Kimblewicks and Pelhams?

[WelshRareBit]

Do kimblewicks and pelhams have a similar action? ie do they both encourage lowering on the head? I thought that a kimblewick was the stronger of the two and had less leverage as it doesnt have shanks - is this true?

 

[Kelly1982]

I always thought that a pelham was stronger? I could be wrong though as my horses have only ever been in snaffles.

 

[miamibear]

I would have thought the kimblewick is not quite as strong but you can get it with a port which will make it quite severe.

A curb chain is supposed to have the effect of raising the head.

As you said there are no shanks on a kimblewick just hooks so not as much leverage as a pelham.

Either way they are only as strong as the hands controlling them!

xx

 

[KatB]

I was always taught a curb lowers the head?!

 

[AmyMay]

I used to use a Kimblewick on Amymay out hunting. I loved it. TBH I'm not sure which is the stronger bit, but she went much better in the KW than a pelham.

The action of the curb is to lower the head - but some horses do object, and may toss their heads around thus giving the misconception that they actually encourage the horses head up!!

 

[miamibear]

I may be wrong but i thought poll pressure lowers and curbs lift. I take it back if im wrong someone must know

 

[KatB]

Nope curbs definitely lower, as I was advised not to use one on my boy as he sticks his head down, and they would just encourage this.
Also, a double bridle has a curb for lowering, and the bradoon can have a lifting action, in very simplified terms!!

 

[Kelly1982]

I think a curb does lower as pelhams have a habit of making horses lean on the bit. I could be wrong also though as i am not very up to scratch with bits.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Depends how the 2 bits are used. If a pelham is used with roundings then constant leverage is applied where as with seperate reins the top rein is actually mild. Same iwth kimblewicks. If you use the slotted version putting rein through lower slot gives constant leverage. upper slot significantly less. using an unslotted kimblewick allows the rider to alter the effect of the bit dependant on horses head position relative to riders hands. Put simply the higher the riders hands in realtion to the bit the softer it is. The lower the riders hands the more leverage which is why you will often see horses ridden with low fixed hands in these bits lowering their heads and going behind the verticle to relieve the pressue.

 

[flyingfeet]

Kimblewicks are quite mild, especially without slots, as they have as much leverage as a D snaffle, which is less than a baucher.

However with slots you get a little bit of leverage, which is not dissimilar to a pelham with roundings.

A long shanked pelham with a tight curb is quite a severe bit, but as with everything the severity of a bit lies with the hands!

Also the port in a kimberwick is usually the pressure relieveing "Cambridge port", you rarely see ports high enough to act on the roof of the mouth (must be well in excess of an inch).