Novice riders and Pelhams - thoughts please!

I've had my daughter ride one of ours in a pelham with roundings. I'd use a leather curb chain though. If it's a novice owner as well I'd make certain they know which way up to fit the pelham and how tight the curb etc needs to be.

Has someone tested the bit out on the horse first to make sure the horse is happy and stops? If not I think they should.
 
I fnd it slightly concerning in some cases.. For example, I was having a conversation with someone the other day who was saying that she cant get her Haflinger to work from behind..but when he is in a pelham and she hauls on the curb rein he brings his back end right underneath him and starts working from behind!?
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If it is for use just as stopping power, for example, out hunting, then it is probably helpful. But the novice rider should be made aware of how severe the bit is, and how to reward with the hands when the bit has the required effect.
 
Well...I am one!!! I did have my ponio in a snaffle, but he does have a tendency to set his neck and go sometimes - usually towards the gate of the school. The last time I rode him in a snaffle we were cantering in a field and he set his neck, I couldn't turn, I couldn't stop, he was just having fun!

I have tried him in several bits, but now have him in a straight bar pelham with roundings, with a rubber curb guard on the chain. He is happy with that, and I can stop him. It doesn't usually take much to stop him now, but if he does go I can stop him. Before using it I made sure I understood how it worked, and after fitting it got it checked by several more experienced people.

TBH I'd rather use a bit he responds to and is happy with than use a snaffle just for the sake and feel like I'm having to haul on it to get him to stop!
 
I actually thought that by putting the roundings on then you are dulling the severity of the bit and that roundings are better for novice riders.

Better for her to be riding in roundings IMO than in a milder bit having to constantly haul on the horses mouth - that's no way to learn to ride!
 
Depends on the horse and the rider. In my experience some horses (often hunter types and or larger cobs) seem to prefer the pelham to some 'milder' bits such as French Links, perhaps depending on the shape of the mouth.
If the horse is happy, and the rider has control, I don't see a problem.
If the pelham (or any bit) is being used instead of schooling the horse to be obedient to the aids, then I envisage future trouble anyway
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With my 13.2 pony when I first got him, I always used to ride him in a vulcanite pelham with roundings. He wasn't strong but would sometimes take the mickey out of me because he knew I didn't have the same ability as his previous owner. Once I got used to him & my riding improved, we were fine in a snaffle & I would only use the pelham for xc. I think with many pony & cob types, just having a slightly stronger bit is enough to make them have a bit more respect for their novice riders. As long as the novice rider is taught the correct way to use their hands & the bit, i think a stronger bit is definately preferable to hauling a pony's back teeth out with a snaffle. Remember all bits can be severe in the wrong hands...
 
I personally see no problem.
Some more experienced riders could do an equal amount of damage in a snaffle imo.
I think so long as the horse is happy in the bit, it stops when asked and the rider can ride the horse safely and isn't too rough with their hands then it doesn't matter what bit the horse is in.
Although I would be more worried about the novice riding in a pelham with double reins than roundings.
 
As long as they have been made aware of the potential strength of the bit and have light hands and the horse is fine with the bit, then no. I would ask why a novice is on a strong horse. However, I used to ride a cob who was lovely but on the odd occasion could be very strong, nothing nasty, just loved a gallop.

He was ridden in a pelham by novices in order to give them some brakes should he decide to have fun. In a snaffle they would have to haul if they didn't know tricks to reduce speed or be happy to go fast, and it would have been uncomfortable for him and potentially unnerving for the rider.
 
pelham bits have there place, my granddaughter rode a 13hh pony that would only jump in a pelham, we were told this when we bought it, and as she got used to him, and he did not appear strong in our wisdom we swapped it, low and behold he would not jump at all, this was a pony who was winning everywhere he went, pelham back in the red rosettes pilled up again. I think the biggest problem is with people who think they not novices, not with self acknowledged novices, or as in our case thought we knew better, you are always learning in this game, and remember the horse has not read the book
 
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