How do you introduce a horse to a Pelham??

Fazzie

Fazzie

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Basically I was riding my new horse yesterday in a snaffle and he was soooooooo strong, nearly pulled my arms out
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and I really dont want to be pulling on his mouth making it worse , so I popped a pelham on and just did the chain up, but not tight, and he was shaking his head like crazy and really didnt like it, but he did slow down, i assume because he was too busy shaking his head. How can I introduce it to him and get him to stop shaking his head? or should I try another bit? (he was even shaking his head when I got off and lead him into the stable to untack)
Thanks in advance.
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were you using roundings or two reins? did you have a guard on the chain? Is the mouthpiece different to the snaffle?

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I used roundings , and the pelham was jointed, the same as the snaffle. but I couldnt find the guard that goes on the chain (havent used a the pelham for years )
Do you think it was because the guard wasnt on? I hope I didnt hurt him
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i literally only rode him for 3-4 minutes and then got off cos I didnt want him to get upset.
shall i take the chain completely off and just see how he goes like that and then try it with the chain and the guard?
 
what snaffle were you using.

I would not persist in trying to use the pelham, the head shaking will become worse than the strength issue and I would say if a horse is going to go well in a bit it will be pretty much straight away, he obv didn't like it, particularly if it continued after

how was he strong, head down, up etc, we can make some bit suggestions then
 
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The chain has to be done up correctly a too loose chain is really harsh

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OMG is it???????? I feel really terrible now
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I just did it up just so it wouldnt move about but not tight incase he didnt take to it.
 
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Do you think it was because the guard wasnt on?

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It just made me wonder, because you said he did it when you weren't on board - so maybe it wasn't to do with the action of the bit, maybe the chain was catching little hairs under his chin? Just a thought.
 
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what snaffle were you using.

I would not persist in trying to use the pelham, the head shaking will become worse than the strength issue and I would say if a horse is going to go well in a bit it will be pretty much straight away, he obv didn't like it, particularly if it continued after

how was he strong, head down, up etc, we can make some bit suggestions then

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Just a normal jointed snaffle (sorry not very good with bits!!) he didnt shake his head at all with that in. He was basically just completely ignoring me and trying to tank off, setting his neck and sticking his nose out and as hes a section d , he is ALOT stronger that me !!
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he was trying to go sideways and nearly stepping on himself because I was making him just walk.
i did also having a running martingale on and that seemed to help, as he went to put his head up and realised he couldnt tank off like that.
(he's had his back, teeth and saddle checked, and all was ok.)
 
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Do you think it was because the guard wasnt on?

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It just made me wonder, because you said he did it when you weren't on board - so maybe it wasn't to do with the action of the bit, maybe the chain was catching little hairs under his chin? Just a thought.

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Very good point, maybe it was as he is REALLY hairy, poor little thing feel awful now
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he such a sweet little guy thats why i thoguth he wasnt just being naughty and got off after a few minutes and took it straight off.
 
ok, mechanincally why is a too loose chain really harsh? I do mine up so that it actions when the shank is at 45 degrees, if it was looser it would just mean that it would only action when you had pulled further. I don't think it could have made that much diff for the time ridden??

Also I didn't think there was much point in jointed pelhams, thought they were better to be mullen mouth though I have known a couple go really well in a joint.

I think prob more likely the poll pressure from the pelham was causing the head shaking not the chain, 2 reins would be better in the first instance because you can then ride off the snaffle unless the curb is needed but with his extreme reaction I would still try something else.
 
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ok, mechanincally why is a too loose chain really harsh? I do mine up so that it actions when the shank is at 45 degrees, if it was looser it would just mean that it would only action when you had pulled further. I don't think it could have made that much diff for the time ridden??

Also I didn't think there was much point in jointed pelhams, thought they were better to be mullen mouth though I have known a couple go really well in a joint.

I think prob more likely the poll pressure from the pelham was causing the head shaking not the chain, 2 reins would be better in the first instance because you can then ride off the snaffle unless the curb is needed but with his extreme reaction I would still try something else.

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Ok thanks so much for the advice
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The chain has to be done up correctly a too loose chain is really harsh

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OMG is it???????? I feel really terrible now
frown.gif
I just did it up just so it wouldnt move about but not tight incase he didnt take to it.

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You wont have done any harm, it would have been uncomfortable had you taken up a strong contact
 
Well firstly - stop using single jointed bits!

You are squeezing your horses tonuge and poking him in the roof of the mouht. There is absolutely no need or use for a single jointed bit these days!

Secondly roundings were a really bad idea, you have suddenly jumped to a completely different bit and the action was always in use due to roundings. Always use 2 reins, and if you cannot ride with 2 reins, then learn!

Loose curbs are not harmful, but are bloomin annoying to the horse and can cause headshaking.
 
poss he was having little tantrum about it if he is a welsh you were putting in his place! you could try lungeing him just with it in, and lunge off a cavesson and see how that goes, he might accept it more.

