Pelham with 1 rein, whats the big deal?

I always used a pelham as a change for my boy, and always used roundings.

Do not get using a single reign on a pelham
 
I love my pelham, I went out riding on Sunday and I knew that one of the girls riding with us had lost her nerve and was just getting it back. I put the pelham in with a clear conscience, as I knew I wouldn't have to touch the curb if I didn't have any shenanigans. I didn't, and didn't. Ditto spurs (I wear mine to stop, not to go!) - I had them on but did not have to use them. I like the versatility of these - even though people probably look at me and think "harsh bit AND spurs - does she want it to stop or go?"

I hate gags - well I don't hate them, but hate their popularity. The curb on the pelham is not for pressure in the chin groove, it is for poll pressure. It's trying to be a double bridle. The gag exerts poll pressure and has a vice effect on the whole head - the difference being, the pelham is fixed on the shanks, the gag is not. I hate their overuse and popularity (gags).

Sorry this is off topic. On topic - I've never seen someone ride with a rein only on the curb of the pelham, but I can totally believe it. I can remember in a horse magazine yonks ago a girl defended herself in the letters page, as she'd been featured in a lesson she'd won the week before and had her tack like this. People were horrified. I wish it were as unacceptable to see a gag (sorry, "bubble bit" to make it sound inoffensive) with one rein only on the bottom ring.
 
You get loose ring pelhams, as well as loose ring dutch gags, I guess I am not sure what you see the difference is regarding poll pressure? Both act on the poll, the degree will depend on the basic physics of the length of each part of the bit.

I don't recall ever having ridden on the bottom ring of a dutch gag, nor have I had any riding school clients do so. It certainly wasn't something I ever saw at any shows either - middle ring, yes, but not the bottom on its own.
 
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You get loose ring pelhams, as well as loose ring dutch gags, I guess I am not sure what you see the difference is regarding poll pressure?

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Ooh I've never seen those! God you can get everything now can't you? I am more manual of horsemanship style (1970s edition
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The basic difference as I understand it (and could be wrong) is that the pelham (provided fixed) lowers the head, the gag raises it. The former because the bit is fixed and the curb acts to put pressure on the poll when the curb rein is applied. The gag, with the moving ring and no curb, raises the bit in the mouth. Am I way off here??
 
And another weird thing (sorry threadjack but you've got me on this topic now) is that the pelham shouldn't work for my lad, as he's a leaner who puts his head down. But it does work. Think it softens his jaw somehow...
 
Local riding school passes my yard regularly with several horses/ponies ridden in dutch gags with one rein on the bottom ring.

As for loose ring pelhams, never heard of them. Are you thinkng of rugby pelhams?
 
I'm sure that I've seen a top showjumper riding with just a weymouth bit cant for the life of me remember who. But I've seen people ride a pelham with double reins but have a slack snaffle rein and tight curb rein. I'm not a fan of roundings but use a connector rein . Also my sj trainer doen't like dutch gags something about the action.
 
I can't see how it is much worse than many other bits in common use. Its all about how you use it. Butterfly Pelhams are almost always used only on the bottom ring. I don;t see why it would be incorrect tack at a show? Obviously if it is dressage or showing that is incorrect, but for SJ/XC I don't see the problem...I know its not ideal and wouldn't do it myself but their are far more severe bits that arn't frowned upon... If you look at it, a small pelham will have exactly the same amount of curb/poll pressure as a slotted Kimblewick on bottom slot.
 
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I'm sure that I've seen a top showjumper riding with just a weymouth bit cant for the life of me remember who.

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I've seen that too, think it might have been David Broom.
 
I have a loose ring pelham :P and love it. I really think that surely using a 4 ring dutch gag on bottom ring would be worse as a lot of pressure and those who use a curb strap would be more severe than a pelham with 1 rein. I always ride with roundings for my horse and double for my pony and feel the bit is a lot better than a gag. Im sure some of the bits on here like 5 and 6 from the bottom are stronger than a pelham with single rein lol :P poor horses who have to stand it www.grissombits.com/standardbits.html
 
Those are reining bits and designed for Western riding, if you watch a reining horse you will see the 'contact' as we call it is barely touched. The reins are ridden in loose, like washing lines and only ever lifted to get the horse to do a sliding stop. I don't think that can really be compared to how a Brit would ride in a pelham with one rein at a showjumping comp, they most definitely would NOT be riding with no contact.
 
for showjumping anything goes not long ago someone in my area was riding in a hanging snaffle upside down !!! untill everyone told her she said she put it the way the writing was ?!?!
I've ridden in this bit
http://www.equiport.co.uk/product_detail.cfm?pId=331
but only after my boy disslocated my shoulder halfway round an cross country course ! were back to a pelham now only used that bit for 2 weeks to get some respect back... hes irish and very head strong oh and male
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But I got some looks for using that and I'm quite soft with my hands.
 
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I don't think that can really be compared to how a Brit would ride in a pelham with one rein at a showjumping comp, they most definitely would NOT be riding with no contact.

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So explain german hackamores then? They are a western bit by nature.

I think this is all blown out of proportion, it is NOT incorrect to use one rein on the bottom of a pelham. However if you wanta strong English contact, then its probably not suitable

I have used weymouth alone and pelhams on the bottom ring, this is usually when riding one handed western style. However if I had a horse that needed that style of bit to jump I wouldn't hesitate in using it.

I really hate the "I would report them" attitude without thnking about whether it suited the horse and rider combination.

Good job the jobsworths aren't involved in BSJA.
 
Agree with CSJ. I have used pelham with one rein for a whizzy JA pony years back, only thing that worked and you could be soft with it. I also used a pelham with no curb chain for years with another, transformed it completely!
 
I've posted photos of a girl at my yard (slim 12 yo) on her great big (almost 16.2-16.3hh) TB SJer, riding with the rein on the bottom ring. I personally don't think it's the ideal arrangement, but he went beautifully for her and she was a lovely rider... just not quite strong enough. They won everything around at 1.20m
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Oh, and she also wore spurs.
 
Am wondering whether there is a polo rule that 2 reins must be used so that everyone has the same amount in their hand.- will ask fihunt and make her answer!
 
No rule in polo - you can ride with 1 rein and a snaffle (if you can stop!)

I used to ride with 3 reins in polo, pelham with 2 reins and running reins (mare used to regularly whack me in the face, but needed longer standing martingale to make the turns)
 
Trying to think outside the box here!

have Pm'd her and requested her presence but she's not on line at the mo..... watch this space.
 
I am here!

To be honest I have no idea! It's the norm to have 2 sets of reins in polo, so I guess her old owner or one of his grooms just popped the top rein down onto there?

My little Mazzie on the day I bought her (just because I miss her and think she was beautiful)

n200900908_31175415_5914.jpg
 
thats a rubbish answer!

Having read old owner was a he I spect it was an ego thing, didn't want people to think he couldn't manage two reins
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!

*wonders when fihunt is going to start teaching genie to play*
 
Lol he's an Argentine pro who played at the Polo in the Park for Buenos Aires, and has also played at the Cartier Snow Polo in San Moritz!

I can't really see Genie playing polo somehow... at the moment she DEFINATELY doesn't neck rein so that's a potential problem!
 
Lol! He's a nice chap though... when Mazzie was killed he called me after I let him know saying that if I'm ever near his yard I can go play his ponies for free.
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I'm never near his yard though!

Been meaning to ask, how's your ankle doing? And when are you coming to ride baby one?
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