Pelhams And Youngsters

[alfiedoodle]

At the moment my 3yo boy is in a french link snaffle as I wanted something (hopefully) not strong for him as he has a wonderful light mouth.  He naturally carries himself on the lunge but is poked out nose horse when I ride him - this may be due to saddle issues (thanks to Cair system! <_< ) as he has been rather sore (he suddenly started being fearful of the saddle since his shoulders developed and the saddler is appalled with the Cair panels so now I have a horse who is scared of saddles - started out as a mounting problem).  Cair saddle now sold and I'm trying, gawd only knows how (sell my kidney?) to get a Fhoenix as he is highly sensitive and my instructor has suggested a treeless, particularly a Fhoenix.  My saddler doesn't want to know about treeless saddles - quelle suprise.

Anyway, I'm waffling - I was wondering if pelhams are for youngsters to help him relax his jaw and poll (not to work in an outlline at this age, just for him to be less pokey nosed) or is it something you work on as they get older?   I want him to be as comfortable as possible and obviously I need to overcome his saddle fear first but I was wondering if it is normal for a 3yo to use a pelham and if so - what sort?  He has a fairly large tongue and dislikes the nutcracker action of a normal eggbutt.

Just want the best for him and was wondering what people think?

Thanks

[vic]

My instinct on reading this is to try a non-jointed bit before progressing to the added sensations of poll and curb pressure.
I have always used mullen mouthpieces in my wide-jawed horses, since a single joint is alot of nutcracker when the mouthed is wide or fleshy

I have ordered a happy-mouth straight bar for my 'nose-poker' baby who cannot stand any joints in his mouth (i have always liked waterfords, but he cannot get his head round too much bit movement - a french link made him try to set his jaw against the 'wiggly' bit!)

Anyway, that's just my thoughts and i am far from an expert, but i do try to let the horses teach me!  :blush:  

[Heather]

Hi Alfiedoodle,

I general, I always use a snaffle for a youngster, but we had a lovely Arab mare that simply wasnt happy in one from the start. I then put her in a mullen mouth pelham, with an elastic curb, and she accepted it immediately and never looked back.

A mullen mouthpiece with an elastic curb is a very mild combination, but has more effect with less, than  a snaffle of any variety.

We have Coronel our 5yr old PRE stallion in a pelham. He came from Spain, very green, and going like a ton of bricks in the hand, leaning heavily on the bit, and trying to pull the rider all over the place. Steering was non existent!! you couldnt even keep him on the track in walk!! Six weeks later, he is starting leg yield and shoulder in, taught in hand first, and all on the pelham. He is now lightness itself, in a beautiful outline, in self carriage for his level of training.

Have a look at the pics of him on the general forum if you havent seen them. Thread entitled 'pics of Coronel'. There are some of him before he came from Spain, being ridden very deep and fast on the video, and some of him  a few days ago. Wish I had taken some of him the first few days he was here- I was beginning to think I had bought a cross between a plank and a seesaw weighted at one end!!

Heather

Heather

[alfiedoodle]

Well he certainly doesn't like eggbutts and dislikes any kind of heavy handedness and quite rightly so!  He does have large wolf teeth and the dentist said they may or may not cause him problems in the future (well blimey, I could have guess they may or may not cause problems - tells me nothing! - so I am unsure whether or not to have them removed).

With his largish tongue and whatnot, wouldn't a straight bit press on his tongue a lot? He goes ok in his french link but like I say he is very pokey nosed but no doubt a lot of that has to do with his old saddle (I say old.. it was bloomin' brand new!).

So stick with the french link for now - is that the general concensus?  He does not dislike his bit and doesn't evade it in any major sense but it feels like he'd be slightly happier in something else and I was unsure if a pelham is too much.  Sounds like it may be a good idea to continue and change to a pelham with elastic curb when he's carrying himself a bit better?  Fell very free to correct me if I'm wrong!!!

Thanks peeps

[GeneralPouchka]

Hiya

I would say for now stick with the bit he is happy in and let him get used to a nice saddle.

Gen used to run away from the saddle when I went to tack him up and try to nip me.  He would lay his ears flat back when I touched his back and bucked into canter.  He had a made to measure saddle as a 3 and a half year old and this was only 6 months on.

Within a matter of 2 weeks with the SBS (and a few stretching exercises using clicker training) he changed considerably.  No longer did he lay his ears back or run away from the saddle.  He stopped bucking into canter as well.   He is now back to the happy and relaxed horse he has always been and on top of it all has half qualified for the Novice dressage Regionals (done the qualifier bit now needs a 1st in Novice @ 65%+) - and he only turned 5 at the end of June.

So, sorry for waffling but I would say sell your kidney    and get the Ffoenix.  You will be so amazed.

Sylina

[Melia]

I would agree with everyone else.  Youngsters generally seem to like loose ring french link snaffles - but not all french links are made the same way...!  Some are shaped to make them especially kind and some horses seem to like these better.  Pokey-nosed wise, might well improve as your horse learns to balance with you on board and develops more muscle tone - think how much more difficult it would be for you to lift your back using your stomach muscles if you were on all fours with a heavyish backpack, compared to none at all, especially if the backpack hurt, or you thought it might do so if you rounded your back!  

[Janette]

I used a 'french link' type, with a lozenge, but Star would pull, argue and generally be very unhappy.  I had the same response to a Myler comfort snaffle, which had a reduced range of movement.  I tried a mullen eggbutt - wow.  A different horse.  Much more settled and willing to listen.  Now she uses a ported mullen myler to give her more tongue room, which allows me to 'whisper' to her.  We found the mullen to be far superior to the jointed bit, but that is a very personal opinion.
When I use a pelham, I use a ported mouth, mullen pelham, with loose cheeks.

[alfiedoodle]

Thanks everyone.  I think I'll stick with the french link until he is used to his new saddle (if I ever get one   ) and then maybe try a mullen mouth snaffle to see if he prefers the lack of joint or not.  He's got a largish tongue so a curved type one or one with a port would be best I assume?  Choices choices!