For other poss bits if he is a bit more of a set neck with head up type (mine does occasionally) rather than a leaning type then you do need something to bring head down a little but perhaps pelham was just too much. but no point in getting into a pulling match with him, he will win!! These are a couple of what I use on mine so are what i feel able to comment on (he also has a myler, a pelham and a waterford -for v naughtiness and goes well but slightly differently in all of them)

try a hanging cheek snaffle in the first instance, it might be worth trying one with a french link so he can run through it less than a single joint, I use one for jumping as it keeps him forwards but I still have control.

IMO Next step would poss be a dutch gag, now I know some people hate them and I wouldn't use it permanently. I use mine only for hacking as he can go into head up, Im not listening to you mode, then start jogging etc If I have this in, I can take a gentle pull and he will just go ok, and start listening again so it never escalates. It will also give you options so you can start on snaffle ring or you can use 2 reins so have one on the snaffle and one lower down for when needed. I use the middle unless he is being very very naughty and welsh when he will occasionally go on the bottom ring.
 
agree with cotswoldSJ re rounding and single jointed bits -

but have you considered there are a LOT of bits on the market that are a bit more 'assertive' than a snaffle, but not as difficult to use or fit and not as agressive for the horse as a pelham. What about a nice NS univeral, that has a slight gag action with optional curb (leather strap, not a chain), but a single rein.
 
It is possible, being a sec d, that he was having a mood because you were in control. The D I ride goes in a little double jointed loose ring snaffle for his dressage, however, he is too strong out hacking in this (and occasionally schooling), so has a session in a dutch gag.

He has a tendancy to see something in the distance and bring his head up and be a yob! I try to ride him forward strongly into my hand and the poll pressure from the gag aids my control. However, at the moment he finds I am deciding the direction and pace he quite often goes in for a bit of sulky head shaking. If I am too sympathetic, he just keeps going, if I continue to ride strongly forward, he gives up.

Rember Ds are ponies, have a pony brain and all the tricks that go with it!
 
No one appears to have mentioned the use of a lip strap which is passed through the large central link in the curb chain and helps to prevent the curb chain from bouncing around on the horses chin. If your horse is tanking off with a snaffle and pelham will just make the horse stronger against your hand. I think maybe you should get an instructor to assess the situation and give you some useful pointers. I made the mistake of putting my horse in a pelham and we used to have a pulling match against each other whilst jumping. Biggest mistake I have made!
 
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Well firstly - stop using single jointed bits!

You are squeezing your horses tonuge and poking him in the roof of the mouht. There is absolutely no need or use for a single jointed bit these days!

Secondly roundings were a really bad idea, you have suddenly jumped to a completely different bit and the action was always in use due to roundings. Always use 2 reins, and if you cannot ride with 2 reins, then learn!

Loose curbs are not harmful, but are bloomin annoying to the horse and can cause headshaking.

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Ok thanks for your advice, i can ride with double reins and will make sure I dont use a jointed bit xx
 
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No one appears to have mentioned the use of a lip strap which is passed through the large central link in the curb chain and helps to prevent the curb chain from bouncing around on the horses chin. If your horse is tanking off with a snaffle and pelham will just make the horse stronger against your hand. I think maybe you should get an instructor to assess the situation and give you some useful pointers. I made the mistake of putting my horse in a pelham and we used to have a pulling match against each other whilst jumping. Biggest mistake I have made!

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Ok thanks, I'll give my old instructor a ring and organise some lessons, as only just bought him and only been hacking my dads horse but thats about it.
 
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It is possible, being a sec d, that he was having a mood because you were in control. The D I ride goes in a little double jointed loose ring snaffle for his dressage, however, he is too strong out hacking in this (and occasionally schooling), so has a session in a dutch gag.

He has a tendancy to see something in the distance and bring his head up and be a yob! I try to ride him forward strongly into my hand and the poll pressure from the gag aids my control. However, at the moment he finds I am deciding the direction and pace he quite often goes in for a bit of sulky head shaking. If I am too sympathetic, he just keeps going, if I continue to ride strongly forward, he gives up.

Rember Ds are ponies, have a pony brain and all the tricks that go with it!

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ok thanks for your advice, Ive had well schooled arabs for the past 6-7 years and before that had a section c, so its just getting back into the swing of it
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what bit should i try?
 
Hi I also have a welsh d and he shakes and fights against certain bits too, after speaking to my dentist I have put him into a straight bar pelham without a curb chain its a happy mouth one (even though i use a normal pelham with curb chain when out showing) i use straight bar as welsh types tend to have low pallets so anything with an action just hits the roof of his mouth and makes him resist and fight against it, he is miles happier in a straight bar, but on the odd day he can still shake his head and resist me when he is having a im a welsh and can do my own thing kinda day but as a rull the straight bar is a god send!!
 
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