Open Mouth With Pelham. Any Suggestions?

[katyptaty]

Hi

About a year ago, I put my strong ex-hunter in the pelham to train as Heather suggests. All went well in the school and he softened nicely. I felt like I had more 'Horse' between my hands (he tends to tighten his neck and this allowed him to relax - in walk and only occassionally in trot - back problems that have now been treated).

He then started to have little respect for the pelham (NB I was continually making sure that my hands were still soft and allowing with squeezes etc)and then managed to evade circles by opening the mouth, sticking the tongue over the bit and setting the neck. After a bolting incident I had to put a stop to the mouth opening and we moved onto a flash and french link/3 ring.

I prefered the use of the pelham though. As Heather is not around, are there any 'connoisseurs' who know how best to combat the open mouth problem whilst using the pelham. Surely, to achieve a softer jaw, clamping their mouths shut with a flash at the same time is counter-productive??????

[Maria]

Have you ruled out physical problems such as teeth and back? Does the saddle fit properly?

What type of pelham are you using - a hard rubber one, with a metal curb chain and two reins?

Some horses just do not go well in a pelham. I've not yet managed to find a pelham mouthpiece and curb combination that my mare is happy with. She objected to a rubber pelham full stop. With a metal mullen mouth pelham we had problems with the metal curb chain - it seemed to chafe her very sensitive curb groove - and she ignored the elastic curb chain. I'm currently riding her in a loose ring sweet iron french french link snaffle with a copper link + a flash noseband.

Heather suggested I tried a jointed pelham - perhaps that might work for your horse.

[katyptaty]

Hi Maria

Thanks for your reply. Teeth were done 6 months ago and to be done again next week. Back problems as were, are far better - problems of possible kissing spine, but steroids have calmed this. He also has regular physiotherapy and reiki plus exercises to help suppleness with free schooling and long reining. He has been the same in pelham as he is now in flash and 3 ring french link (middle ring). We have had physical problems for a year now but they have all been acted upon immediately! (massive bills!)

The only problem being that he has been allowed to go at hell for leather pace over whatever ground (found out they used to jump him over cattle grids when hunting!) and has little respect for bits and counteracts by strength in the neck. He is schooled twice a week by an instructor who works very much on the seat and reaction to it.... I just felt i had more control as in direction with the pelham than what we have now. He is far far better but just gets very excited!!!! hence the tongue

The pelham he had was a rubber straight pelham with a steel curb and 2 reins (for which i have also had lessons, to ensure that my hands are sympathetic). I also am on a loose ring, sweet iron french link and flash (apart from also having the second ring three ringed gag - we are similar)

Maybe I should try a few different ones to see if that helps. I just don't know how to stop him putting his tongue over the bit in exciting (to him, i.e. reminds him of hunting) circumstances. The only brakes i have is the flash at the moment.... as i say, he bolted and threw me with the pelham cos he got his tongue over it! (v. painful, tearing a thorasic nerve!)

I shall try a few different ones and maybe, after the last year and lots of education he will be better and have more respect. I just don't want to try it out in a canter/other horse situation!!!

Thanks for your help, I shall give it a go!

kate

[Heather]

HI Kate,

Sorry not to reply before. Try a Kimblewick- perhaps a jointed one, as he may not actually like a straight bar- when you say straight, is it actually straight or mullen mouth, which most of them are- or half moon Pelhams,. as they are also known. He may also not like the metal curb chain- try an elastic one- the type used for show horses mostly.

Let us know how you get on.

Heather

[Yvonne M]

A jointed kimblewick is useful if the straight bar does not suit a horse. I use one on my pony & he seems to respect it.
He does put his tongue over a jointed snaffle & I have to use a flash (which I do not like).He leans on a straight bar bit.

[katyptaty]

Thanks Heather and Yvonne.

I shall try the kimblewick and elastic curb chain and see what happens. sounds promising!

Haven't been doing fast work whilst out hacking recently to try to calm him down and get him working more from behind instead of trouncing off with me with his neck/shoulder. A girlfriend had a great idea of actually getting him to canter away from the other horse we were with. It's been the first time in ages that we got a wonderfully balanced canter with very little pulling so I am very pleased! if the kimblewick works too we may be on the road to recovery!

Thanks for the help. I shall write an update when I get some results - or not!

Kate

[katyptaty]

Sorry for not answering your question Heather - it's a straight bar happy mouth pelham. I have been looking for a jointed kimblewick on the web but only find normal straight kimblewicks - is this normal? are there many jointed kimblewicks?

Could you please advise too on the best way to use this bit. Is it like the pelham - is it a double rein bit? which book should I look at for more information? As his contact has been such a problem, I do not wish to exacerbate it by wrongly using a new bit.

Also, with the plastic curb - is this the 'pressure relieving gel pads' or something different. Are they in widespread supply?

Many thanks for your help!

Kate

[horselover]

Are you referring to a kumberwicke when you say kimblewick? I am in the US, and I haven't heard of a kimblewick bit, but Rascal has a jointed kimberwicke bit I just started using. Dover Saddlery has a jointed kimberwicke, but I checked state line and they don't have jointed ones, either.

Here's the link for the bit on the Dover website:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/results.asp

[katyptaty]

HI Horselover

Had a look at the Dover site - thanks! yes a kimberwick seems to be the same. how are you finding it?

Most USA companies wont send to the UK so I shall try to find one here, probably on order.

Thanks for the info - Kate

[horselover]

Your welcome! I think the kimberwicke is working, but my instructor thinks that it is too much and I shouldn't have to use it. She wants to go back to th twisted snaffle with rascal. But I am having some major problmes with the stable at the moment, so... but that is another stiry.

I think it works well, and I hope you can find one!

[Yvonne M]

Hi Kate

The only place I could get my jointed kimblewick was from
http://www.ifield-park.co.uk.
you can email them at sales@ifield-park.co.uk They were very helpful. They will send one out to you.

Yvonne

[katyptaty]

Hi Yvonne

Thanks for the info, i shall have a look. can you tell me if the jointed kimblewick is quite harsh as i am still debating whether this to use it as i certainly don't want to 'fight' with him or unduly hurt his mouth!

i am going to get hold of a bit book for more info before i buy - but can you give me a little info maybe about the effect it has on your horse, whether your horse was quite strong beforehand etc.

Would greatly appreciate it!

Many thanks

Kate

[Yvonne M]

The kimblewick is like alot of bits, harsh in the wrong hands. It is probably, in my experience, better to use one than using a snaffle that you have to pull hard on to stop a pony. I would never had been able to control one of my previous ponies without one. Some people use a snaffle for schooling & the kimblewick for fast work or jumping.

Yvonne