Pelham, broken vs straight, any difference in poll pressure?

[Lieslot]

Does anyone have an opinions on this.

You would think it makes no difference and that both straight bar & broken exert equal amount of poll pressure, but reading on some forums some seem to think a broken or double broken pelham far lessens any poll pressure.
Latter which would be good for my horse if true, who just needs the extra quick acting stopping power from a light curb in the odd spook/take-off situation, but really is best ridden off a snaffle and little poll pressure.

Thanks for any thoughts :).

[ti89]

This may be helpful:
https://nsbits.com/article/neue-schule-poll-pressure-guide
Doesn’t address your question exactly but they did test several pelhams with different setups

[Scribbler]

Isn’t a broken pelham basically equivalent to a Western Tom Thumb bit, and wouldn’t it be subject to all the same criticism of crackerjack action on the jaw?

My sense is that poll pressure in bridles is caused mostly by very tight nosebands, dropped nosebands, flashes, cranks, etc. No one worries about poll pressure from a curb in a Western bridle with no noseband.

[Janet]

Basic physics.

When you pull the rein on a bit with a shank, you shorten the distance between the poll and the bit mouthpiece. You are also tightening the curb chain against the lower jaw.

With a straight, unjointed, mouthpiece, this will increase the pressure on the lips and on the poll (equally on both sides even if you only pull one rein).

With a jointed mouthpiece, the primary effect is to increase the bend at the joint (increasing the nutcracker effect if it is single jointed). There is not a significant increase in poll pressure.

The curb chain effect is very similar with the straight and jointed mouthpiece.

Which one works better for your horse is matter of trial and error, in particular, how he responds when you are riding on just the snaffle rein, since that is what you will be doing most of the time.

[Lieslot]

That chart is quiet helpful ti89!

@ Scribbler, I don’t know I had to look up what a tom thumb was, and yes you are right no one in western land seems concerned about that.

@ Janet, thanks, makes sense what you say, in which case a broken pelham should fit this horse, giving the necessarily leverage only at times he’s taking a go-for-it, but the majority of times he does well and likes the softness of a simple snaffle. I was worried too much poll pressure in those moment we need extra control could lower his head too much risking bucking, but sounds like the poll pressure is not all that severe.

[Janet]

The “pinching the lower jaw with the curb chain” effect is significantly stronger than the “poll pressure” effect.

A pelham, using the curb rein, especially with straight mouthpiece, is more likely to make the horse RAISE its head than lower it. And it is for exactly that reason that one of my former horse wore a pelham for cross country. He had a tendency to get low and heavy in front when galloping, and then ignore my aids. With the pelham I could prevent him form getting low and heavy, and then I COULD rebalance him when needed. As a side effect, I found he actually went better on the snaffle rein with the straight mouthpiece, than he did with the double jointed snaffle i had previously used