That is what the owner rode him in before I started leasing him. She has not ridden him since I started leasing him. I’m also not really sure if my trainer meant I can’t show him in the pelham or ride him at home in the pelham. I genuinely don’t think the owner cares what I ride him in, it is not specified in the lease and I haven’t used anything that she hasn’t used on him.
From what I’m understanding, the trainer only wants to use the Pelham when at the horse show. When I used to run barrels, we would always ride in a snaffle at home and then level up at the show. This was simply so the horse wouldn’t get accustomed to evading the leverage bit. We also wanted to be sure that the horse would be quick and snappy with the new bit we put on. What I have noticed is when you consistently ride in a bit, while at first, you can get the desired results because it does back the horse off, eventually the horse learns how to work around and still do what it wants to do anyway. Personally, I don’t like a two ring, especially if only one ring is being used, but that’s my personal opinion. But the idea is do the proper groundwork at home and sort through what you need to so then when the show bit is in place, you get the desired results. I can understand wanting to practice, but there’s a potential that they have already tried that with this horse and have found that the Pelham then gets ignored come showtime.
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Equating running barrels to a show hunter is the most fascinating thing I’ve read today.
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It’s still all about the reaction to the bit.
If you want a little more leverage at the show (where many horses, especially those who don’t show all the time are a little up), then you use more leverage at a show. I just don’t really see how a pelham is more leverage than a two-ring if yoa bitu’re not using two reins on the two-ring. Maybe it’s in the curb?
But if you’re not using two reins on the two-ring, wouldn’t you be better served by riding in curb bit that’s designed to be ridden with one rein?
Meh, there are barrel racers who come at their craft with as much purpose and thought as any jumper rider. Back when I rode hunters, we also had some that got a sharper bit on show day. It’s not how I choose to live today for myself, particularly after switching to eventing and getting many good years with a schoolmaster OTTB who jumped around cross country just fine in a plain loose ring snaffle. But for some horse and rider combinations it might still be the right practice.
I also don’t really love the two ring gag bits with no snaffle rein. But, when you’re not the owner, you ride in what the trainer or owner wants you to ride them in.
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Bitting up has always been my practice for show hunters and field hunters. We had a schooling bridle with the mildest bit possible; and a show bridle with something a little more severe. So a fat snaffle for schooling, and a thin snaffle, maybe with a show twist, for showing.
Same thing with hunting horses. They hack in the mildest bit possible, and have something with more stopping power for hunting. I have also bitted up more in my hunting tack as the season progresses and the horses get fitter.
While I agree in principle with the idea that a leverage bit should always have a snaffle and curb rein (I hate pelham converters for this reason); in fact, I currently hunt one of my horses in a rubber mouthed three ring with one rein on the ring just below the bit. The horse is polite and well mannered and doesn’t pull, but that tiny bit of leverage (equivalent to a Baucher) gives me the little bit of extra stopping power I need. If she gets stronger, I’ll probably add a true snaffle rein, drop the curb rein down to the bottom ring, and ride off the snaffle.
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I look at the OP’s post this way - This is a horse forum, where we discuss horse things. Asking if there is some rule they did not know about regarding a pelham, to better understand why their trainer might not want them to use one, is someone trying to learn. No need to turn them into someone trying to break the owner’s rules.
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I agree for the most part. However, the owner used a pelham. The trainer says no because trainer say judges don’t like them. The OP doesn’t care about the ribbon and would like to try it.
IMO, this kind of trainer ribbon-centric control is one reason why the USEF is failing riders and our hunter horses.
I was at a show once and my very great and made horse played after splashing through a puddle in the corner. Just some bouncing but put us out of the ribbons. I came out of the ring laughing. Trainer says not funny, why didn’t I reprimand horse, pointed to the stall front where ribbons hang and said shows are all about ribbons. Not good.
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I wasn’t responding to the OP, I was responding to a poster who said OP should change the bit anyway even if her trainer said no, which I don’t think is a good idea. I and several others had already answered the original question about judging.
