Pelham bit..info please

TrasaM

TrasaM

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Yesterday I rode a horse who has a straight bar Pelham bit and a single rein. ( lots of other bits of restraining leather too but we will leave that for now)

So far all the horses I've ridden have had various versions of snaffle and I just wanted some information about just how harsh the Pelham can be because I do not want to abuse or hurt this horse's mouth in any way. I was very careful with her yesterday as I'd not ridden her before and I know nothing about those type of bits apart from comments seen and heard about them.
Personally my feelings are that the bit should just be a point of contact and communication and not to restrain or punish. Information and guidance grateful received.

The horse in question is 17hh IDxWB and was a well schooled jumper before being used only for hacking since purchased by my friend. She can be spooky and will rear and kick out. Mostly though she is calm and from what I've observed not too strong when out riding.
 
A bit is only as harsh as the hands on the other end, same with a whip and spurs. Education is the key.

A pelham with roundings (which im assuming is what you had) effectively becomes a severe snaffle.

A pelham used correctly with 2 reins and an elastic curb, not a harsh chain, is a great tool for quieter communication, giving you two options to ask for flexions, self carriage (if the horse has been taught how to relax a the poll and jaw to get this) and lightness.

Quite an informative article here.

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=26
 
If you are riding well with good hands then you won't be abusing the horse with the bit.

Pelhams work on different parts of the head to snaffles that's all. There's poll pressure from the top ring and pressure in the curb groove from the chain. As well as various degrees of pressure on the bars, tongue and lips, depending on the type of mouthpiece.

If you look at the bit from the side, the top ring attaches to the cheek pieces and in combination with the bottom ring gives poll and curb pressure. You probably had roundings which attach to middle ring and bottom ring, with a single rein attached to the roundings, meaning that every time there is contact on the reins there will be some curb pressure. Using two reins (and no roundings) is preferable, because the middle ring has the bit working like a snaffle, with the second rein attached to the bottom ring operating the curb as and when necessary.
 
*hic* said:
In that case it is being used incorrectly but may be the way the horse goes best.


Is the mouthpiece metal or rubber, thin or thick?
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Straight but thick metal mouthpiece.

As I said I was careful with her yesterday but I don't place much faith in owners knowledge of bits because her answer to most problems is to add more restraints. I am not a fan of the yank it's head in and lots of rein pressure so I know that I won't do her any harm but I prefer to be fully informed. :)
 
TigerTail said:
A bit is only as harsh as the hands on the other end, same with a whip and spurs. Education is the key.



Quite an informative article here.

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=26
Click to expand...

Ta Tigertail. I've referred to that article a few times now. It's very good. I have French classical lessons plus BHs lessons so I'm coping with a world of differences in the while rein thing already. My preference is French classical but I keep the other lessons going because it's nearer to me.
 
Buy your own reins and put a second one on the snaffle ring (middle ring) then. It's making the bit less harsh so the owner is unlikely to object to your using a second rein in this way, even if she chooses not to herself.

Or you could try pursuading owner to use her single rein with roundings, which would still give curb pressure, but she may not want the expense of buying the roundings.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Buy your own reins and put a second one on the snaffle ring (middle ring) then. It's making the bit less harsh so the owner is unlikely to object to your using a second rein in this way, even if she chooses not to herself.

Or you could try pursuading owner to use her single rein with roundings, which would still give curb pressure, but she may not want the expense of buying the roundings.
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to buy whatever it takes to adapt the bit if I'm going to continue riding her. But, yes I really have to tiptoe around this because I really really loved riding her.
 
The Pelham is a single mouthpiece form of a double bridle - the top ring is the equivalent of a snaffle and the bottom ring is the equivalent of a curb. Ideally the Pelham should be used with two reins so that you can ride as if in a snaffle with the top rein and when you want to refine the headcarriage a little more you use the curb.

