Why Do They Hate The Pelham?

[NickeringNotions]

Until recently I was a member of the "pelhams are evil" club. However, I've learnt that some horses absolutely love them! As mentioned, it definitely depends on how the rider's hand position is, and that anything can be abused, be it a pelham or a snaffle.

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oooohhhhhhhhhhh.  I get it, thats not fair!   Boy, I wish I could ride in one here.  I'd like to meet the idiot that came up with this rule!  

Is there a good subistute for the pelham?  Heather, where can I find that new Pelham by Albion Saddlery?  

[pintopiaffe]

But that could all change, thanks to a certain new Pelham bit devised by Albion Saddlery and the great German rider Klaus Balkenhol- it is currently being used as an interim bit between snaffle and changing to double, and also an everyday bit, by a number of leading dressage riders, and is why critiscism of my use of it seems to have diminished compared with a few years ago!!

Hm... about oh... fifteen years ago a friend of mine who was a working student at Michael Poulin's was using a pelham as a transition to the double.  It's not a new idea.

Mossy hit the nail on the head IMO:

the hatred of pelhams be to do with the tight fixed contact that is de rigeur in dressage circles

YUP.

Some "legal" alternatives:  as mentioned, just a mullen snaffle.  My horse doesn't like that at all, but many do.  Myler or Neue Schule comfort or comfy contact snaffles.  For my guy the hanging cheek seems to be the closest 'feeling' to the pelham.  Some horses will transition nicely from pelham to hanging cheek or Baucher snaffle, french mouth or other.  Me, I want someone to make a nicely arched, metal mullen baucher for me to try.     If there is enough room in the horse's mouth, NS makes a rubber mullen Baucher.

Whatever you do, don't believe the old myth that a baucher puts poll pressure.  It doesn't.  It's physically not possible without a curb strap--or unless the bit is done up VERY tight.   Watch when you pull on a rein--the cheek strap come out just as with any other bit.   It's an old and well preserved misconception.  What it does is hang the bit with more stability in the horse's mouth, and make the action work a certain way--similar to a full cheek with keepers.  Many horses prefer this.  

What I found last fall, was regular work in the pelham helped my stallion to build the right muscles.  Then when we switched to the snaffle, he was still soft, and strong in the right places ot carry himself correctly.  The funny part with him is I can ride in the pelham with no curb strap and no curb rein--and he adores it and I get the same results.  98% of the time the curb rein is tied up to my grab strap when I ride in the pelham.  That curb comes in wonderfully handy when he is super tense through the jaw and poll--I can ever-so-subtly *ASK* him to chew, swallow and give his jaw, with the merest vibration of the fingers... but it's the actual bit and balance of the bit he really likes.   It's *almost* the same in the double, but haven't come up with a bradoon yet that really fits in his mouth as he's got a tiny mouth.  He does prefer the double though, to the snaffle.  JP Bauchers are GOOD, and the NS Comfy Contact Baucher is slightly better.  

The problem is when you find out how MUCH better they go in something they LIKE you become quite obsessed with recreating that in something legal.  
 

[Cloud_cirrus]

PP have you seen the new Neue Schule pony bits?  They may have something suitable for a bradoon.  I've been looking at them for Jamie as he has a very shallow mouth and a small tongue, they also do a pony weymouth too.

Tracey

Ps.  And there is a supplier on Ebay who is cheaper.

[Linda Baia]

The problem is when you find out how MUCH better they go in something they LIKE you become quite obsessed with recreating that in something legal.  

Well that sums it up! I do not see the point to train with an illegal bit.

I ride Linda in a French link full cheek snaffle. I cannot wait to ride her in a Sprenger KK Ultra Dee ring. Just because it is dressage legal.

It makes sense to train with the bit you will compete in

If you do not compete, who cares?  :P    

[thecatsmother]

Well that sums it up! I do not see the point to train with an illegal bit.<snip>It makes sense to train with the bit you will compete in

I run to keep fit, and I run in running races. I do my training runs in heavier training shoes which have plenty of padding and support and encourage me to run in a good style with good technique, and which allow me to put in the miles comfortably, and thereby allow me to builld up my running muscles and cardiovascular endurance safely, with a lesser risk of injury. But I race in lighter weight shoes with less padding and less support, as over 13 miles, a lighter shoe means a lotless work. The good form and technique, and good muscles and strength I've built up in the training see me through the race in the less supportive and less cushioned shoes.

Similarly, I think if using the pelham in training allows/facilitates the horse/rider combination in working and developing correctly then I think it's worth using it even though one can't use it in dressage competition. If using the pelham educates the horse to use itself correctly and develop in the right way, then good work and the correct way of going become the norm for the horse, and become more likely to follow through to working in other bits too.  

JMHO of course - I've only ever done one dressage competition    :P  :lol:  

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Similarly, I think if using the pelham in training allows/facilitates the horse/rider combination in working and developing correctly then I think it's worth using it even though one can't use it in dressage competition. If using the pelham educates the horse to use itself correctly and develop in the right way, then good work and the correct way of going become the norm for the horse, and become more likely to follow through to working in other bits too. 

Wow, you took the word right out of my mouth!  Heather advocates the Pelham but if you look through her book not all of the horses are always wearing a Pelham, yet they all look happy and relaxed in their work.  I think that if you can train in something that teaches you how to be correct then it would be a lot easier to ride in other bits.  

I have been contemplating getting a Pelham to train in and then getting a French snaffle to show in, since that is what we use now and he does go well in it.

I was just wondering is that whole idea seemed a bit daft.  However, I think I just made my mind up,    thanks thecatmother.      

[Linda Baia]

Yes The cat mother. You have a good point !

But I will use the bit as a re-schooling bit, but not as everyday bit. The bit being a mode of communication I think it would be weird to have a mullen mouth with a curb action and then go for a French link.

In my little head, it does not make sense. But I am a sucker for consistency. Some will say I am a bit of a maniac. Like everything to be coordinated etc...  

I would definetely use the pelham as a transition for a double bridle!

[sandpiper]

I've always used pelhams in preference to doubles for mine as they all have little mouths and a double was just too much for them.  My horse was never happy in his mouth but I could ride much more lightly with a pelham than a snaffle which he often leaned against, but eventually the pelham helped his way of going in a snaffle.  

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So here is a thought, would it be better to show in an unjointed mullen mouth snaffle or a french snaffle.  Would a bar bit mimic the Pelham better and give the horse a greater sense of familiarity, or would it be useless because there is no curb?  

[harryhorse11]

I don't come on here very often, but would like to add my thoughts to this subject as the pelham has been a very important bit to me.

I had a sharer for a while when I had 6 months out due to surgery, I dont know what she did to my beautiful horse but when I came to ride him he was terrified of a contact, I must have tried 20 or so bits and nothing would make him accept a contact, then I tried a pelham and the transformation was unbelievable, he accepted it had a lovely moist mouth and we haven't looked back since!

I dont use roundings and i dont use double reins, I have my single reins on the snaffle, it works really well.

I also work long and low and he rounds very nicely, I personally dont see anything wrong with it