Pelham Problems

[casper15]

Hi,
Have been putting my pony in a pelham for show hunter classes and other showing because that is what is suggested. However when I am riding him in it he just jacks his head and runs off and goes all silly therefore not doing so well but my other dilemma is because he is denoviced in certain showing the open classes prefer pelhams and also because we have to put him in a snaffle he runs off and just doesnt look as good as the others in pelhams. Any ideas?

Thanks

[ilovebuckroox]

So what bit does he go well in? What is he ridden daily/schooled in?

[kirtonian]

Have you tried a pelham with same mouthpiece as his normal bit? Personally I have found very few horses who like mullen mouth pelhams, yet they seem to be most commonly used.

[casper15]

He goes well in a wilson snaffle (the 2 ringed one) and a tom thumb, have tried a tom thumb mouth piece with pelham sides and he still doesn't like it - we just dont know what to try now - possibly thinking that it is too strong so may try having a double bridle as could try riding him purely off the snaffle part - not sure whether it will work but no harm trying...

[kirtonian]

Can be quite tricky can't it, but if he doesn't go well in a pelham, then even for open classes the snaffle would look better. In the end I got a waterford pelham for my girl, as mouthpiece is so bendy she doesn't seem to mind action of bit. I did used to show her as a novice in a waterford, but at home always a NS starter bit, but NS pelham with similar mouthpiece she hated, trial and error, sure you will find something! Have you tried ringing bit bank, they are very helpful.

[Milliesmum]

Is it the curb action he's objecting to? Have you tried an elastic or leather curb rather than a chain?

[sarahp]

And adjusted very loosely too so that it has basically no action.

[fanfarefan]

What about a French link pelham,,, ??

[ilovebuckroox]

Or many people have started using the Tom Thumb with two reins, may be a good idea until you find a Pelham he goes well in

[casper15]

Thank you for all the suggestions -
fanfarefan - we have tried so many different pelhams including a french linked pelham and still doesn't work (hopefully not many more to try!)
ilovebuckroox - that may be the only answer but will probably have to ask each judge to make sure they are alright with tom thumbs being used (should be though!)

[casper15]

And i think it may be the curb action and the fact that if i use my bottom rein it is just too strong - we have even tried a happy mouth pelham and he still doesnt like it - not sure there is anything weaker than a happy mouth?

[sarahp]

How about riding off just the top rein then? If the curb chain is really loose there can be no curb action.

[magpie]

You can use the Tom Thumb with two reins in open classes - quite a few in HOYS/Olympia quals use them

[fanfarefan]

i can appreciate that you have tried all the its under the sun , and im certainly not teaching anyone how to ride , BUT you dont even have to touch the curb rein on any of the bits above suggested ,, sorry that sounds condescending , but no sure how else to say it ,,, but sometimes too much emphasis is put on the curb rein , when in fact it doesnt even have to come into play , ,,, but hope you find something , that works

[LinsopStud]

I would try tieing up your curb rein and not touching it, if he isn't happy with the curb action that will fix it. There's nothing wrong with riding with your curb rein loose.

[wemustbemad]

I have to say I was told the same as above once with my sec a and even with no contact on the curb rein and with the loosest chain, mine still would not go in a pelham! So I can understand your frustration, so I stuck to the snaffle and even tho you say they prefer Pelhams and doubles etc, you'd be surprised at how many times judges have liked it! And it's never stoped him winning many opens, so if he goes better in a snaffle as mine did, stick to it x

[casper15]

fanfarefan - i understand and i do sometimes wonder when im riding whether it is me but having said that sometimes like wemustbemad he even has a fool about without touching the curb rein at all. The only problem is that even in a snaffle he is too strong and takes the mickey so its difficult to find something strong enough to stop him but not strong enough to make him uncomfortable - he can be so difficult at times!

[sarahp]

Daughter had two sensitive horses that wouldn't tolerate a curb bit of any kind but needed more brakes for hunting, XC etc and both went very sweetly in Waterfords - one a normal snaffle version, the other a gag.

[wemustbemad]

Have you tried a wilkie I know its a 50/50 split on people hate/liking them but mine goes sweetly in one of them x

[jackdaniels]

maybe a butterfly pelham? they are milder with not so much curb action, was he a driving pony? as not sure as to why he is schooled in a wilson snaffle?

[casper15]

have tried a wilkie and once he has been ridden in it a few times he gets the jist to run off and then theres no stopping him.. havent tried a waterford and but think we might be trying one of those. Have never heard of a butterfly pelham but will look into it thanks! No he wasn't a driving pony however we know it is a driving bit but seems to be working really well so have just carried on with it after suggested by my riding instructor

[mollymoobags]

Have you had his teeth back or saddle checked out? We had a similar problem very recently and it was the fit of saddle. Just a suggestion.

[sjw87]

Apr 13, 2013 10:43:28 GMT sarahp said:

And adjusted very loosely too so that it has basically no action.

But not so loose that it's uncomfortable. I once saw someone who had their curb chain so loose, every time the horse moved it's head, the chain jangled and swung around. You could tell that it was annoying the horse no end!

Sent from my C6603 using proboards

[littleone]

I have just read this as I am having the same problem! Can you actually ride in the ring with a Tom Thumb bit? I have had mixed views and my little chap goes very sweetly in his so it would save me the hassle if you could. Thank you! [/font]

[sarahp]

That wouldn't happen with a leather curb chain sjw87, which is what I always used on a horse that didn't like one anyway. Leather curb just to complete the look and be correct, and rode completely off the snaffle rein if I showed a horse and wanted a double bridle look on a horse that hated curbs. If not showing, find another type of bit that the horse is happy in! Bearing in mind that the curb chain shouldn't come into play anyway until the bit sides are at 45 degrees it would need to be very loose to be out of play completely.

Grumpy old woman hat on today - I do often read these bit threads and think more people should go back and learn the basics of how bits work before they do anything else (not you sjw!)