Are pelhams still accepted in the hunter world? + bit ideas for a sensitive horse

[LilahEquestrian]

i use a happy mouth pelham on my 3’3’’ junior hunter, as it works the best for both of us as i have tiny arms and the extra leverage that the pelham provides can get the point across when i pull on the reins. however, my horse has a pretty sensitive mouth and enjoyed being switched from a slow-twist to a happy mouth bit.

lately i have seen almost no hunters with pelhams, only big eq horses. are pelhams still “accepted”? or do most judges penalize more than they would for a horse in a plain d-ring? im trying to figure it out as id like to see how my horse would react to trying a happy mouth snaffle or even a mullen mouth, as we have tried a plain single jointed snaffle before and it was still too harsh for her.

if anyone has any ideas of bits i could just test out that would be super helpful! id like to try going for very little leverage as i have also ridden my horse in a halter and bareback many times before (backyard horse shenanigans) and she actually responds really well when theres less pressure. she sometimes gets heavy on her forehand, and avoids the bit frequently which is why i think she doesnt like the single-joint in bits.

[MHM]

A pelham is fine in the hunter ring. It’s much better to have a good round in a pelham than a bad round in a snaffle.

[BrownMareDon_tCare]

Funny as I was just thinking the other day that I was seeing more pelhams again in the hunters; I feel like they can be a bit of a fad, in and out of style…

[BeeHoney]

I agree that a Pelham is fine in the hunter ring. It is an extremely traditional bit and a nice look. However, because there are a plethora of bits out there that look like D-ring snaffles but actually have much harsher mouthpieces, I think many people opt to go in that direction just in case a judge might be biased.

Despite me agreeing that Pelhams are fine in the hunter ring, I’m also sure that there is the occasional opinionated judge out there who sees a Pelham and is just waiting for the horse to appear fresh or strong.

[dags]

@BrownMareDon_tCare

I feel like they can be a bit of a fad, in and out of style…

Totally. Out in the 90s, back in in the 2000s, not sure what the consensus is now. I remember when I gasped at the thought of a pelham on a hunter in the early aughts and was promptly schooled on how it’s probably the most traditional hunter bit

But @MHM is correct, it’s whatever your horse shows best in (as long as it’s legal).

[vxf111]

They’re fine. You don’t see them too often, but it’s been a long time since I remember seeing them a lot

[Madison]

I agree they are fine and you do see them occasionally but would add the caveat that how fine it is will also depend on whether the pelham allows you to have a soft smooth round, or whether your horse looks like it needs the pelham and is on the muscle.

[fivestrideline]

@Madison

I agree they are fine and you do see them occasionally but would add the caveat that how fine it is will also depend on whether the pelham allows you to have a soft smooth round, or whether your horse looks like it needs the pelham and is on the muscle.

Absolutely. A lower score to a horse in a Pelham probably wasn’t the Pelham, but rather the horse barreling around and the rider appearing to have to work hard. A nice, rhythmic, flowing round from a horse that just happens to have a Pelham in is unlikely to be a problem.

I much prefer two reins though, I think the converter looks… jumpery? A two rein Pelham is pretty dang traditional, and you can always commit to the bit and go full retro

[CBoylen]

I was fairly certain that You cannot have a converter in the hunter ring, but I can’t actually find it in the rules. In any case though, don’t.

[LazyA1]

I love a baby rubber pelham, especially the Trust ones. My horses love the soft straight mouthpiece.

Two of my riding horses go in them for low level hunters. I’m not a show girl much anymore, just local shows so ribbons is not on my priority list but I’d keep the bit even for a big expensive show.

I’ve used pelhams on varioius horses. Usually ones that want to get low and/or heavy in front. With a pelham I’ve found that they stay very light and balanced without any effort at all on my parts. It’s as if the urge for them to do otherwise just goes away. No fightig, no pulling, no harsh mouthpiece. The curb chain very loose and I ride with the curb rein loose, so it’s always been mysterious to me why the pelham seems to almost have a mental effect on them.

[Alterrain]

Queen Celeste goes in a pelham. The judges seem to accept her just fine

[Alterration]

I feel like a Pelham is typically a nice step up before a sharper mouthpiece. I have some horses who just seem to prefer the signal that the shank gives them and dislike a stronger mouthpiece. They were acceptable when I last did hunters and as everyone mentions, if your horse goes well on it and canters around softly no one will care.

[LilahEquestrian]

luckily ive been riding with the two reins since i started using the pelham a year ago, and i never plan on using the converter. i agree with the fact that it looks jumpery.