Some people consider it a harsh bit - but infact it has some really good features.
No joint - so no nutcracker action,
Most have a slightly curved mouthiece which is more comfortable for th ehorse and works on the tongue and lips
If it has a Cambridge mouth then the tongue is given some extra room and the mouthpiece drops onto the bars of the mouth so the bit works on the bars and lips.

The curb chain acts as a fulcrum so when the curb rein is used it tilts the top of the bit forward and tightens the chain into the chin groove so that pressure is exerted on the poll. The chain tightening in the chin groove encourages the horse to give at the jaw, refining the position of the head. A pelham can be hard to fit on a horse with a long mouth as it stops the curb chain lying in the correct place
imagesqtbnANd9GcTKnuU-9dMJ2NjNgL5wK.jpg


The chain should be fitted through the top ring so that it can lie correctly in the chin groove. Fitted behind the bit it pinches the lips between the hooks and the mouthpiece and also rides up the jawbone exerting pressure on the thin edges of the boney jaw. Compare the placement with a double bridle where the snaffle ring sits above the curbchain
See pics below
Pelhamwithchainthruring.jpg
imagesqtbnANd9GcTUacUtc0LcPjJVX9_hQ.jpg
 
Buy roundings, claim you've had them lying around for a while so they may as well be used, add in that you're not used to pelhams and don't feel confident that you have the necessary skill ;) to ride purely off the curb, and since it would be annoying to have to keep removing them ask would it be ok to leave the roundings on?

If that doesn't work maybe say you hope one day to get into dressage or showing and that's why you want to practice with using double reins now? That still leaves you with the owner riding off the curb though, which if they're heavy handed could lead quickly to a hard mouthed horse. I can't see there's much you can do about that though.
 
Dont buy blinking roundings grr - it defeats the point of the darn bit and makes it into a handbrake mouthpiece :mad:

OP I like the idea of buying another set of reins, get some trigger clips on the ends so theyre easy to put on and take off and just say your classical instructor would like you to practise with 2 reins and as the pelham is a two rein bit you thought it ideal ;)
 
Should you decide to get two pairs of reins make sure the ones you get for the curb rein are narrower then the snaffle reins. Helps to identify which is which and also being thinner it's harder to get a solid/blocking feel on them.
 
EllenJay said:
The "pelham" refers not to the mouthpeice but to the bit rings. You can have straight bar or jointed pelhams. You can have straight bar or jointed snaffles.
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Not often do you find anyone using a jointed Pelham!

A jointed pelham is a waste of time as the momet you apply pressure to the reins the bit folds, the curb chain slackens and the bit loses all of it's function - you basically have a Baucher!
 
Tnavas said:
Not often do you find anyone using a jointed Pelham!

A jointed pelham is a waste of time as the momet you apply pressure to the reins the bit folds, the curb chain slackens and the bit loses all of it's function - you basically have a Baucher!
Click to expand...
But yet again not all horses have read the handbook and some go better in a jointed pelham than anything else!
 
*hic* said:
But yet again not all horses have read the handbook and some go better in a jointed pelham than anything else!
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They may very well do

What I was pointing out was that have a look at what you actually finish up with - you might find that you can do away with the pelham and use a snaffle with a similar design
 
Murphy used to pull carts and so knew his strength. He was quiet when youngsters rode him, but not so much when I got on. In the end I bought a pelham and I'm glad I did. He would get into his stride and become difficult to stop, and the lightest of touches would bring him back to either collected or a stop. I didn't have to pull (no blisters, bonus!) and he realised that I now was able to prevent his outbursts.

I used two reins, only engaging the lower one when required, but I found after a few months I could take it off once he learnt that he was being outfoxed! In the end, just having the pelham in his mouth was a deterrent enough and that was the point I stopped using it.

May I add that the pelham was bought at the age of 22 or 23! He's retired now at 26 but was back in a snaffle at the end. Probably more to do with his mild arthritis than his age though.
 
