Pelham Roundings?

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Squiggles on Paper

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Well, we tried jumping me horse in a Pelham Low Port Mullen Barrel (http://www.horsebitbank.com/pelham-low-port-mullen-barrel-281.phtml) bit today with roundings. He went a lot better and seems to like it more than his usual jumping bit (full cheek waterford), after looking around here it seems most people are against roundings. I don't know how to ride with two reins (would be happy to learn though) and I am a keen show jumper and I feel that because I can sometimes mess my lines up (I do have lessons though and the bit today really helped me get his striding right as before he wouldn't really listen to my aids) with two reins I would maybe hurt him if I didn't get the jump right and I accidentally pulled a wrong rein. Is it that bad to ride with Pelham Roundings? I must admit that I would find it a lot easier, but I want to do whats best for the horse :D
 
You know sometimes you just have to do want works , my OH had a hunter who went best with Pelham rounding I did not like because it did not " look right " but she went best like that , the pressure applied between the roundings must have been just the right amount.
However it's a good idea to learn to ride with two riens its easy once you have the hang of it start with two riens for hacking on a snaffle to get the feel, then try with Pelham in the school when not jumping.
 
Not sure why people are against roundings, I think they are extremely useful! My 17hh warmblood uses a rubber pelham with roundings for eventing as I need more brakes and steering. I would never use two reins across country because I tend to ride on a loosish contact and I like to slip my reins very easily and gather them up again. Same principle applies to SJ though obviously one would ride with shorter reins. You should not feel pressured into using a piece of tack because of current "trends". Stick with the roundings and one rein if that is what you feel comfortable with. No point in complicating things for no other reason than fashion!! I would say many more top professionals use roundings than double reins.

Incidentally you can get split reins which look like double reins but connect together into one rein halfway between the bit and your hand.

http://www.horse-boutique.co.uk/dep...nheim-Quality-Bridles/prod/Shires-Split-Reins
 
Squiggles on Paper said:
what is the purpose of split reins though? are they not just like pelham roundings?
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The ones I've seen on high level sjers are adjustable, at least on the lower "arm" so you can adjust the amount of curb action. The ones in the link clearly show the buckle near the bit end. That's what people have "against" rounding, that you cannot avoid using the leverage action, no matter if it's needed in the situation or not, and cannot adjust for the individual. But some horses would rather have a consistent contact, I suspect, which can be hard to do when you're learning or in a high powered situation. Lots of people who ride in leverage bits in the ring/jumping don't necessarily school in them at home, though, which seems to get forgotten sometimes.

To the OP, give the double reins a try but if roundings work better, don't panic about using them. Your horse will tell you if it's the right choice or not. If the bit keeps working well, perhaps get some split reins. They were good enough for Hickstead and no one would call Eric Lamaze him an unskilled or uneducated horseman!
 
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roundings are fine, perhaps the purists might say that you can't give a separate aid with the curb rein, but if we're being real purists then the curb reins should probably be held in 1 hand with 1 of the top reins, so let's not even go there! ;) ;)
as above, the pressure of semi-curb semi-not that the roundings give suits some horses perfectly.
lots of Pros use pelhams with roundings, it's not a cardinal sin.
just be aware that a jointed pelham is a bit of a mixed message though... but if it works and he's happy and lets you adjust him, great!
 
I use roundings and they can be adjustable by having longer or shorter roundings to have a more or less direct action. I have used with double reins too, but use the Pelham with an elastic curb so don't have the need to really differentiate between the snaffle ring and curb ring. I also use short roundings which reduces the rotation on the bottom of the shank.
 
I never understand people's issue with roundings - maybe there is a ''better'' contact with having two reins...but I have ridden in a pelham with roundings and said horse went fine in them :)

as others have said, if you do want to get used to having two reins, just try it on hacks/on the flat first to start with - you get used to it once you get the ''feel'' - I used to have to look at my reins and pick them up one by one (slowly) trying to hold them right; now when I have two reins I just automatically pick them up correctly without looking, it becomes automatic :)
 
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