pelhams

i had one on my old mare. she hated snaffles and she cood get occasionaly strong but she went so well in it and i felt in control witout having to constantly pull on her mouth. used it wit roundings
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used a rugby for baron with a very small port. Was using it to practice for that comp, but also needed it for breaks
 
I use a jointed (lozenge) pelham (as Sparks likes this mouth piece) with short shanks, with an elastic curb and two reins, so I have extra brakes when needed on sponsored rides etc...
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- Hack & School in KK ultra snaffle.

Also use pelham for showing as mine prefers it to a double as she doesn't have much room left in her mouth for bits, due to her enormous tongue!!!
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I did use one as i had no brakes when i was jumping!! I felt it was a bit harsh for her though and she didn't seem particulary happy in it so thought i would try a straight bar snaffle instead.

Worked a treat and realised it was the nut cracker action she was fighting against and she is so much happier in the snaffle.
 
Use a ported pelham at the beginning of the hunting season and some showjumping- depending on his fitness. I like the action, but I stopped using it after his op because I felt the straight bar was promoting his leaning habit, so switched. I have a horse at Bekkas that is xced in a jointed pelham- these I have never understood- if the mouth is jointed then how can the curb action work, and surely it would create a nutcracker effect?
I liked the way that I could really pick my horse's head up with it.
 
Yes, well they have been good to me for lifting the head- but i have settled on an English gag as the leaning was a big drawback for me. Try the pelham out hunting ad see how he takes to it- would you be comfortable riding off of two reins?
 
I use a rubber straight pelham on my cob, as she can be very strong and is always on her toes. It works fantastically. I use it with 2 reins as i hate roundings with a passion i really don't get how they're are supposed to work.
 
titch has pelham for xcountry or fast hacks, because i need brakes!!

He has slowed down a lot SJ so fine in a snaffle but when I first got him 7 years ago, he did used to take a pull.

I like them as I found I didnt have to haul at his mouth (which was very hard then) as much as when in a smaller thinner bit.
 
My mare never liked the snaffle action and I used to ride her in a Kimblewick (and still do sometimes). She got very strong in the kimblewick though and I found I was really having to take a strong hold if we had a canter on a hack etc. I tried a pelham (straight bar, fairly short shank with curb chain on the loose side) and now have 'fingertip' control. I am sure its nicer for her that I am not hauling on her mouth and it makes it much nicer for me too. But I do think you need to ride with a light hand as I think as it is a fairly severe bit.
 
Love them, recent convert after reading Heather Moffats enlightened equitation. Have two fairly well behaved horses who I thought went well in french link snaffles but after riding them both in pelhams with double reins I found they were actually quite ignorant in snaffles. They are now beautifully light and I use featherlight reins. Suspect it could be in part that I am more aware of what I am doing with my hands with the pelham being more powerfull and am riding better, but whatever it is there is a significant improvement in my horses way of going. Rode mare in a snaffle the other day again and was like riding a b***** donkey
 
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