Pelhams or doubles?

[ghosthooves]

Am I the only one that finds them horribly confusing?

I might be showing S later this season (ridden arab classes and the like) and I've been told that for some classes I need to use a double bridle or a pelham (plus she can get very strong when she's at shows

). I don't want to use anything harsher than I have to and after looking at the different types of pelhams and weymouths I am just really confused

I was wondering the main diffferences between a double and a pelham (have been told a double is not as harsh as a pelham?) and the different weymouths and pelhams there are and just what they do.
She's ridden in an eggbutt snaffle usually.

I know I'm asking quite a lot but any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

If it's only local low level showing I'm sure you'd be fine in her normal bit. But pelhams/doubles are more 'correct' for showing. With a double it is easier to differentiate between the milder snaffle action and stronger curb action. Saying that you can get pretty mild pelhams (i.e. a nathe or happymouth pelham). Some horses dislike having two bits in their mouth so suit a pelham better. You should really ride with double reins with either of these bits but with a pelham you can get away with just one pair. Experiment and see what she likes!

 

[custard]

If you want the mildest option then I'd suggest a happy mouth pelham with elastic or leather curb chain, perfectly ok for showing. However, a bit is only as mild/severe as the hands on the other ends of the reins. Arabs and their kind tend to have fleshy mouths so nothing too thick and a single mouthpiece will probably be more readily accepted

 

[reynold]

The cheats way of getting a pelham to look like a double bridle is to use a Rugby Pelham

It has a larger ring where the snaffle rein attaches and so it looks like the bradoon part of a double bridle but the horse only has a plain single pelham mouthpiece

Townfields have loads of bits and also barnstormers

 

[Janette]

If you are using a pelham, and are not a child, then you should use 2 sets of reins, a wider one on the top, and a narrower rein on the bottom ring. I use laced reins on the top so that I can differentiate between the two when I need to.
Star is schooled in a NS training bit with a lozenge, but I show her in a 'show pelham' which has a solid mouthpiece with a port. It is a form of rugby pelham but neater. I use a leather curb as a chain stops her dead, and she ignores an elastic one.

Totally agree - it's only as strong as the hands holding it, and I find that a much lighter contact works beautifully. Try riding on just the top rein and see what happens. You can use the same principle with a double - ride on the top rein which is the equivalent of riding in a snaffle and just use the bottom rein when you need to.

I tried Star in a double and she hated it - to much in her mouth. She is far happier in a pelham.

 

[ghosthooves]

Thanks for the advice =] I'll try her in a few different pelhams and curbs and just play around with them until I find something that she likes

xx