Can we talk Pelhams for m&m showing?

[Chromelotus]

I was hoping you kind folks would be so kind as to give me a little low down on Pelhams for showing. A few questions:

Question 1: Copper bits, I love the way they look and my pony loves them. Could copper coloured bits and stirrups be penalized for any reason in m&m classes? I find they look smart but thought I would ask.

Question 2:My mare goes very nicely in a french link snaffle but can be strong. I'm not sure whether I should go for a pelham with a french link mouth piece or a straight bar. On one particular website I read:

"And speaking of problems... There are problems with capital P regarding riding dressage with a pelham. The first one being that if you have a straight mouth bar, you cannot position the horse in the poll or loosen the jaw one-sidedly. But that could be solved by using a jointed mouthbar on your pelham. Now another problem arises. The jointed mouthbar does not work very well with the chin chain (that you need for the curb) because the chin chain will be tightened by the traction on the curb reins and it will wrap the jointed mouthbar around the lower jaw. So there will be a lot of mobility, to the point of slack, with a jointed mouth piece. So, you thighten the chain more. But you still have a mouth piece that is wrapped around the lower jaw of the horse. For this setup to work, the horse must be extremely light, as in well-schooled. A cob that would be fighting with the regular snaffle, rarely is."

So which is the lesser of the two evils when it comes to jointed/mullen mouth pelhams? Of course a great deal of it will have to do with what suits my mare most but I want to understand the bits fully. What are the pros and cons of port/joined/mullen mouth pieces? Long shanks, short shanks, show pelhams? I want to get my mind right round all these bits and what they do, any advise or a low down would be hugely appreciated! :)

[mad mare1]

I used to ride my arab in a ported mullen mouth pelham, with two reins, and a curb chain, and a standing martingale. It wasn't the best for her, and now I ride in a continental (dutch 3 ring) gag, which has a jointed mouthpiece, andshe is much softer in it. Personally, I do not think pelhams work as well as a traditional double bridle, which gives the rider more finesse when dealing with a strong horse. You can try a french link joint on the mouthpiece, but a mullen mouth pelham would be more direct. A long shaked pelham bit gives more leverage, and you tend to see them on stronger horses, whereas shorter shanks are usually on easier horses. Show or rugby pelhams are made to look like doubles, but cut down on the amount of metal in your horses mouth. it will come down to personal preferance, andwhat your mare will accept. My bits on my double bridle are madeof nickel, and they are a dull goldy colour...usually, when Crystal hasn't slobbered all over them. I haven't seen any judge who will mark you down for having a copper bit, or stirrups, I think they look smart.

Hope this helps, hun, and good luck in choosing!

[Chromelotus]

Thank you so much! So does a straight bar generally give you move stopping power than a jointed on a pelham?

[mad mare1]

I would say so, but I am no expert on bitting. I would say a mullen mouth pelham, with a small port to prevent her getting her tongue over the bit, and medium length shanks, would suit you best. Remember though, please use two reins on it, not those awful roundings!

[Chromelotus]

Yes, I'm not keen on roundings!

What is the actually difference in action of a straight bar on a pelham?

[mad mare1]

it acts more directly on the mouth and poll of the horse,with less rein pressure needed to control a strong horse. With a jointed mouthpiece, it will take more rein pressure to get the same result. I have just checked my double bridle,andmy curb bit is a mullen mouth with a low port, and the bradoon is jointed. Crystal accepts this happily, and she goes well in it. It just depends onwhat you feel comfortable with and what your horse is happy to accept.

[Kanuma]

for showing pelhams are perfectly acceptable and are seen at the highest levels.
Stan my connemara wont settle in any snaffle except a for a french link. he settles much better in his slightly ported show pelham.
If your M&M has a fleshy tounge and likes trying to stick it over the bit then a show pelham is what you want.
stan in his
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/kanuma/llanwrst/5.jpg
double reins always in showing.
the jointed pelhams will twist if you are not perfectly even with your hands and can cause problems with uneven curb chains etc
this is stans pelham
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?language=en-GB&ProductID=3140114&CategoryID=PelhamKimbleWeymouth
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?language=en-GB&ProductID=3140114&CategoryID=PelhamKimbleWeymouth

[Chromelotus]

Kanuma, what do you think of loose ring pelham vs. fixed?

[Kanuma]

well stans is loose harveys is fixed and prides is a rugby and the only one i noticed any difference with was prides rugby. I quite like stans loose ring one as he just seems to go nicer in it.

[Chromelotus]

Thank you!