how to get him to except a double bridle?

[blueeyed20girl]

We have an ex race horse whome has come alomg way since retiring from racing 3 years ago, we have been doing some showing with him in ror riding horse etc but he is currently ridden in a neue schule lozenge snaffle, i have tried him in a double but he seems to back right off it, even a rugby pelham? is there any way of getting him to just carry it in his mouth to look the part so to speak? dont need to use it. many thanks!!

 

[Hollycatt]

You need to look at the shape of his mouth and get bits that suit him. If he has a big tounge for example it may be very uncomfortable for him to have a thicker bit. You may need to try LOTS of bits!

Good luck

 

[xloopylozzax]

are you trying to use a double bridle (eg. bradoon and weymouth so 2 bits in the mouth)
or a pelham which looks sort of like a double and has 2 reins?

If you arent used to riding in either of those, i would defintely have lessons cos it can be tricky to start with

start with a mullen mouth pelham (metal, not vulcanite/rubber as they are too thick) then move from there if he doesnt accept it. Rugby pelhams are funny as the extra link means the contact isnt as constant, I'd just start with a normal pelham first.

he might like a jointed pelham, as that will completely cancel out any curb/poll pressure.

or to take pressure off his tongue get a ported/hartwell pelham. the port might not suit him though if he has a low pallatte etc

make sure your just riding off the top rein, have the bottom one knotted round his neck if need be to start with.

 

[dafthoss]

Why dont you try a neue schule pellham as it will have the same mouth piece and you can have the curb rein loose.

 

[horseless jorge!]

If you don't mind me asking the question, why is it necessary if it's not going to be used?

 

[xloopylozzax]

because for showing (especially in open classes) its correct to have the horse in either a double bridle or pelham.

 

[horseless jorge!]

Could she just not put him in a pelham then? There's a huge jump between from a pelham to a double bridle.

 

[blueeyed20girl]

very used to riding in one! experienced enough with them do alot of showing! have tried him in a pelham and he dislikes this even more? does not stick his head up he just will not move forward, so thought the double i could actually just put the weymouth in with his other snaffle (his mouth is not particually small nor does he have an excessivly thick tongue)and then just ride off the snaffle an use the other one for "show" but he just will not move forward when worked, slows right down etc! was just wondering if anyone had any tips or maybe something they had done to help....he does alot of RoR but like to do ridden horse classes too and although you can get away a bit more in the racehorse classes with just the snaffle you like the person above mentioned donty tend to so much with the riding horse classes! thanks

 

[be positive]

If you really feel the need to use a double/pelham I would hack out in it ,assuming he goes forward when hacking there is more for him to think about and he should go forward more easily.
I always used to start mine off like this, not really schooling just pootling around. when he is going better then gradually start to ask a little more of him.

 

[BigRed]

why not try a jointed pelham ? you can have a really loose leather curb chain. Cosmetically it will look right. The horse shouldn't really feel much different, especially if you keep the curb rein loose.