Pelham Advice Please

LisaG

LisaG

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Hi everyone,

My TB mare becomes strong if we go for a canter out hacking. I usually ride in a linked snaffle.

I found a straight bar pelham hanging about at home and thought I'd try her it that today, but I couldn't find the chain, so I just rode her in the pelham with double reins seperate (no roundings) and she was much more controllable, so I was surprised at what a difference, as I was thinking a straight bar pretty mild especially without the curb. I stuck my fingers in under the bridle where any poll pressure would be and pulled on the bottom rein and thought it hardly gave any pressure to speak of to my surprise !

So my questions really are : -

a). Is the metal straight bar THAT much more severe than a rubber or plastic straight bar pelham? As I thought I might opt for a milder type but not if minimal difference.

b). When I fit a chain, am I right in saying it's just one finger you're meant to fit between lip and chain for correct adjustment?

c). What causes the horse to bend so willingly with use of the pelham (coupled with leg of course) ? Is it the poll pressure ?

Definitely wasn't the chain today that brought about a very controlled collected canter, albeit a little sideways lol !!!

I've only ever ridden one other horse in a pelham years ago and this horse was always nicely balanced and was much easier to hold than in a snaffle, but also this horse did a familiar snatching the head back behind the bit momentarily and then reaching to the contact. My horse was doing the same today. Would that suggest they find the bit a tad strong ? As it's like they flex the head overbent and then take up the contact but not daring to pull through the contact.
But they do it in a slightly jerky sort of head toss.

God if anyone can fathom what I mean from that description then I'll be amazed.

PS I have good hands so Im definitely not being heavy with my hands.

Thanks

Lisa
 
IMHO I think that there are a wide array of bits you could try before going for the Pelham.

Think it would be well worth ringing a bit bank that would give you some proper advice and let you try some bits without having to resort to the Pelham.
 
[ QUOTE ]
IMHO I think that there are a wide array of bits you could try before going for the Pelham.

Think it would be well worth ringing a bit bank that would give you some proper advice and let you try some bits without having to resort to the Pelham.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh rubbish!
Pelhams are not the work of the devil in fact if people stopped using continental gags and tried a pelham more often you see less people hauling

IMHO if it works and you hand is light - B*gger the "Honest its mild bit hugger"
 
Sorry ought to reply to your post

a) serverity is a bad term in this question. Mullen pelhams tend to be quite thin, around a 14mm mouthpeice. They only act on the bars and give reasonable tongue clearance for swallowing. A lot of fat tongued horses appreciate this, but can lean as its a straight mouthpeice.

A rubber mouthpeice tends to be quite thick - over 21mm so less comfy for the small mouths. It also works on bars and tongue (as its straight). Some horses love it and will go really well, others dislike the rubber and can run through them.

A hard plastic pelham (flexi, happymouth) tends to be around 18mm thick, is not as flexible and can even cause friction in the mouth as its not exactly smooth. The happymouths also have nobbles than can dig in. You'd be better off wrapping a straight bar with latex IMHO. However unless you use a nathe, which is totally different material and gives a very nice feel for both horse and rider.

b) Chains can be fitted between 1 to 2 fingers width from the horses curb groove. 1 finger is quite a sharp curb. You can also change the curb chain to leather, rubber guard, large polo chain or elastic to change its effects.

c) Pelhams have a strong "head down" effect. The poll pressure is probably more than you think as when the curb is used err 'strongly' the shank can give above 90o from the start position and the poll pressure is considerable. However unlike the stupid continental gags, the mouthpeice remains still so its a quiet poll acition

Used with double reins the pelham provides a effective bit which can be used very lightly.

Worth noting that when show jumping the bit bring them behind the vertical and can cause problems, so I would consider changing to a different bit for "enclosed" work.
 
"Oh rubbish!
Pelhams are not the work of the devil in fact if people stopped using continental gags and tried a pelham more often you see less people hauling

IMHO if it works and you hand is light - B*gger the "Honest its mild bit hugger" ""

Sorry thought every one could have an opinion!!!

I'm in no way a mild bit hugger, my section D is ridden full time in a Pelham, my point is tha it is a large jump to take with so many alternatives on the market!! A dropped cheek snaffle for example would give you the poll pressure (without the curb that is not being used!!)
 
Thanks for the replies!

I've tried another jointed snaffle which has poll pressure as it has a long ported piece above the rein ring, but whatever poll pressure there was with this bit made no difference to the french long cheeked jointed snaffle I used first of all. So these bits were pretty much the same effect.

I always thought jointed bits weren't as kind as a straight bar ?

Have I got this wrong ?

Should I maybe not bother with the chain ? if I can hold her in a sensible canter with just the poll pressure keeping her from sticking her head out and forward and this is when she starts to get away with me lol !!

If I've tried her in 2 different jointed snaffles, what else would I go for ? I mean I only tried the pelham as it was laying around.

Thanks for the warm welcome
 
Yes that's the wording that explains the action well "dropping behind the vertical"...

Thanks for that tip as I am hoping to start private lessons soon with my local riding school and get on with some jumping... I can revert to my snaffle for schooling in enclosed space like you say.

I didnt have any history with this mare, so although she;s not weatherby registered I have no idea if she ever did any race training or possible polo as she neck reins quite well. She just wants to go once in an open space, its a pity theres just not long enough areas to let her go otherwise I would and not have to worry about pulling up so quickly. Plus our bridleways seem to have lots of dog walkers on, so I've got to be able to slow her pretty straight away else Im going to run someone down!

With the snaffle in it takes several of the strongest squeeze and release's with my hands before she even starts to slow and then a further several to break into an extended trot and as you can probably imagine a couple more to get a working trot and so on... maybe it's partly chestnut mare syndrome too ?

She would fly along flat out if I let her, you can feel her waiting for the tiniest of signals to allow her to gallop!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry thought every one could have an opinion!

[/ QUOTE ]
No just me, and I am always right
tongue.gif


Just that your instant response was to suggest something else when OP appears to have found something that worked and wanted to know more about pelhams in general.

I haven't ever found a baucher to give decent poll pressure. However if someone wanted a milder alternative the mylers with hooks or bevals give a really good variety of options.
 
I have just put my TB X who is very strong in a wide barrel comfort snaffle ( Myler) eggbutt with hooks, I love it! he loves it! its helped with keeping his head relaxed, and I have idividual control, so helps with his rubbish bending! plus brakes ( well sort of, but we're working on that)
 
I've literally tried about 15 different bits for flash and the only one he seems happy in is the pelham, he's so light and really carries himself and doesn't spend half as much time with his mouth wide open trying to evade. I do try to use a snaffle most of the time, and only use a snaffle for jumping, but it's nice that the bit we use for showing is the one he goes best in
tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've literally tried about 15 different bits for flash and the only one he seems happy in is the pelham, he's so light and really carries himself and doesn't spend half as much time with his mouth wide open trying to evade. I do try to use a snaffle most of the time, and only use a snaffle for jumping, but it's nice that the bit we use for showing is the one he goes best in
tongue.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree - same with my pony. She loves the rugby pelham that we show in and is so soft and floaty. If only we could do dressage in it ----watch out Carl Hester!!!
 
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