DOUBLE BRIDLE'S OR RUGBY PELHAM?

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Jodie4664

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I have had my new horse three weeks now, and am thinking of doing some showing e.g. hunter classes, riding horse. I have just bought a lovley Albion KB bridle and I do not have a bradoon sliphead. Do I need a double bridle or can I just use a rugby pelham?
 
Haven't a clue about what is "correct" for showing hunters but I was always taught that to be correct a rugby pelham should have a sliphead attached just like you would on a double? Do often see them without though.
 
Personally I would use a double, I just think it looks a bit smarter. You should be able to buy a sliphead fairly easiler from a saddlers.
 
Double bridle correct for hunters though novices may wear plain snaffle. No need for slip head with rugby pelham and as someone said you can buy the slip head for double from the saddler.
 
Firstly, there is a huge difference in their actions to the horse and the rider.

Personally, if the horse is well schooled and goes well in a double bridle then that is far better for the horse than pelhams which tend to be strong for the horse and give mixed messages resulting, in some horses, in them being strong and hard in the hand.

See what suits your horse best though as it will be very important to how well you do!

Good Luck!
 
To be worn correctly a rugby pelham MUST be fitted on to a double bridle. If you are not sufficiently experienced to manage a double bridle then a rugby pelham will be an easier option, however you still need to be aware of the different action of the top & lower reins & the effect on the horse.
 
i can see a debate about rugby pelhams coming on......I presume that those who wish to use a slip with this sort of pelham attach it to the snaffle (sic) rings. I am intersted to know why this is a 'MUST'. Because as far as i can see this would just make the bit more stable in the mouth and surely you are using a rugby pelham because it give you a more double bridle like feel with more play so would you want it more stable in the mouth? unless of course you are wearing it to imitate the appearance of the double, then slip required. personally the only must i adhere to with this bit is the using two reins one. Though i do agree with the comment that rugby pelhams are easier to manage. And also good for show hacks etc with plenty of blood and small mouths who find two bits uncomfortable.
 
Without the sliphead attached the 'snaffle ring' tends to just flap around & a consistant contact on the 'snaffle part' is very hard to maintain leading to a tendency for the horse or pony to be ridden on the 'curb' part of the bit. From the athestic point of view it also looks very untidy.
I'm sure there are many people out there who can maintain an even contact on both reins in a rugby pelham, it's just that in over 20yrs of judging I've never come across one!
There is no way that any single mouth piece can compare either in feel or action with a double bridle, and the only real difference between a rugby pelham & a standard pelham is in the appearance, and for the vast majority the whole point of using a rugby is that if it is correctly fitted to a double bridle it looks a little bit like one!
To quote Elwyn Hartley Edwards "Pelhams are designed to do the work of two seperate bits (the curb & snaffle from a double bridle). This is an impossible task, but the fact remains that many horses do go better in Pelhams than in any other kind of bit"
 
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