Bridle Confusion - Help!!

[welshcobz]

Now I've got myself a little confused......I want to show my mare in a pelham....I have been on ebay to look for a suitable bridle (the one I have now, although posh is raised and has a flash loop on it so no go)....do I go for a double or a cavesson and buy an extra set of reins? Also, she's a section D, 14. 2 ish with a proper pony head - any idea of widths of nose band etc I should be going for? Thanks as always!

[Daffy Dilly]

1 and 1/8" noseband, 5/8" everything else. :) Edited to say my D has a 1 1/4" noseband, but he suited the slightly thinner one fine.

It depends on the type of pelham you want to use - some need a slip head others don't. It also depends on the reins you want - most doubles come with two pairs of plain, it's better to have laced on top.

I use a show pelham with a double bridle, last season I used a normal pelham with a cavasson and extra reins. :)

[welshcobz]

Daffy - once again thanks for your help! Much appreciated.....I've got a happy mouth pelham......don't know if this makes a difference? Cheers.

[Daffy Dilly]

You just want a cavasson bridle then, I assume it's not a rugby pelham. :)

[tigs]

sounds like you sould go for the cavasson and an extra pair of reins.
did you know it is really easy to remove the flash loop yourself

[Daffy Dilly]

did you know it is really easy to remove the flash loop yourself

It is easy but it's also better to show the vast majority of M&M's in hunter tack. Some of them suit raised better, but welsh cobs are definately better in flat nosebands. :)

[welshcobz]

Which pelham would be correct with this combination? Thanks.

[Daffy Dilly]

Ok, rugby pelham needs a sliphead, so has to be with a double bridle.

Standard pelham (fixed rings) doesn't need the sliphead, so it's effectively a cavasson bridle with an extra pair of reins.

Show pelham can be used with or without a sliphead. I prefer with, others prefer without, it's personal choice. I think that if you want a bit to look like a weymouth set then you have to use the right bridle! ;)

[welshcobz]

So there are 3 types of pelham - the rugby is out but the show pelham or standard would be ok with a normal hunter bridle and 2 sets of reins? Am I right in saying that a Weymouth would only be used with a double? Have been picking bits of info up for a few weeks now and think I've tied myself in knots. I've got a book on bits but it's not the best - just a lot of pictures of bits!! Thanks.

[Daffy Dilly]

Ok, i'll try and break it down completely. :)

Bridles

A double bridle consists of; noseband, browband, headpiece, cheek pieces, slip head and two pairs of reins.

The difference between that and a cavasson bridle with two pairs of reins is the sliphead, which is a second set of cheek pieces that accomodate the snaffle when using a weymouth set.

The first picture shows my double bridle with a show pelham.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/Bitsandbridles003.jpg

Notice the sliphead attached to the ring on the pelham. That is the only difference between that bridle and the one below. This bit can be used with or without the sliphead, it's personal preferance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/Bitsandbridles006.jpg

The above bridle is just a cavasson bridle with an extra set of reins, with a normal jointed pelham on it. You shouldn't use a sliphead with this bit, so there is only the reins attached to the snaffle ring. Please ignore the state of this bridle, it was used for schooling recently and needs a good clean! :o

Bits

http://www.equestrianclearance.com/images/products/linked%20pelhams%201.jpg

A rugby pelham is basically a curb bit (with whatever mouthpiece) that has a link on either side to a loose ring as in the picture above. I don't have one of these so can't put it on a bridle to show you, but you need the sliphead to support the loose ring.

The difference between the two pelhams on my bridle above is reasonably simple. The show pelham (right) is smaller and neater than the pelham. I had the holes for the lip strap (halfway down the bit shanks) taken off as I don't use one and dislike the empty rings.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/showpelhamvspelham005.jpg

Also, the way the "snaffle ring" is joined to the curb bit is different. On the normal pelham the ring is built into the shank, on the show pelham the ring is loose and runs through a small hole, which makes it appear more like two seperate bits. Below the show pelham is on the right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/showpelhamvspelham003.jpg

If you have a rubber pelham you will want the set up like the second bridle as it's not a rugby pelham, however you could get the complete double bridle and take the sliphead off, so that if you decide to use a different bit with the sliphead it's guaranteed to match.

I hope that clears it up for you. :)

[welshcobz]

Wow Daffy, firstly thank you so much for taking all that time and trouble to do that wonderful explanation and posting all those photos. You've explained it beautifully, and at last it's all clicked into place. Cheers. :)