Which type of pelham?

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kit279

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I'm going to grit my teeth and take my TB draghunting this season. He's currently in an fat hollow eggbutt snaffle and is fine in that for eventing but he's quite strong in company and I think I need something a wee bit stronger. He carries his head quite high naturally but doesn't lean. I played polo on him in a pelham so that would be my bit of choice.

But which pelham to use?! Am a bit bewildered by the range! Do I go for:-

a) vulcanite/hard rubber
b) forward sloping Neue Schule
c) jointed
d) Neue Schule lozenge/french link type

And, er, does it really matter?! By which I mean, how different are they if they all basically have the same action?
 
Ahhh, I'm embarassed to say I hocked all my polo gear to some unsuspecting person and can't remember which pelham it was (a senior moment methinks)...
 
I would steer clear off a jointed pelham - it's changes the action entierly, making it into something akin to a western tom Thumb bit and making the curb ineffective (you pull one curb rein and all you get is lots of leaverage as it swivles in the middle ).

Id probably go for a cambridge (low port) pelham. It's the mildest and readily accepted by most horses. It's also very cheap to buy compared to the Neue Schule bits! (got them brand new off ebay for £15)
 
Despite the fact that joints in a pelham reduce the curb action, mine goes fabulously in a NS lozenge pelham. Its very easily accepted as the metal is so warm.

I'd try something with a similar mouthpeice to your snaffle first, then go fast hacking in company and see what the brakes are like.
 
I would disagree that a joint turns the action into a US tom thumb, as these don't have a snaffle ring and tend to have longer shanks

You can have a waterford pelham which works perfectly well.

Anyway the broken pelhams do mean that the shanks have an independance they you don't get get with a fixed mouthpeice. However due to this they also don't have the solid block that is prone to solid mouthpeices and allows the horse to fixed the jaw against them and 'lean'.

I can undestand the true devotes of weymouth sets, would not like the idea the flex in feel, but its actually quite useful

One of mine goes will in a lozenge pelham with huge 9" shanks, as she is a total baggage. The purpose of the mouthpeice is that is prevents her from leaning and getting lower and lower. Used with double reins its means you get a nice lozenge snaffle feel when she isn't trying to piss off with you.

I would not however, EVER, recommend a single jointed pelham. The curb and poll action are saying 'lower your head', you then take an innocent half halt and even with the mildest of contact you jab them in the roof of the mouth. It makes for a confused bit and IMHO should not be used.
 
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