Who rides in a pelham daily?!

E

enchantedunicorn

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 December 2013
Messages
122
Visit site
I ride in a pelham daily - my horse goes really well in it and it doesn't seemed to have chaffed the bars of his mouth like his old snaffle. It does concern me when I'm getting people telling not to use one and getting disgusted looks on the yard :( But , he does seem to go well in it?! Is it ok ?? I have this bit on trial - so I have no objection to getting rid of it if need be! It does concern me also that it is not dressage legal!
 
Don't ride in one myself but I've never understood the deep rooted fear of a Pelham? Snaffles frighten me as they look dangerous the way they go to a sharp point! To be honest a bit can only be considered severe when operated by severe hands.

If I were a horse I think I'd much prefer a nice straight Pelham bar than a jingling jumping snaffle. Ignore them, they're ignorant..........and probably jealous.
 
I personally am not a huge fan of pelhams because so many people use them with roundings, which I can't stand to see. They definitely have their place, very useful for horses who don't like too much in their mouths and so don't get on with a double bridle.

I usually work on the basis that any bit is as severe as hands at the other end of the reins. People can do a huge amount of damage with the mildest of bits if they misuse the contact. Different bits work differently for different horses. OP, without more information it's not really possible to glean whether use of a Pelham every day is necessary for your particular horse, or whether there are any other options which would be preferable. If the snaffle you were using chaffed your horse's mouth then that was obviously not the right bit for him. You don't say why you chose a Pelham or whether there were any other bits you tried first. I'm sure you have your horse's best interests at heart and if he seems happiest/most comfortable in the Pelham then just ignore other people's input. Unfortunately, everyone's an expert when it comes to things like this.
 
I ride a lot in Spain where pelhams are fairly standard equipment. Horses seem to like them and riders like the 'lighter' feel (though English or German-trained riders would say it's a false lightness of course). Heather Moffett is a big fan of them for re-schooling horses that have a hard mouth from heavy hands in a snaffle as she finds that horses respond well and it's easier to re-train them to be submissive to the bit aids.

Personally, I prefer a pelham to a dead-feel on a snaffle particularly for hacking. I think a lot of horses here are trained very straight into the contact to the detriment of suppleness (particularly suppleness in the neck and poll) and lightness, and the snaffle can heighten this dead-feel. If a horse gets strong on a hack I think it is kinder to have a stronger bit and use it for shorter, more effective aids than haul on a snaffle, which can cause horrific bruising. Ideally of course a horse is trained to the seat and is supple & light in the had regardless of the bit, but not all horses have a perfect start to their ridden career!

If you want to compete in dressage, consider doing your initial re-schooling in the pelham then switch to a snaffle with a similar mouthpiece as your horse's way of going improves.
 
Me :) I have always written my horse in a pelham, 99% of the time with double reins. Why? Because he goes well in it, as simple as that. I spent weeks trying out bits trying to find one he worked well in and accepted!

For dressage I substitute this for a straight-bar happymouth, (basically the same bar as the pelham), (I can only get away with this in the dressage as he falls asleep as isn't so strong)!

If you horse goes well in it, ignore the looks. I would suggest using double reins rather than roundings however.
 
My son rides his horse in a happy mouth pelham, horse seems to love it. He doesn't have a curb chain so little more than a mullen mouth with poll pressure & some leverage. In the pelham he just seems to settle, I think it's because the bit is completely still in his mouth & he can't suck it up & chew on it.
 
I hack my horse in a myler pelham, which to me is a well-designed bit.

I ride with two reins and start off the hack using only the snaffle, with the curb rein knotted on his neck. All canter work I take up a slight contact with the curb, any fast canters and I have an even contact with both reins, but by the time we are heading home and decide to canter, I need the curb! So it's a bit for all seasons as far as I am concerned. I do school him in a snaffle though.
 
No issue for me, we have a horse who goes nicely in a mullen mouth pelham and also well in a hanging cheek of the same mouth piece - this also keeps the mouthpiece very still like the pelham which she likes /and would also work on your chaffing issue.
 
I ride in a Pelham every day and it does my horse no harm. He goes well in a snaffle and even better in a dually but can be strong, so a Pelham for the roads and for jumping is my preference.

Take no notice what others think or say. I know its easier said than done and I live my life in constant worry about other peoples opinion of me but I am gradually learning that they don't know everything even if they think they do.

However that said my EDT said that my mullen mouth Pelham was starting to cause slight calcification on the area of the mouth where the bit rests due to its action and suggested buying a neue schule with a lozenge and a thinner mouthpiece as he's dutch bred and therefore has quite a thick tongue and fleshier mouth than some breeds. I did and the difference was amazing, so glad I took on board what he said.

No one knows your horse like you do hun x
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I rode my previous gelding in a pelham (two reins). He went beautifully in it. If your horse is happy then don't worry about other people.
 
Clare85 said:
I personally am not a huge fan of pelhams because so many people use them with roundings, which I can't stand to see. They definitely have their place, very useful for horses who don't like too much in their mouths and so don't get on with a double bridle.

I usually work on the basis that any bit is as severe as hands at the other end of the reins. People can do a huge amount of damage with the mildest of bits if they misuse the contact. Different bits work differently for different horses. OP, without more information it's not really possible to glean whether use of a Pelham every day is necessary for your particular horse, or whether there are any other options which would be preferable. If the snaffle you were using chaffed your horse's mouth then that was obviously not the right bit for him. You don't say why you chose a Pelham or whether there were any other bits you tried first. I'm sure you have your horse's best interests at heart and if he seems happiest/most comfortable in the Pelham then just ignore other people's input. Unfortunately, everyone's an expert when it comes to things like this.
Click to expand...
Hi , yes I hate the roundings and use two sets of reins - I have tried him in various gags but seemed to really hate then , I don't know if they've got a different action to other bit or something? :)
 
There are basically only two types of bit: snaffle action (a pull on the corners and bars of the mouth, either jointed/pinching or straight bar) and curb action (a leverage action which puts pressure on the chin groove, bars and poll). Some horses go better in a snaffle, some horses go better with the less invasive curb (usually after being badly ridden in a snaffle). PLEASE NOTE: it is more technical to ride properly in a curb - there needs to be some education. It is easier for beginners to ride in a snaffle (but not, IMO, very good for the horse). The pelham is essentially a curb bit; lots of horses go better in curbs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top