What bit for a baby?

[fionahogg]

Hi. I'm helping to start a youngster (well...he's six but only been ridden since april). Anyway he's a typical baby, doesn't know where to put his feet! He's ridden at the moment in a sraight bar pelham with a metal mouth peice, in roundings and with a curb. Do you think I should try him in a rubber pelham with double reins or change him back to a snaffle? He doesn't go particulary well in the bitting arrangment he has at the moment. Also should I ask him to work in a long, low outline now or should I just get him used to being ridden? He loses balance VERY easily and finds it hard to bend. I only ride him for short periods as his concentration span is obviously short, and we seem to be making progress - he is starting to offer relaxation but only for perhaps half a circle.

Thanks.

Fiona.

P.S Thankyou for the advice you gave me at Burghley! My sitting trot seems to be better and I can DEFINATELY see why saddles should have a strirrup bar further back. I just hope that next year we can use seat savers in affil. dressage!

[Remmy]

If this is any help, I have just started schooling a 4 1/2yo horse who was previously very heavy in the hand and gobby too. The owner had put a flash on thinking that would sort the problem out... which it didn't. I put the rubber pelham on him and in his first half hour session he had stopped lunging down and stopped being gobby. I didn't use the flash at all when I put the pelham on either.

I personally feel that you would be better off using two reins as it gives you the choice as to how much pressure to apply to each part of the bit..

My feeling is, this chap just didn't like the nutcracker action of the snaffle; he seemed so much more at ease almost instantly.

Let us know how you get on.

[fionahogg]

Thanks for the reply. I think I'm going to try him in the rubber pelham with two reins and just see how he goes. I definately agree that 2 reins gives more 'finer tuning'. I'm not sure if he's ever been ridden in the snaffle but I was thinking perhaps a straight bar happy mouth...?

[sallyanne]

Hi my name is sally you dont say why he is being ridden in a pelham is he strong ?

[fionahogg]

Hi Sally. I've only ridden this horse a few times and in the pelham with roundings he is actually pretty strong. But the 2nd time I rode him I put him in a straight bar rubber snaffle with loose rings and he went really well. I'm not sure why he was started in a pelham becasue I didn't start him myself, as I said he was started in April but I've only just started riding him. But I know the person who did start him and I wouldn't trust her within a mile of my horses. A rubber pelham with double reins is not actually a strong bit - I think that the hands that control the bit is what determines it's strength. What I was asking Heather was is if she would reccomend me putting a youngster in this bit...? I know it would be hard to tell without seeing him but any advice would be appreciated. He definately goes better in the snaffle as opposed to the straight bar pelham/metal mouthpeice/roundings/no curb combination.

[Heather]

Remmy is right, Fiona, two reins are essential for the action of the Pelham to be distinct, and not just a set of extra brakes as most people think of this much maligned bit. It's solel use is to release and relax the jaw, and with roundings this just will not happen.


Heather