinder!
.

I will give this a go if I don't manage to find one and my snaffle rein test goes well, good thinking!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Dex has a loose ring copper lozenge snaffle which he was always pretty happy in, but I hacked him in a straight bar rubber coated pelham as I needed more breaks.

When we first started canter work I popped him in the pelham to school in as the lacking balance and resultant wall of death speed was affecting my confidence, and whilst it probably sounds mad to you guys it worked lovely and we have cracked it and could do with going back to the snaffle, but actually both myself and my instructor think that he really prefers this mouthpiece to the jointed one as he;s much more consistent in the contact, more supple and more relaxed in it.

Can I find one? Can I heck! All the snaffles I can find either have no rubber, or are purely rubber rather than a rubber coated metal mouth piece. That or they are that happy mouth material that gets sharp.. Has anyone seen one online? I ideally don't want to spend £100's

What about this one??

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

or this

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

 

[I'm Dun]

See I have always thought that without a shanked bit, a hanging cheek is completely redundant, as when the reins are pulled upon there is no rotation that would be needed for the bit to do what it looks like it should, the bit remains where it is and simply moves further 'up' in the mouth. I may be wrong though

Thanks @I'm Dun - a bit out of my price range for a 'try it and see' but I'll bear it in mind for sure.

The bit bank hire them out or used to, which is how I ended up trying it. Might be worth trying a few from there. Or get a bit fitter out. My local one is brilliant and I had a lot of success with her none of which was remotely expensive.