Tips for making a soft mouthed horse to go well in a pelham..

[Ahrena]

Well now me and Willow are really getting into this showing lark, I thought I'd introduce her to a pelham.

Only she's very soft in the mouth (unless she gets the wind up her tail out on a xc course hehe but as a general rule), very responsive even to the point where I can ride her without any tack and get her to go from canter to walk in about 5 strides...

So I was riding with the curb rein really slack, barely any contact, (I am capable of using 2 reins) but she still wasn't a happy bunny, kept stopping dead, tossing her head like a maniac and threatening to rear.

She went decently when I had absolutly no contact with it, like holding that rein on the buckle, but if the judge rides her, she'll have a fit and I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Ideas?

Is there anything I can do to reduce the curb action?

 

[Ezme]

umm padding the chain and amybe trying to find the shortest shank as possible to reduce the leverage.... hard, tis the opposite to the normal questions on here!

 

[lilym]

use a leather curb rather than a chain.

 

[Ahrena]

Thanks!

Yeah hehe, well my other one is very strong so its a blessed relieve to sit on Willow afterwards (though she's very spooky so can't relax too much hehe).

The pelham I've got is a bit big for her anyway so need to buy a smaller one...I don't suppose theres any chance that french linked pelhams exsist? She's in a french link snaffle usually so that might help her to settle too

 

[Ezme]

You can get anything if you look. ask your local saddler and they can order from wholesalers. oh and equestrian clearance! http://www.equestrianclearance.com/products/tack/bits/pelham/index.html

 

[Bounty]

Either use a rubber/leather curb chain guard, or if you need it even softer than that wrap it in a latex bandage - makes the curb thicker and very squidgey!

 

[Ahrena]

Would it be okay to do that for showing though?
As the only reason she's wearing it is for that anyway.

Thanks, will give it a try.

 

[lilym]

i have a french link rugby pelham that my horse seems to like, so they are out there!

 

[chillidragon]

Possibly a naive question but do you have to ride her in a pelham? If so, I have read something about getting look-a-like pelhams that are actually snaffles (or whatever) underneath. It just seems a bit odd to introduce a horse that goes very well in little-to-nothing to a bit like that. I guess what I'm thinking is, if she doesn't need it and is unhappy in it, then why bother?

 

[Ahrena]

Well its for showing..I wouldn't bother otherwise but if I want her showing career to develope I'd have to put her in a pelham or a double bridle, wouldn't I?

Can you really get look-alike-pelham snaffles?? I'll have to look into it.

If I can't find a way to make it work for her I won't have her in it though, after i've tried the french link mouthpeice and padding out the curb (or this look alike if I can find one), and she's still not happy then tough luck on my part, rosettes aren't worth it.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

What does she go in at the moment, and what is her mouth conformation like? For instance, my cob goes in a hanging french link on a day to day basis, doesn't do single joints (rears!), leans on a mullen mouth, but goes sweetly in a port mouth pelham. If you're mare has a big tongue, get a french link rugby pelham, if not, you could try a weymouth. To save spending loads of money on bits, I bought a nickel weymoth set for pence on ebay, working on the theory that if he was comfortable in it (he so was not!) I would but S/S. Beg and borrow, and personally I would hack ut in a new bit rather than school, it gives them a chance to relax and get used to it before having to 'work'.

 

[PapaFrita]

Antifaz reacts like that to any bit with a curb. You can get elastic curbs, I believe, which would make the pelham milder. Or a leather one on very, very loose. Shame you can't take it off entirely. At least not for showing.

 

[Ahrena]

She's in a loose ring snaffle at the moment which suits her just fine.

No idea about her mouth confirmation, but I think I'll order a french link one from that equine clearance webbie, with an elastic/leather/padded curb and see what she thinks..If she's not happy I'll put her in a snaffle and say stuff it.

Thanks

 

[Lindy222]

Since I ride my Connie in a French link snaffle every day, I bought him a plain old French Link Pelham, have a leather curb which is put on very loosely so it doesn't have any action and he doesn't even know its different to his normal snaffle!!

Look on line at the tack shops - can't remember where I bought mine - I am pretty sure it was Frogpool.

 

[hellybelly6]

Yes there are french link pelhams, even french link show pelhams, they are a little stronger than the mullen mouth ones. Most tack shops/online sites will stock them.

Also try using a leather curb instead of a metal chain.

 

[virtual]

If she were mine, I'd try a double, then you can ride off the snaffle rein and use exactly the same mouthpiece as you currently have. The weymouth just sits there. Use an elastic or leather curb, and when she is used to it in her mouth, start to introduce a little contact on the weymouth (for ride judge purposes).