Tnavas said:
Not often do you find anyone using a jointed Pelham!

A jointed pelham is a waste of time as the momet you apply pressure to the reins the bit folds, the curb chain slackens and the bit loses all of it's function - you basically have a Baucher!
Click to expand...


You then go on to tell me to look for a similar snaffle!

Baucher's have no poll pressure as there can be no lever action. The shanks of the pelham give poll pressure. Further, as you increase the feel on the curb rein, although as you point out the mouthpiece folds and the chain slackens, you do eventually get the curb chain come into play. So for a horse that is normally fine in a loose ring snaffle, a jointed rugby pelham gives a markedly similar experience until and unless the curb rein is used where you then get a distinct difference between poll pressure and the curb chain coming into play.
 
*hic* said:
You then go on to tell me to look for a similar snaffle!

Baucher's have no poll pressure as there can be no lever action. The shanks of the pelham give poll pressure. Further, as you increase the feel on the curb rein, although as you point out the mouthpiece folds and the chain slackens, you do eventually get the curb chain come into play. So for a horse that is normally fine in a loose ring snaffle, a jointed rugby pelham gives a markedly similar experience until and unless the curb rein is used where you then get a distinct difference between poll pressure and the curb chain coming into play.
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I can see where you are coming from and I am so glad that someone else agrees with me that a Baucher has no poll pressure! You have made my day.
 
I'm back. I rode the day again today and was treated to one of her " oh shetlands are terrifying and are going to eat me" hissy fit. After some lovely pirouettes and excellent back ups we proceeded unharmed ! Horses!

Right .. It's got a rounding thingy .. And I've been trying to see how different angles and pressure work on her.

I like the idea of getting the second rein. I can get instruction on how to use it correctly which I think is the best thing to do rather than figure it out on my own.

T Navas..thank you for providing such a detailed answer plus diagrams.. That helped.

Also sugar and spice, Hic and others..big thank yous.
I have planted the seed :D I asked if I could get lessons on her once the weather picks up and mentioned that I'd like to learn how to use two reins ;) yes, all ok with that. Lucky for me she doesn't like riding the mare, eh :)

Work to be done though. She ignores the leg pretty much and I hate kicking. But has glorious paces..especially when she sees Shetlands:eek: :D
 
I'm glad you had a nice ride today.
I'm jumping on your thread slightly here, I laughed at the comments on jointed pelhams as all the horses (nearly) at the yard I work at wear them and I have never seen the point at all. Also the AI fits them all (straight bar or jointed) so the horse has two creases in the corner of its mouth. Now thinking back to my pony club days the snaffle you fitted with 2 wrinkles and the pelham with just a slight wrinkle...is that not the case now? (I ride with my heels down and everything, so I know I'm out of date!).
 
Clodagh said:
I'm glad you had a nice ride today.
I'm jumping on your thread slightly here, I laughed at the comments on jointed pelhams as all the horses (nearly) at the yard I work at wear them and I have never seen the point at all. Also the AI fits them all (straight bar or jointed) so the horse has two creases in the corner of its mouth. Now thinking back to my pony club days the snaffle you fitted with 2 wrinkles and the pelham with just a slight wrinkle...is that not the case now? (I ride with my heels down and everything, so I know I'm out of date!).
Click to expand...

You're not out of date - even though you ride with your heels down - a useful position to hold when jumping or being carted along a bridle path! :D

AI has wires slightly crossed - all unjointed bits should be fitted so that there is no real wrinkle in the corner of the mouth - the bit fits snug to the length of the mouth.

She is correct to fit the jointed bit higher as the weight of the joint causes the bit centre to drop down in the mouth - and if fitted the same as the unjointed bit it would be too low and the horse could easily get his tongue over.
 
Ar! Fair enough. I bought my horse from her and when he was in his pelham (a straight bar happy mouth) it was so tight that you struggled to get his ears into the headpiece.
 
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