Swales pelham....

[KatB]

Anyone used one? What sort of horse for? And was it useful?

Thanks.

 

[pepperandoran]

We used to use a swales bit on the driving horses if that is any help.
It was used on a particularly strong animal which used to lean heavily.

 

[KatB]

Thanks, did it have an elevating action?

 

[Persephone]

My instructor put Star in one for half a lesson. He wanted to encourage her to flex more at the poll.

I feel it certainly overfaced her and at times I thought she would go up.

 

[flyingfeet]

A swales pelham has the traditional head lowering pelham action combined with rings that squeeze the cheeks.

I am not a fan as pushes the side of the face into the teeth, and if you've ever bitten your lip you know that this is not pleasant.

Head raising may occur if the horse is not a fan of having its face squeezed....

 

[IdoShowing]

My welsh D will only go in a swales - she throws her head in everything else, but she's much happier in a swales.

 

[EarthWolf]

Oh Yeah! I found one and bought it cause it was interesting looking. I had no intenetion of using it, Well I tried it on him and WOW! ! ! I couldn't believe the difference! he tucks his head right under nicely and works like I have never seen him work before. He is large and strong headed too though. I don't think it's the right bit for all horses, mine is like the pony that always puts his nose in the air at anything else! It could probably be a real jaw cruncher in the hands of the wrong person either malisciously or by having poor hands and pulling , bouncing etc a lot. Now he works on a long rein with little or no demands even. I Even found a western version of the same thing and it does wonders too. it's called a natural balance sweetwater bit by metalabs paratrade. it has a higher port ( more room for his tongue) and some copper mix inlays in the corners to keep the edges of his mouth soft. he doesn't open his mouth with either bit, and I only use the curb rein. as soon as I engage the upper ring on the swales pelham his head goes up, like all the other bits. he likes the no poll pressure and a little curb action. he has collected nicely since I got the swales and now canters collected on his own without leaning on the reins. and he worked just as well on the western bit. good luck. I would recommend the swales pelham for helping break at the poll, lower the head, and work harder, but not all horses will like it.