Is this an acceptable bit?

[M&M Nut]

I ride Tally in a Jointed Rugby pelham and I am hoping to do some unaff. dressage fairly soon. Will this bit be acceptable or will I need to change? :confused:

Thank you in advance
Sophie XxXxX

[rache]

yes it should be absolutly fine, check the BHS website it tells you everything on there

[galadriel]

I can't find anything on the BHS website, but I know that no kind of pelham is acceptable in US dressage.

[galadriel]

Well, I found this:

http://www.bhs.org.uk/BRC/tack.htm

But I'm not sure how all-encompassing it is, because it says "dressage uses snaffle bridles only"; but at higher levels dressage riders must use a double bridle, so this can't be right overall.

[edit: I said this unclearly]

[IrisSilverMoon]

lower levels is snaffle and higher levels it's a double bridle.

i think this goes for the UK as well as the US, so i would assume that you would need to change to a snaffle for your dressage.

[Lgd]

No - definitely not permitted for dressage. Prelim and Novice classes are snaffles only - eggbutt, loose ring. cheeks, half cheeks or drop cheek all permitted for the rings. Mouthpieces - single jointed, french link, straight bar or mullen. Ported snaffles not allowed. Couple of the Myler bits are now allowed - MB02 I know is one, not sure about the other, but they must follow the ring patterns I mentioned above. Some of the KK bits are allowed including the KK ultra. Part of bit in the mouth must all be the same metal. Plastic and rubber bits are permitted as well.

Double bridle permitted from elementary up, compulsory when you get to advanced.

[maverick927]

Always check with the organisers about snaffles, but pelhams can NEVER be worn. Only double bridles and its only at the high levels that you must wear a double bridle.

[M&M Nut]

It's not afflicated dresssage though, just a small class at a local show, so that will change the rules about bitting?

[IrisSilverMoon]

that may be something you'd want to ask them, but i assume since you are expected to ride the same in affiliated it would be a negative. If you can't get ahold of the show people then ride ina snaffle anyway, it's a lot safer than being disqualified for improper tack...:)

[Mossy]

The local classes are very often VERY sniffy about bits! Try a baucher. It is dressage legit and gives poll pressure.

[IrisSilverMoon]

^^^^that's my bit of choice...


but according to my instructor he says that the pressure one the poll doesn't make a bit of difference, if there is any pressure at all. It's certainly not the reason it's used at my barn...:)

[Mehitabel]

no, no pelhams at dressage of any level. unaffiliated is meant to be a springboard for people to practice before going on to afiliated, so they have all the same rules.

[emma_lebutt]

NO i disagree with those who said it is ok. Whatever level, the rules must be respected. Unaff. prelim / novice dressage must be done in a snaffle bit.

[M&M Nut]

Looks like we won't be doing dressage in a while then! :(

[IrisSilverMoon]

why can't you replace the bit before the show?

is it a problem?

[Aly]

Pelhams of any kind are not acceptable in dressage, not even at unaffiliated shows, unless of course the organisers agree.

If it is a dinky unaffiliated show, the organisers may agree to let you use the pelham with one set of reins on the snaffle part, and no curb chain, but again this is with the permission of the show.

The Baucher as Mossy said, is legit, although the amount of poll pressure it would give would be minimal. The absolute beauty of this bit though is that it sits so nicely in the horses mouth, and doesn't "swim around" like some other bits tend to do. Big fan of this bit I am, use it all the time, on most of my horses, even use it with my double, with a straight bar weymouth, on my show horse, but it does confuse some people and I tend to get a few stares as it is not as popular as a eggbut snaffle for example, at least not in OZ or Singa's anyway.