Pelham differences?....*Pic*

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almrc

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Hi All

So my horses usual bit is the silver pelham. I changed her to it an shes going fab in it, its 6". It was a little on the small side, just a tiny bit so I bought the other rubber pelham which is 6.5"

Now without sounding stupid, is the rubber one ok to use? Compared to the other one, the rubber piece seems so huge! I have never used a rubber bit, can't imaging it being nice in a horses mouth but it must be. So can anyone explain the similarities/differences between these and pros/cons of each? She is a chunky cob and I remember someone saying the thicker the mouth piece the better? Just looks huge! Either way she def nees a 6.5" bit!

Thanks in advance :)

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i have used a rubber pelham like you've pictured on a couple of horses for breaks x-country - horse really had respect for it and made controlling far easier. The only issue that i can see arising is if the horse had a fleshy mouth and so not much room it could cause issues.
 
depends how big her toung is if she has a fleshy toung it may be worth getting a happy houth instead of the rubber or nylon as they are thinner but nicer than the metal :)
 
I was going to ask the differences with the mullen and happy mouth ones? She is a proper chunky cob, so I don't know for sure if she has a fleshy mouth or not. I haven't tried it on her just looked at the rubber bit and went hell thats a bit big! So is rubber/nylon nicer for them than metal?
 
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I used to have the thick rubber Pelham, I only used it twice because I needed it in order to compete at Prestiege. Anyway my horse LOVED it, when I first introduced him to it I attatched it to his bridle and just let him get used to it and he just dozed and was chewing it like a dummy!!
 
The thick mouthpiece may suit but it can bruise the bars easily, one horse I knew had really badly bruised bars from a similar bit even though he appeared to go well in it.
 
If your horse is a chunky cob then I'll put money on the rubber pelham being too thick for him. One of the folks that does a bitting clinic, (sorry I've forgotten who it was,) had a horse with a blue tongue as the thick bit had cut off the circulation.

I far prefer a thinner metal mouthpiece and nylon/rubber mouthpieces, while softer than metal, can be very drying and cause rubs.
 
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Ok thats my decision made! Thank you - I'm not putting it near her! I got it off the internet so couldn't see the width of the bit. I will look for a thinner one for sure. So whats is a mullen mouth and happy mouth? Happy mouth is that the jointed rubber covered bit?
 
A mulllen mouth is just the shape of the mouthpiece, the metal pelham in your pic is a mullen mouth and a bit I find most cobs go well in, if yours is fine in that I'd stick with it in the correct size. :) Happy mouth bits are made of plastic and come in jointed/straight mouthpieces in a variety of bits, they are usually apple flavoured. Many horses will chew them and they need replacing if that is the case as they develop sharp bits. I also wouldn't use one on a horse with a dry mouth.
 
Yeah tried a rubber pelham on my cob and it was definalty too wide for her as she couldnt close her mouth!
 
Are you aware the both the pelhams in your photo are "upside down" You should be attaching the cheekpiece to the bottom ring which it looks like you have a rein attached to?

Just thought I would point out as neither will have the right action/be painful etc if in upside down.
 
Was about to point that out H.K.D I'm surprised nobody else noticed. I would suspect the rubber mouthpiece will be too much in a cobs mouth, stick with the metal mouthpiece
 
The "rubber" pelham, as it has a thicker mouthpiece is a softer bit. I find that horses haven't read the manual when it comes to bitting and my fleshy-tongued Welsh is happier in a rubber pelham than a metal one. It's worth trying to see which suits, making sure, as has been pointed out, that you have fitted them correctly.
 
Don't panic, I do know how to fit a pelham. It is certainly the correct way round - I ride her in double reins and the second rein is thinner. I put the bits on the saddle any old how to take pics of them not bothering which way round they are because I just wanted to compare bits - thanks for bringing it up though, just incase it was wrong. I can't imagine a horse having that bit in upside down would be awful.

Thanks all for your help and explaining the differences that I was unsure of.
 
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i'm a bit confused as to why you bought a vulcanite pelham instead of just a larger steel mullenmouth? was there a reason you wanted to change the type of mouthpiece?

if your horse goes well in your original pelham i would just buy a larger one and stick with it. i would assume that the vulcanite one would be too chunky for a cobby mouth, but you'd need to try it and see.

one of my mares was ridden in a sliding cheek nickel pellham, and my other in a happymouth one. (both mullen mouthpieces) i did have to replace the happymouth, as she had made it sharp over the years. both horses salivate a lot when ridden. ;)

the happymouth type mouthpieces are miuch thinner than the vulcanite ones. i now have a korsteel pellham for her, so its not technically "happymouth" as i didnt like the shape of the shank/rings on the happymoth ones nowadays. it is however worth mentioning that the mothpieces are straight, and not curved as the metal/vulcanite pelhams are
 
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I bought it on ebay as trying to find a 6.5 bit is rare! I saw it and took the chance, its brand new so I will just sell it on no loss. I came on her to leanrn more and thought it was a good place to ask lots of questions without looking silly...maybe I was wrong!
 
almrc said:
I bought it on ebay as trying to find a 6.5 bit is rare! I saw it and took the chance, its brand new so I will just sell it on no loss. I came on her to leanrn more and thought it was a good place to ask lots of questions without looking silly...maybe I was wrong!
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i didnt mean any offence- i just didnt understand why you had bought a vulcanite one rather than another the same as you already had. ;)
 
That one looks nicer, though mine looked good in the pic then when it arrived saw the mouth piece was massive. Thats a shame they dont do those in 6.5". Thats the problem, there isnt many 6.5" around hence why when I saw a brand new one for a tenner I bought it. I prefer the metal to the rubber. Will keep searching...thank you for your help
 
I wish she was 5"! See I could just ride her in the 6" it fits but is a little too small, but no I am particular of how things fit her and she def needs a 6.5. You sound like you have loads! No worries, if you find one let me know :) Thank you
 
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Was about to point that out H.K.D I'm surprised nobody else noticed. I would suspect the rubber mouthpiece will be too much in a cobs mouth, stick with the metal mouthpiece
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I did notice, but as it isn't pictured on the horse assumed it was just the way the photo was taken. ;)
 
almrc said:
I wish she was 5"! See I could just ride her in the 6" it fits but is a little too small, but no I am particular of how things fit her and she def needs a 6.5. You sound like you have loads! No worries, if you find one let me know :) Thank you
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for some reason we have a box full! :confused: :p hers were used for highlands so i think they are bigger than mine, which, like i thought is only 5".

i'll have a look later on today, and will pm you if i find one, as i'm sure she'll be happy to part with it for less than you'd get one from a shop- they are all in perfect condition. ;)

x
 
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