pelhams?is a straight bar more severe than a linked mouthpiece?

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prudunce

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Im trying to get some brakes/stearing for xc on new horse(neck like an elephant&very strong).Wanted to try him in a pelham just for xc,Is a jointed mouth or straight bar better?? can u also use a martingale with a pelham,thanks!
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I always used a martingale with the pelham. I used a rubber straight bar for Sparky and he really liked it. It has the same effect of a pelhem but I think is nicer in the mouth as it is thick so pressure is spread a bit more over the mouth, rather then in a small space....
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Jointed are softest. I have one horse who really likes a snaffle and will just about tolerate a jointed pelham for showing. The other is a hooligan and is very strong and rude in a jointed pelham and more respectful in a straight bar.
 
but when you take a contact, the joint will 'break' and thus the curb chain effect will come into play later than with a straight bar so jointed is softer effect.
 
Jointed bits work on the corners of the mouth and straight mouthpieces work on the bars. The straight bar is no more severe than the joint it just works differently.x
 
A straight bar, especially if it is thick is softer on the horses mouth than any jointed bit, which has a nutcracker effect.

Pelhams are good bits to use on strong horses, you need to fit the curb chain properly and use double reins.
 
I have a french link pelham, which I think has better steering than a straight bar. I like it so far, and no nutcracker action. Brakes are fairly good when used on a big strong hose.
 
I have a horse with a sensitive mouth and I use a rubber straight bar pelham for xc and hunting (I use roundings) and it seems to suit him fine.
 
i think a jointed pelham gives a totally contradictory signal - poll pressure and curb action to lower the head, and nutcracker action on the corners of the mouth to raise the head. my trainer is adamant that only a straight-bar pelham is acceptable (and then, barely!)
my equine dentist told me that he sees a lot of horses with damaged bars (as in, bone shards off the narrow edge of the jaw bone there) from pelhams, particularly big fat vulcanite/rubber ones... i had a young horse come on to my yard with seriously damaged bars (pulpy loose gristly flesh on top of the jagged, damaged bone, x-rays not a pretty sight), a permanently wrecked mouth. use with care!
 
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i think a jointed pelham gives a totally contradictory signal - poll pressure and curb action to lower the head, and nutcracker action on the corners of the mouth to raise the head.


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Not that i am a fan of pelhams at all, have been advised to use one on my 5 yr old but for some reason justy don't want to, but isn't that the point? It is supposed to mimic the double bridle but just with the one mouth piece, and the head down and head up signals is what the double conveys to the horse also?
 
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i think a jointed pelham gives a totally contradictory signal - poll pressure and curb action to lower the head, and nutcracker action on the corners of the mouth to raise the head.

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Theoretically you are probably right, but my horse never read any books on bitting theory and he says he quite likes the French link one!
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Though I suppose there is a lot less nutcracker action than with a single joint.

And they're still better than a horrible Dutch Gag *shivers*
 
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