bitting

[jovi_y2k2]

hey everybody i just need a bit of help!
i've just got a horse on loan he's a 15.2hh cob and at the moment he is ridden in an eggbutt snaffle i know his owners quite well and i know that he wasnt ridden often before i got him. I've ridden him a lot and hes getting fitter trouble is he's getting stronger to! He has quite a soft mouth but he definitely needs something stronger than a plain snaffle! i talked to his owner an they said that they sometimes rode him in a pelham but i dont want to use that because he is sill fairly responsive. Can anyone suggest a bit that i could use that stronger than an eggbutt jointed snaffle but wihout resorting to harsher curb bits?

[lamprellsarah]

a pelham is only strong in the wrong hands!!!
i like pelhams, and pelhams only enhance resposiveness if used correctly!!
i ride them with 2 reins though!!

i tend to only go between my myler snaffle bit and pelhams, i don't like gags much and well i don't like nutcraker actions either!!

[ros]

Try the good old rubber Pelham (not vulcanite). That isn't a harsh bit - it's a very nice bit.

[LindaAd]

Or you could try a flash or drop noseband - that makes the snaffle stronger. That worked on my pony - after a while I took the flash off, and he was fine.

[lamprellsarah]

urm is this a vulacanite one!!

[Mehitabel]

hard to tell from the picture, but probably - otherwise it would probably be called rubber covered rather than hard rubber. to be sure you'd have to ring and ask them or ask someone who works at a tackshop.

[ros]

The description "hard rubber" is how the Heather-type Pelhams are usually described. I agree from the picture alone, because of the angle, it's hard to tell, but I think from the description as well it's the right one (not vulcanite).

The trouble with the vulcanite mouthpieces is that they're a real gobful, far too thick for a lot of horses (especially the strong cobby types) plus they're very hard. People seem to buy them because they think being so thick they must be very kind to the horse, which is a good motive, but then when they try them and find the horse fusses, they think it's just Pelhams generally that their horse doesn't like, so they give up on the idea and try something else. It's a real shame.

[lamprellsarah]

i asked at a shop, and the only other one she did was a happy mouth one, which was covered in white rubber stuff but thinner.
i am going to try my friends hard rubber one and just see how we get on, then go for the happy mouth one if everything works out OK!!!

[jovi_y2k2]

thanks for all your help but i'd stil rather steer clear of pelhams at least for now. Can anyone suggest anything?? i Was thinking of using a flash on him for jumping but just want a something a bit stronger than a snaffle

[ros]

Well, in all honesty, if your horse is only on loan I think perhaps you should follow the actual owner's advice. I really wouldn't want to start messing about trying new bits on a horse that didn't belong to me. If the owners rode him in a Pelham, maybe you should just try it and see.

[kelsey]

My horse leaned on my hands terribly with a regular jointed snaffle - he nows goes much better in a myler comfort snaffle.

My instructor claims that it makes the aids easier for him to understand, and that his mouth is more comfortable so he is readier to listen to them.

Now if only they were allowed in competition....

[myEllie]

You could get a snaffle with a slow twist. Or try a full cheek snaffle.

[lamprellsarah]

i have a high ported myler bit, they aren't allowed in shows?????

she's better in it, but still leans a bit!!

[LindaAd]

I think a twisted snaffle is probably harsher than a pelham - I'd be a bit careful of that one. I agree with ros: that you do what the owners do, and if they ride him in a pelham then try a pelham.

[Gemma R]

How about a kimblewick?? They haven't got as much leaverage as the pelham although they are still a curb bit.

You can get slotted d ring kimblewicks that enable three different types of control.

I started using one on Libby and haven't turned back. she hated the action of the egbut snaffle bit likes the mullen mouth a lot better without leaning on my hands at all.

she wasn't ridden much before I bought her either and I must say boring though it is - the more schooling she gets the better she is!!

[jovi_y2k2]

Thanks gemma i'd forgotten about that bit. I've ordered a french link sweet iron bit which im goin to try with a flash nseband for jumping i spoke to his owner and she said she used to ridehim in that, sofingers crossed!

[myEllie]

A kimberwick is actually a very strong bit. It is what my horse is in now, and only as a last resort. It is similar to a pelham, but because it is only used with one set of reins, you cannot choose when to use the curb action. Twisted snaffles are not at all harsh. At least not ones with a slow twist, maybe some of the twisted wires ones though.