Opinions?

[Florrie]

So today I tried Tag in a Pelham and he went absolutely wonderful, I've never felt him go so well.

However I've had mixed opinions if I should ride in it when I'm schooling.
one half says I should save the Pelham for showing/competing and the other half says use it constantly.

Usually I ride him in a French Link Snaffle but I much prefer the Pelham as he feels much softer in the mouth and more relaxed. Whereas with the Snaffle he feels slightly more tense and stronger and the Pelham also encourages him to drop his head (whereas usually it feels like I'm riding a giraffe with the snaffle!) and I feel more in control.
He is usually quite soft in the mouth but can get very headstrong, and I don't want to ruin the softness of his mouth by using a pelham constantly but it works a treat when he decides to get slightly on the strong side. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid about ruining his mouth despite the fact I have the softest hands in the world

So what do you guys think? Totally novice question but I want opinions and what people think is best

 

[katiieking]

I can give you three examples of my different horses

1. Rides in a pelham for cross country, loose ring snaffle for showjumping up to 1m, higher than 1m & into the pelham! Loose ring for any schooling at home or hacking!

2. Schooled at home in a pelham, cross country in a pelham and any competiting or hacking in a hanging cheek snaffle

3. All jumping done in a pelham, all flat work & hacking in a snaffle!

Just do what suits your horse! Personally, I would say do everything in it for a couple of weeks, and then slowly do some small sessions back in your snaffle and see if it makes a difference!

We used to have a pony that we put in a pelham for three weeks and then back to his snaffle and he learnt to respect the bit because he realised how much easier it was when he wasn't dragging me round an arena

A bit is only as harsh as the hands holding it

 

[Florrie]

I can give you three examples of my different horses

1. Rides in a pelham for cross country, loose ring snaffle for showjumping up to 1m, higher than 1m & into the pelham! Loose ring for any schooling at home or hacking!

2. Schooled at home in a pelham, cross country in a pelham and any competiting or hacking in a hanging cheek snaffle

3. All jumping done in a pelham, all flat work & hacking in a snaffle!

Just do what suits your horse! Personally, I would say do everything in it for a couple of weeks, and then slowly do some small sessions back in your snaffle and see if it makes a difference!

We used to have a pony that we put in a pelham for three weeks and then back to his snaffle and he learnt to respect the bit because he realised how much easier it was when he wasn't dragging me round an arena

A bit is only as harsh as the hands holding it

Ah thank you
I will try him back in his snaffle in a few weeks time, I think there may be a respect issue going on because the Pelham is a single joint and not a French link it was a bit of a shock to him to have something slightly harsher in his mouth!

 

[pistolpete]

It's always hard to know what to do re bits! A friend of mine has recently changed her horse from a pelham to a Dutch gag and back to the pelham. He was putting his head on his chest in the pelham but still feeling really strong. The gag raised his head and gave more control until one day when he went above it! So back in the pelham and happy for now! I am contemplating a hackamore for mine due to constant bit chewing!

 

[Lolo]

Could you try a straight bar snaffle, either a rubber/ vulcanite or metal (whichever the pelham was)? Sometimes, the straight bar just offers them more security in the contact as it moves less in their mouths I think...

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

What lolo said, a snaffle with the same mouthpiece as your pelham. Or use double reins but only ride off the snaffle rein for daily use, holding the curb rein loosely.