Front cover of last weeks H&H what bit has the horse got in its mouth?

[knightsbridge]

Does anyone know what the bit is, that Glencarrig Bobby the stunning grey pony on the front of H&H has in his mouth and if so where you can buy one?

It looks amazing.

 

[magicgirl]

If you are into very severe bits that need incredible hands the bit is called a Swales Pelham. Whilst the pony is lovely there is no way I would want one who needed such a dreadful bit.

 

[knightsbridge]

really is it really severe? It looks like it just had a snaffle mouth and was made to look like a double bridle, in which case i dont think i want one afterall.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ThePony]

would second the hands comment magic girl! Not a terribly nice bit imho. The inside snaffle rings squeeze the face, and you still have the crank going on too, bit much I think!

 

[magicgirl]

Unfortunately it seems to be the latest must have showing accsessary and very few riders even know how it works.

 

[Sparkles]

Horrid horrid bit imo.

 

[ThePony]

oh dear, don't get me started!! strong bits and riders that don't realise (or generally don't want to realise!) how strong they are is my pet peeve!

 

[FlorenceBassey]

You lot really need to get over yourselves, unless you personally know the pony/rider on the front cover and know its not needed, you have no place to judge if he/she knows what they are doing etc, Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill

 

[SVMel]

You lot really need to get over yourselves, unless you personally know the pony/rider on the front cover and know its not needed, you have no place to judge if he/she knows what they are doing etc, Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill

I don't think anyone said the cover star did or didn't know what they were doing??! Just expressing opinions about the bit and trends in the showing world in general.

 

[ThePony]

Wasn't saying that it isn't needed on the pony on the front cover. Just commenting that it is a strong bit, with rather an unpleasant action.
(if it's in relation to my second comment then I wasn't commenting in relation to the pony in question, more in relation to the over abundance of strong bits and heavy hands!).

 

[JessandCharlie]

If you were interested in a pelham made to look like a double then a rugby pelham.
I don't think there were any comments regarding the pony or its rider on the front cover.

 

[antagonist]

Harsh bits used inconsiderately in my opinion is cruelty.

This bit has large lever arms in order to give a mechanical advantage allowing the maximum pressure to be excerted with the minimum of presure on the rains, simple mechanics.

Used correctly and in the correct circumstances no problem. I believe that this is orginally a driving bit and may well be appriopiate for this use, but in my opinion has no place in the show ring.

However, it is also ideal for riders who's ambition exceed their concerns for the horse/ rider relationship.

 

[Enfys]

If you were interested in a pelham made to look like a double then a rugby pelham.

Or... a nice simple loose ring pelham, much neater than a Rugby, especially for types with daintier heads, and you can still add the extra cheeks.

Can't see the photo, but if a horse goes nicely in a particular bit then I have no problem with it, I have horses that prefer bits that look evil.

The new one likes this:

 

[Old Bat]

Blimey o'reilly, you've just made me go and look at the cover,what a vile bit on a pony with an honest face! The curb part of the bit is not attached to the cheek pieces so in my opinion the curb and chain action would be horrific.

 

[Enfys]

Harsh ( any bit surely?)bits used inconsiderately in my opinion is cruelty. that is a given

This bit has large lever arms in order to give a mechanical advantage allowing the maximum pressure to be excerted with the minimum of presure on the rains, simple mechanics. So that it is possible to use a very light hand rather than haul away on a bit that the horse has less respect for presumably?

Used correctly and in the correct circumstances no problem. I believe that this is orginally a driving bit and may well be appriopiate for this use, but in my opinion has no place in the show ring. Out of curiosity are there any bits that are banned in the show ring?

However, it is also ideal for riders who's ambition exceed their concerns for the horse/ rider relationshipThe blame could also, in part, be laid at the feet of the showing world in general and the passion for trends. Never quite figured out why everybody has to walk the same path myself.QUOTE]

You have named yourself well Bring on the debates

 

[ThePony]

Well explained, but does miss out mentioning that the rings press on the horses face when the snaffle rein is used. They press right where the back teeth start, which on many horses are wider than the face above and below them with nothing over them for protection and the buccal nerve runs right along there. I'm not supprised that many ponies give up leaning, snatiching and overbending. Must be rather uncomfortbale at best (even assuming no sharp edges!), not a bit I would ever like to use. I'm sure there are some ponies that do well in it if they dislike poll pressure, but I would be suprised if all the ponies in them needed this action, and that the riders realised this action could be painful to the pony.

opps, just read through, please excuse dreadful spelling!

 

[conniegirl]

A bit is only as 'evil' as the hands at the end of the reins.

I would personaly prefer to see a horse going well in a swales rather than a horse having its back teeth hauled out in a snaffle.

I've got a pony who cant stand poll pressure at all and the swales is very good for him. He is happy in it, I'm happy riding on a light rein and he goes well in it. so why would it be evil?

My personal hate is seeing showjumpers with the horses in dutch gags, running martingales and grackles as seems to be the fashion at the moment. Being booted round the course and having their back teeth hauled out, seems perticularly prevelent in kids showjumping. very often there is absolutly no need for it, I've personaly orrowed one of these horses, stripped all the **** off him and shown him (having ridden him twice) in a cavesson and hanging cheek snaffle.

 

[antagonist]

Thank you fumanchu for the link. To quote from it

"This clever design is brilliant to combat strong rude horses and/or those with a tendency to lean/snatch down."

I thought show horses had to be schooled to be mannerly?

In reply to "are any bits banned in the showing world?" Not in my knowledge.

In my humble opinion who would push for a ban on this bit, the showing world themselves who seem to have fallen in love with this bit!!

 

[ThePony]

oh, interesting question, would be interested to know if any bits are banned in showing. Other than dressage, are there any bits banned in and equestrian sport? (sorry if a dumb question, fortunatly my mare goes nicely in a hanging cheek so haven't had to read up on rule books!)

 

[magicgirl]

You lot really need to get over yourselves, unless you personally know the pony/rider on the front cover and know its not needed, you have no place to judge if he/she knows what they are doing etc, Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill

I do know the pony and he is fantastic but I still wouldn't want him if that is the bit they need to ride him in. Swales were used by a few very experienced professional show riders on difficult rides. Less experienced people saw this and started using the bit with the vast majoriety having no idea how it actually functions. I went looking for a pelham for my large breed for flat classes to improve the picture. He goes well in a snaffle and I just wanted a very short armed mullen mouth pelham to use with a leather curb chain which is put on loosely. Having explained my requirements to the girl in a tack shop I was horrified when she produced a Swales telling me it was the fashionable bit and I should have one. i went elsewhere.

 

[Cazza525]

I think there are lot of ppl on this thread in danger of insulting proffessional riders. If riders are that bad then they have no place to be on a horse in the show ring anyway,let alone with this bit. To watch a novice horse/rider,they should be in a snaffle anyhow.

Feel sorry for the OP actually.....only asking out of interest what bit is.

 

[antagonist]

I think there are lot of ppl on this thread in danger of insulting proffessional riders. If riders are that bad then they have no place to be on a horse in the show ring anyway,let alone with this bit. To watch a novice horse/rider,they should be in a snaffle anyhow.

Feel sorry for the OP actually.....only asking out of interest what bit is.

I have no intention of insulting any rider, my intention is to open debate and I am more than happy for any professional rider to come and justify its use.

I would hate people to confuse trying to provoke debate with insulting anyone I neither know nor care to know.

I take your point about the opening post and have started a new thread with a couple of pertinant quotes.