Elastic Curb?

[wendi]

Hi All,

Well i've had the seat saver for ages and now courtesy of my parents bringing me a copy of EE, i have the book, which I've read a few times already!!

I'd like to try my boy (Maestro) in a rubber pelham with elastic curb, but alas have a couple of problems.

All we seem to have in local saddleries are either happy mouth pelhams, or a mullen mouth which is made of a wire cable, covered in vulcanite. Which of these two would be the better option? The other thing i thought might be possible would be to have a regular stainless steel mullen mouth covered in rubber, but haven't looked into that.

The second thing is that they only come with curb chains. I thought i could maybe have an elastic curb made, but what should i ask for? Is there a picture or description of an elastic curb that i can check out anywhere?

Hope this isn't too long or too stupid!!

Wendi:o

[Bebe]

Hi

My mare goes in a happy mouth pelham (mullen mouth, not jointed) and she's happier in this than she was in a rubber pelham, I think because it's a bit thinner and she has a small mouth.

Heather personally doesn't recommend vulcanite, and I have to admit that it isn't the nicest material in the world. If you look on various websites the ones Heather recommends are usually referred to as hard rubber pelhams, I think Robinsons and Discount Saddlery sell them.

You can buy elastic curbs on their own, Discount Saddlery will special order one for you if there isn't one listed on their website but I think Frogpool Manor carry them as part of their stock. They aren't too expensive, about 3-5 pounds. Basically an elastic curb is just a piece of short elastic with 3 chain links on either side to attach to the hooks on the bit, these links don't come into contact with the horse.

Hope this helps
Amanda

[wendi]

Thanx very much for that input Amanda

I might try him out with the happy mouth mullen pelham first then, as i know i can get that one here and see how he goes. As for the elastic curb, i'll whip into the saddlery and ask if they can make me one.

I wish I'd got my parents to bring me the rubber Pelham and the elastic curb when they came as well as the book!!!

[liz--y]

i use a happy mouth pelham, i found my mare goes better in a leather curb cain than a elastic one.

[nix]

Hi,

Slightly off-track here, but although Harve goes well with the elastic curb a lot of the time, usually he goes better without it. Is there a relatively easy way of removing the hooks (I know you probably wouldn't be able to put them back on again! :rolleyes: ) as I'm always worried that when they're loose they'll catch him?

Thanks.

Nix and Harve

[ros]

The hard rubber Pelhams tend to come with their own metal curb chain attached, but to get them off all you have to do is lever the hook open a bit more so you can slip it on and off easily. (Men are better at this sort of thing than we are - I usually manage to stab myself with the screwdriver!)

If you're worried about the curb chain falling off, they all have lip-strap rings. Mind you, lipstraps are another story! I can never get the darn things back together the right way round after I clean them...

[wendi]

Well i should have a happy mouth pelham by next week so I'll see how we go. I ride him in an eggbutt mullen mouth at the moment which he seems to go better in than the french link that i got him with.

Just another query, when i got him he was always going round with his mouth gaping open. I had his back checked, mouth checked, new saddle fitted, and my hands aren't too hard but he still tends to have his mouth open a bit. He's not necessarily pulling or being heavy, but it doesn't always look the best, and my instructor has suggested a few times now that i put a flash back on him.

I've held off as I'd rather not shut his mouth with the flash, if theres maybe something he's trying to tell me, or is it just a habit he has?

[ros]

Trust your instincts. Don't strap him down. See how you go in the Haapy Mouth.

[Heather]

HI Wendi,


Ros is right- don't strap his mouth shut - flash nosebands are an abomination as they strap the mouth shut in two places, and then the horse finds it very difficult to relax his lower jaw. Usually if the horse is comfortable in his bit, he will settle in the mouth.

The one thing I should mention is that elastic curb chains come in several sizes, as they are not as adjustable as metal chains, having only a couple of metal links each side. I think that they are basically pony, cob and full size, so use that as a rough guideline.

I may be able to find out actual lengths for you from a mnaufacturer here. We will have them in the on line shop on my website, once it gets up and running!

Heather

[wendi]

Thanx for the confirmation that i shouldn't clamp his mouth shut!!

I really want to make everything as pleasant as i can for my boy (who is my most beloved and first horse) so when i first got him i put him back in a cavesson, changed his bit a few times to try and settle him in the mouth and didn't use spurs like his previous owners.

He's so much more forward moving now than when he first came to me, and is so much more settled in the mouth than he previously was but I still don't think he's quite 100% happy yet.

Heather, I'm very interested in getting some of your stirrups (from the stirrup thread) and an elastic curb chain, so I'll look forward to hearing that your online shop is up and running
:)

[wendi]

Hi Again,

I eventually have a rubber pelham (I went with rubber to start with as it turned out to be easier to get) in my hot little hands, and I've now realised that i might have to actually stop talking about wanting to get one, and start to use it now!!!

Here in lies the problem. What is the best way to get to grips with using two sets of reins, causing the least amount of discomfort or annoyance to my horse??


Any words of wisdom, would be much appreciated.

:) Wendi

[Bebe]

Hi Wendi

One way to start getting used to two reins would be to practise holding them and using them individually whilst the bridle is hung up on a hook. It doesn't have the same feel as when it's on a horse but helps to get rid of the initial clumsiness (or maybe that was just me!).

Another way would be to tack up your horse with a headcollar underneath your bridle. You could attach one set of reins to the headcollar and use one set on the bit. That way you'd have the feel of using two reins whilst riding but without upsetting your horse if you make a mistake whilst you're getting used to the reins.

It shouldn't take too long, I found that I was comfortable with two reins after a couple of rides and after a month or so I was happy to hack out at speed without worrying about dropping one or the other.

[wendi]

Thanx for those ideas Bebe :)

I'll try them out over the next few days, and hopefully I won't be all fingers and thumbs (fingers crossed madly as i type)

Wendi