Flexible vs hard rubber Pelhams?

[LWilson]

I have ordered two sizes of hard rubber Pelham and have been sent one that has a flexible rubber mouthpiece - was going to send it back but what are people's views on flexible vs hard rubber mouthpieces?

Had great success yesterday with the 5.5" which is hard rubber as I wanted - a horse with a blocked parotid salivary duct who has had big problems with sore lips in all previous bits, but at the end of his session he was salivating on that side which his owner said is very unusual!

Anyway, any comments welcomed. Thanks! 

[cirocco]

Depends on the horse. I've used both, I like the soft, but some horses take to the hard, so suppose you just have to try em and see.

Also you have to take into account the thickness. Some of the vulcanite 'hard' bits are quite thick, which wouldn't suit a small mouthed pony or horse, the soft rubber ones seem to be slightly thinner. Have you looked at the happy mouth??  same sort of thing, they do a pelham.
AND then if you have a bit chewer, they damage the vulcanite, and make them rough.

Cheap rubber bits, are awful keep away from these. Only buy a recognised make. A few being sold on ebay are cheap muck.

[winnieandben]

I use a hard rubber pelham as that is what Heather recommends 

[cirocco]

Again it all depends on the horses mouth.

[winnieandben]

Obviously it depends on the horse  but the question asked was between the hard rubber and flexible and there is a reason why Heather recommends the hard rubber but I cant remember what it is    I think its to do with the curb action 

Vulcanite and happy mouth are totally different again 

Do you still get vulcanite bits? dont like them so much, they seem really hard to me.

[whisper's mum]

Heather uses hard rubber (NOT Vulcanite though) because the soft ones bend round the jaw and affect the curb action, rather like joined pelhams do.  

[winnieandben]

Heather uses hard rubber (NOT Vulcanite though) because the soft ones bend round the jaw and affect the curb action, rather like joined pelhams do.  

Thank you, knew there was something about them 

[LWilson]

Thank you, very helpful