Waterford v mullen mouth pelham?

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myhorsefred

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I have recently bought a horse who has only been used as a hack and had no schooling whatsoever. bless him!

He is very heavy in my hands and leans on the bit a lot.

I school in a snaffle but am so fed up of him leaning on my hands when hacking, it is hurting my back!

So when hacking I ride him in a waterford. Was wondering if a mullen mouth pelham would lighten him up for hacking though, as I don't really like the waterford - I worry it is harsh.

I am kind with my hands as I realise any bit can be harsh in the wrong hands, but would a pelham work do you think?

thanks
 
the waterford isn't a harsh bit, it just stops the horse from leaning because it is so fluid. i'd borrow a pelham and try, but some horses lean on them and they will damage the bars of the mouth (a top equine dentist told me this) if you have to haul on them, because of the leverage you get.
i'd ride the horse in a neckstrap and teach him to slow down/rebalance/listen from your voice and a tug on the neckstrap as well as from the bit. continually lightening the contact works with some horses to stop them leaning, depends whether he accelerates the moment you soften your hands (as some do). if not, then this works, you just have to remember that it takes 2 to pull and that if you give him nothing to pull against, he will learn to carry himself rather than relying on you to support his front end.
hope that helps!
 
Thanks Kerilli, I was a bit worried that the waterford was 'nasty'!

My chap doesn't speed up if I give away the contact, and I have been hacking in loopy reins just to force him to carry himself!

I will try the neckstrap though, hadn't thought of that.

Thanks very much for your help. I'll give that a go.
smile.gif
 
I used to ride in a vulcanite pelham as my boy was so strong and could lean..he was out of work for a while as he had leg injury and as ive brought him back to work he is in a waterford with D sides no leaning its great..i'm not sure what my breaks will be like as have not done any fast work yet but he seems happy enough..
 
Hi AmyMay, no I haven't sold him. I haven't advertised him really. Have had some lovely hacks with him and he is such a good boy, he has given me my confidence back in bucket loads!

I would let him go to a good home, and I already have my eye on another quiet horse I've spotted, but I'm struggling to make the decision to actually part with him!

Have you sold your lovely grey?
 
Hi Timmy100,

Thanks, I was thinking about getting a waterford with Ds funny enough earlier on today. I think I'm not keen on my waterford as its a loose ring.

I have no problem with brakes, lol! My chap is more kick than pull for sure! Its just him leaning that drives me nuts.

thank you.
 
Try a waterford snaffle. Pelhams pull a horse down and if he leans, it will encourage further leaning.

Also remember that if he has not been schooled, he will be leaning as he wont be used to schooling and may be unbalanced. It should improve as he gets fitter.

I have this problem with my horse and found that he does not lean in the NS universal.
 
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