Mullen mouth hanging cheek?

Sol

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So, Dante seems to have decided his pelham is quite nice, but he's not a fan of the lozenge full cheek snaffle. Thinking of trying one of these... http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/...k_Snaffle_filet_baucher_mullen_bit-(423).aspx

Took him in the school in his snaffle tonight, and from the start he just wouldn't pay attention to the bit in any way, shape or form. After about 20 mins of trying different things in different paces, I went & fetched his pelham, rode straight off doing shoulder in at trot, changed rein, leg-yield, canter, halt, walk, walk pirouettes etc - lovely!
In the snaffle though he almost backs off the contact rather than working into it, so I have very little control, and might as well do without the reins as he just objects to me doing anything with them! *sigh* Even just trying to get him to settle in walk, he just crunches on the bit and tenses his neck if anything, but none of this in the pelham....

Bored of playing the bit swap game now though!

Thanks, Sol x.
 
You could pretty much try it out by using your pelham with one rein on the snaffle ring only - then you almost have a hanging cheek mullen.
I ride mine in a ported mullen dalehead bit and if I ever did dressage I'd use a mullen hanging cheek as it's pretty similar (minus the port!).
The Hilary vernon range by Abbey (where my Dalehead is from) do a lovely hanging cheek mullen bit. Has a much more generous curve, but they are expensive. Risley saddlery has them.
 
I have the same problem. Horse goes absolutely perfectly in vulcanite mullen mouth pelham. But, as you say, it isn't dressage legal. I have been trying for months to find the right bit to school and do dressage in.

I originally found a vulcanite mullen mouth hanging cheek at Risley but decided £63 was too much. However, I have now given up and ordered one and hope it will be delivered on Monday in time for my lesson.

I really hope this works - I will let you know how I get on.
 
I have a happy mouth one somewhere but he just runs through it because it bends!

Thanks for the replies everyone!
I might be really awful and just try the myler one I have around thinking about it, it's almost the same.... just need to get it back off the person who borrowed it!
 
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