Can I use a flash with a pelham bit?

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Belle22

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Basically what the title says, I am trying my mare in a vulanite pelham with a curb chain, some days she accepts the contact, but others she goes round with her mouth open. Will a flash help with this problem, or will it be too much for her?
 
A dropped noseband (i.e. drop, flash or grakle) should never be used with a curb bit as the noseband lies in the chin groove, meaning that the curb chain is completely ineffective. The curb chain is the most important part of the bit, as it is the action of the chain acting in the chin groove which prevents the bit rotating further, so applying poll pressure to bring about a change in head carriage and speed.

If you horse is opening her mouth, then a change of mouthpiece or bit is needed so that she is more comfortable in her mouth.
 
No it interferes with the curb chain. Technically a crank noseband could be used instead. Sounds mega-comfortable for the horse doesn't it?!
Also alot of pelhems have such wide mouthpieces its uncomfortable so therefore the horse opens its mouth.
 
i know a few people who use flash nosebands with pelhams and also mexican nosebands with pelhams...i probably wouldn't myself but they find it works...
 
I wouldn't personally, a combination that is not allowed in the show ring, if it's brakes you are after, and keeping her from opening her mouth, in the right hands a waterford works

You could get the EDT to visit, she may be a little sore?
 
Why do you need a Pelham, could you try a different bit with a drop noseband? I'm a big fan of drops, my mare is a different horse in a drop - soft, relaxed and not nearly so wooden.
 
i use both out hunting.

however there's a reason why your horse is opening her mouth - strapping it shut wont make her accept the contact. i only ever use double reins and a cavesson noseband with a pelham for asking a horse to work correctly into an outline. i use pelham with roundings and a flash out hunting but that's not about finesse, but safety.
 
I think I 've solved the problem, I think it was too low in her mouthgoing as after raising it she's more relaxed on the bit and rounding again.
I only started using my pelham out of chance. I bought it origonally for when I hack out and jump as she can be quite strong. I changed her french link over because I was riding out as she had been playing up the past few times we had been out, and I always go in the school before I go out as it works well for us. Then when I was schooling she was going round really nicley so I decided to keep schooling in it to see how she went on.
So far she is going better than she has ever done in the past two years of my owning her.

I know there are no problems with her mouth as we've not long since had the dentist out.

I was intent on buying a waterford bit, but then she started going nicely in the pelham. I'll probably still get a waterford and try her in that though.

Thanks for the advice and infomation guys.
 
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