bex1984
Well-Known Member
Can anyone tell me the difference, in terms of strength and severity between a (straight bar) pelham (used with roundings) and a ported kimblewick?
Difference between a pelham and a kimblewick?
- Thread starter bex1984
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jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
A port takes some of the pressure off the tongue. It can also help stop them getting their tongue over the bit. A Pelham will apply some poll pressure, although not so much with roundings as it would with two reins. That's the main differences really.
bex1984
Well-Known Member
So in terms of their "strength" they are fairly similar?
RachelB
Well-Known Member
I would imagine fairly similar if you're pulling on the "snaffle" rein of the pelham, but as the pelham has the shank and a curb rein as well that would be more poll pressure. I imagine you could get a fair amount of poll pressure with a slotted kimblewick though.
jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Not a lot of difference - are you not getting on with the pelham?
bex1984
Well-Known Member
see other thread aout the cantering - am just wondering if a change of bit might make a difference (as changing bits has changed his canter a lot in the past)? plus he is starting to really lean on the pelham so might be time for a change?
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
Since you asked a technical question . . .
The "strength" of a leverage bit is determined by the length of the lever and the relationship between the arm above the fulcrum (the fixed point - in this case the bit) and the one below. Think of a seesaw with the stand towards one end or the other. A lever works by multiplying force applied to one end by this ratio. (Lost yet? I was horrible at physics in school.) Most pelhams have a ratio in the 2:1 to 2.5:1 range, kimberwicks would be a bit less because the "arms" tend to be shorter.
Soooo. . . basically if you apply 5lbs of pressure to the rein a pelham with a 2:1 ratio puts 10 lbs on the horse's mouth. So the shorter the shanks the less strong the increasing factor. You are not decreasing the force on the horse's mouth, you are decreasing the pressure you need to apply to produce the same amount of force.
Of course mouthpiece shape and curb material also affect the result so it's not so simple as "bigger is better/worse". There are lots of options if you go that route.
I find they really aren't good bits for schooling and almost always make horses stronger in the long run. I'm not against them - they absolutely have their place - but usually more as situational choices not schooling aids.
The "strength" of a leverage bit is determined by the length of the lever and the relationship between the arm above the fulcrum (the fixed point - in this case the bit) and the one below. Think of a seesaw with the stand towards one end or the other. A lever works by multiplying force applied to one end by this ratio. (Lost yet? I was horrible at physics in school.) Most pelhams have a ratio in the 2:1 to 2.5:1 range, kimberwicks would be a bit less because the "arms" tend to be shorter.
Soooo. . . basically if you apply 5lbs of pressure to the rein a pelham with a 2:1 ratio puts 10 lbs on the horse's mouth. So the shorter the shanks the less strong the increasing factor. You are not decreasing the force on the horse's mouth, you are decreasing the pressure you need to apply to produce the same amount of force.
Of course mouthpiece shape and curb material also affect the result so it's not so simple as "bigger is better/worse". There are lots of options if you go that route.
I find they really aren't good bits for schooling and almost always make horses stronger in the long run. I'm not against them - they absolutely have their place - but usually more as situational choices not schooling aids.
bex1984
Well-Known Member
oo thank you - I'm liking the technical explanation.
Unfortunately I am not capable of any form of schooling if we end up uncontrollable hurtling from the bottom end of the school to the gate because Murphy and his enormous neck are unstoppable! The pelham is the first bit we're both really happy with, I'm just getting tempted to experiment with the as yet unused kimblewick that's sitting in my tack box!!
Unfortunately I am not capable of any form of schooling if we end up uncontrollable hurtling from the bottom end of the school to the gate because Murphy and his enormous neck are unstoppable! The pelham is the first bit we're both really happy with, I'm just getting tempted to experiment with the as yet unused kimblewick that's sitting in my tack box!!
rara007
Well-Known Member
Try the kinblewick- All ours love it and many of them are often strong. My section C, with a neck bigger than your boys really repects the kimblewick, more than any other bit!