using curb & snaffle reins

[cynthia]

hey, guys.

Raven, the TB gelding that i'm about to be half-leasing, uses a modified pelham bit with (obviously) double reins. when i rode him last weekend, i had a bit of trouble getting them both straight and probably fiddled around more than Raven might have liked! my instructor and Raven's mom helped me out, and things were reasonably okay, but i'm looking for some further assistance on actually using the curb and snaffle reins *independantly* (what a concept, eh?).

now, i'm a little confused as to the difference between a double bridle and the modified Pelham, outside of the fact that they both have double reins. are they in fact the same thing, or does a double bridle actually have two bits? i've been trying to study the article on double bridles written by Karl Mikolka, but he occasionally just baffles me, so i thought i might ask if anyone here can give me a clearer picture of how things work, and perhaps some tips on how to hold each of the reins so as to make it easier to use them independantly from one another.

i'm told by Raven's owner that (in his case specifically, i gather) i need to make sure i'm not leaning at all on the snaffle rein (i think, anyway... one of them was plain, and the other braided, and she kept telling me to keep the plain one more loose... was that the snaffle?), and that when in doubt, use it as sort of an "emergency brake". i gather that she was trying to oversimplify for my benefit (it was only the first time i rode him, and the first with double reins), so can anyone elaborate on this?

just for reference, the article by Karl Mikolka can be found at:

http://www.equiresource.com/karlskorner/KK_art_dblbri2.htm

i look forward to someone being able to demystify this whole thing for me! thanks! :)

-cyn

[This message has been edited by cynthia (edited 11 November 1999).]

[Sarah]

hello!

I am only a new pelham user so this may not be very clear, but I'll give it a go!

The snaffle rein is the one attached at the end of the bit that does into the mouth and the curb rein is attached to the bottom of the lever at the side. The snaffle rein works on the snaffle - the bit in the mouth and the curb acts by levering the bit round so pushing the curb chain into the horse's chin. this works on an accupuncture point which causes the horse to soften its head and neck carriage.

A double bridle and a pelham are very similar in the rein action, the difference being that a pelham has only one bit in the mouth and the double bridle has too - the bradoon (a normal snaffle) and the curb. you ride with both the same way.

If your horse is leaning on the snaffle, try using the curb rein to get him to soften, this is explained REALLY clearly in Heathers book.

I hope that helped. I would ask Heather for advice.

bye!

[cynthia]

thanks much, Sarah. :)

i pretty much know what each rein is and where it goes (although now i know for sure that a double bridle actually does have two seperate bits, whereas the pelham has only the snaffle-type bit), but i was sorta looking for some pointers on how to work with the reins independantly of one another. i seem to be able to hold them correctly (or so they tell me!), but i would keep having to look down at my hands and wonder "is this really right?". not only that, but i just couldn't get the hang of using one without the other, which i imagine is not particularly effectual, eh?

granted, i've only ridden with double reins for a grand total of about 30 minutes, so i probably shouldn't be so impatient. but... i'm anxious, and so excited about the half-lease thing.

heather? anyone? help! :)

thanks again, sarah!

-cyn