Pelham bit

[Green Bean]

Hi, I have reached a bit of an impasse in trying to bit my warmblood. I currently have fallen back to my french link snaffle after trying a baucher lozenge, d-ring snaffle, waterford loose ring among others. My horse is a leaner. She doesn't take up the contact easily. She can be a bit naughty if she isn't getting her own way and throws in the odd buck. I have realised she isn't a dressage prospect and far prefers jumping. To this end, I have started with jumping lessons. She can be quite strong when you get down to the serious business of getting her to go where and when you want her. I am considering putting her in a pelham with roundings for jumping. I don't think I could handle double reins while jumping. The pelham I am looking at is the one with a lozenge in the joint, so not the solid bit type. Any thoughts?

 

[ycbm]

I personally think that any forum of joined Pelham is a complete abomination of a bit. The joint simply destroys what the bit is supposed to do.

Why not a straight bar Pelham or a jointed gag?

 

[tallyho!]

I personally think that any forum of joined Pelham is a complete abomination of a bit. The joint simply destroys what the bit is supposed to do.

Why not a straight bar Pelham or a jointed gag?

Absolutely - totally negates the action of the curb.

Any curb bit must not be jointed. Goodness only knows why they exist...

Why not try a ported kimblewick - when i hunted or xc my old boy was strong and kimblewick gave me plenty of "brakes" (i hate that word) but I retrained him in a normal single jointed snaffle eventually... never blame the tools - blame the tool using it

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

What does your sj trainer advise?

 

[Green Bean]

Thanks everyone for your responses so far. I am now considering a soft rubber pelham, no joint. I suppose at the end of the day, I want brakes but not a harsh bit which is a contradiction in itself. I have not asked my SJ instructor, I have only been to her twice so we are just going through the basics at the moment. I am not keen on a Kimblewick or a Gag, just personal preference really.

 

[tallyho!]

Thanks everyone for your responses so far. I am now considering a soft rubber pelham, no joint. I suppose at the end of the day, I want brakes but not a harsh bit which is a contradiction in itself. I have not asked my SJ instructor, I have only been to her twice so we are just going through the basics at the moment. I am not keen on a Kimblewick or a Gag, just personal preference really.

A kimblewick works like a pelham, not like a gag - a gag has no curb. If you don't like using two reins then a kimblewick is much better as the shank is shorter and you can fit a set of reins on two settings and change the poll action. Roundings on pelhams, while popular, makes very little sense as you lose the ability to discriminate on the actions it allows you.

I would also speak to your instructor though, he/she will be able to see what your problem is and help you (hopefully) and hopefully not whack on more leather and metal to solve it.

 

[Green Bean]

An update on this. Tried the Pelham, didn't go down well! Decided it is just too strong for her. Further to the advise offered, I am now going to try a Kimblewick. I have ordered the plain one, not the one with slots for more than one set of reins based on the reaction using the Pelham. I rode her with a rein just on the top part of the Pelham and she seemed to settle with that contact, hence the Kimblewick. I have a clinic with my instructor this Saturday so will ask her as well.