The great Pelham experiment......

[Mongoose11]

Ok, so fatty cob is reasonably well schooled and is being brought on by a pro at the minute. She can be super light and beautiful but sometimes (I'd say 1/6) out hacking she just charges round like a tank and it really is a case of you being dragged along for the ride, she isn't put of control as in going wildly and blindly but sometimes she does choose a speed within a gait and there is ****** all you can do about it, she doesn't change whether you brace against her or give no contact. This isn't all the time.

So, we tried a pelham with two reins, left the second one just knotted loosely at first. She walked into the bridle beautifully and all the time spent in walk was perfect, she came on to the bit of her own choosing and all was well....

Trot was different, with no contact at all she tried to do her head in the air while trotting (so she was having another one of those day but she couldn't) she couldn't quite understand that she needed to go forward and into the bridle. So we had a fair bit of trot but covering no ground, when she accepted a contact and rounded it was ok but that took a fair bit of figuring and on the next trot she had forgotten again.

Canter... She usually doesn't take more than a nudge to go but she really couldn't figure it out with a contact. Dropped the contact entirely and she managed to canter, took up a contact and she rounded nicely for say 10 strides and then got a bit confused and came back to a trot.

Now.... This is her figuring things out? Getting used to it and she just needs to have another go right?

I have never used anything more than a snaffle and have had no experience or need to try different bits, she came in a Waterford but we quickly went to a snaffle and she went well in it. She is just becoming a tad too well and independent out hacking which isn't fun and results in pulled muscles.

Advice please?

 

[whisp&willow]

I would ride her mainly off the snaffle rein-

Keep a light contact on the curb rein, rather than having it flapping in the wind, then when you go to use it only give it a gentle little feel, and then release to encourage her to take the contact. If your curb rein is loose then all of a sudden on she will be a bit confused!

If she has never felt curb or poll pressure then she will understandably back off the curb when it is used.

x

 

[touchstone]

I'm a fan of pelhams for (most) cobs, if your mouthpiece is different it may take a bit of getting used to, I prefer the stainless steel mullen mouth as I find most go well in them.

If she's backing off the contact then maybe try a leather or elastic curb instead of chain.

I'd stick with it a bit longer and ride her forwards, other than that you could try a noseband change with your snaffle.

 

[Mongoose11]

Thanks ladies. The riding forward last night ended up with some lovely piaffe type moves

Will get her out in it again tomorrow and Sunday and might move to a rubber version if she won't settle.

 

[Delicious_D]

Pelhams are great but i agree, two reins and no roundings. Heather moffet (sp?) is a fan of them for good reason. Dee prefers hers to any other bit i have used in her gob.

 

[smanf]

I used to ride my boy in a Pelham (vulcanite mullen mouth) he was a cob and he went really well in it. I used to cross the reins so that the snaffle rein was at the bottom with the curb rein between the fingers above it (if that makes sense). Is this ok practice? I never really knew, but it helps to keep the pressure off the curb. I don't think ill be riding my new one in a Pelham, I think he might have a hissy fit!!

 

[SNORKEY]

I found a jounted Pelham with a peanut in the middle and a sliding check was the best for my old cob that sounded a lot like yours. I find they tend to lean on straight bars.
I've always ridden in a Pelham with two reins, I find my horses go better in them, I break in with a snaffle though. But when ever I've had someone out to try my horse for loan they havnt a clue on how to use them!

 

[TigerTail]

Def get an elastic curb - theyre about £4 - a chain is rather harsh so she's thinking its a handbrake from the sound of it. Also remember they can feel a fly land so think about vibrating or gently massaging the curb rein rather than anything more.

MAke sure your seat isnt blocking the forward motion either!

 

[JFTDWS]

First time I put a pelham in Fergs (back in the days when I thought I might show him) he spent the entire time with his ears in my face, despite the curb being totally loose on his neck. I left it for a few months after that and tried again and he's totally happy in one now - have hacked, jumped, shown in it wiht no issue. I think they do take a while to figure it out. Personally I'd now prefer a snaffle or a double, but have used/do use a pelham on my cob as it seems to suit him.