My trainer is saying that I should start putting my horse in a pelham, because she is getting way to strong for me when I jump. When I’m not jumping, can i take the bottom rein off and just school in a snaffle? Will it make her mouth sore if i use the 2 sets of reins on the first day? What are they primarily used for, and can they be ridden with just one rein? I just don’t want to hurt her or her mouth.
I am no bit expert, so take this for what it’s worth.
I think it depends on what kind of mouthpiece the Pelham has. My horse goes in a rubber Pelham and I keep the curb chain really loose. It’s a pretty soft option if your horse doesn’t need a strong Pelham.
The bottom rein provides leverage, compressing the bridle across the top of the horses head and pinching the curb chain behind the chin. You can control this by how tight you have the curb rein.
You’re asking some pretty basic questions about the bit, so maybe just try it with your trainer at first and use your current bit when hacking.
And no, the Pelham in and of itself will not likely hurt your horses mouth. But if you are not soft with your hands and the mouthpiece is harsh, then it will probably hurt.
I think the key to any leverage bit (Pelham, kimberwicke, 3 ring, etc.) is soft hands and a correctly fitted curb chain. Just remember that a snaffle can be harsh in the wrong hands. The leverage bits just take a little practice so that you can learn to isolate the snaffle rein from the curb rein. They can be a great option for a horse that gets a little strong and just needs a reminder every now and then.
A Mullen mouth Pelham is my go to bit for horses who need a reminder sometimes to not pull on me or get strong. I ride predominantly off the snaffle rein, but have that curb rein to reinforce other slow down cues.
I don’t feel that a loose curb chain is kinder. If the curb chain is too loose it allows the bit to over rotate and do weird things in the horses mouth.
I’m not a big fan of Pelhams with broken mouthpieces because I feel like they have too much movement that muddies communication.
This is straying a bit – sorry OP – can anyone tell me what the small holes on the shanks of pelhams (and some curbs) are for? Or what vestigial function they once served?
[QUOTE=RL;7155299]
This is straying a bit – sorry OP – can anyone tell me what the small holes on the shanks of pelhams (and some curbs) are for? Or what vestigial function they once served?[/QUOTE]
Those are for lipstraps which keep the curb chain in place and quiet. I use them on all of my pelhams.
I love pelhams. I think they give you a lot of options as a rider as to how much rein aid you can give, so you can ride with subtle aids and greater finesse.
I think the thing you need to remember when you start riding in one is that you have those options available to you. So really try to think about what rein you are using when, be very conscious of it. I wouldn’t be afraid to use the curb rein, but when you do, you should know that you are and have a reason for it. If you continually ride off the curb you may just end up with a horse that is curling, gaping, or stronger. So make sure when you are activating it, it is because your original soft cue on the snaffle was ignored. And then go back to riding off the snaffle rein when she responds.
Also, make sure your reins don’t slip as you go about your ride. A lot of times the snaffle rein will get longer and you will inadvertently start riding with more contact on the curb. Or a rein in one hand will lengthen but not the other, so you are putting unequal contact on either side of the mouth. Don’t try to be “soft” in this new bit by keeping your fingers open. You will end up being softer if you keep them closed and keep the 2 reins the proper length relative to each other.
I would also try schooling in the pelham and see if you can eventually go back to a snaffle. And make sure you are using exercises to train her not to get strong, in addition to using a stronger bit. So halting and reinback after a fence, adding strides in a line, cantering in and trotting out of a line, etc. Don’t forget the training aspect.
You could take the curb rein off for flatting, but it would be much simpler and have the same effect if you just left it loose. 
No, it won’t make her mouth sore.
You can use a pelham with just one rein with bit converters but that’s not ideal and not the way the bit was designed to be ridden in. Two reins is better. If you want just the snaffle rein, either leave the curb rein loose or just flat in a different snaffle bit.
I personally love riding in a pelham. It’s still possible to be every bit as soft as a snaffle but offers more ability for refining the aids and giving a little more lift for a horse that likes to get heavy or a little more bite for a horse that likes to ignore the hand–you can use it for that only when you need it instead of all the time, but it’s still there if you do need it.
Pelhams do have the potential to be harsh bits in uneducated hands but if you have fairly good hands, you don’t need to worry too much. IME it’s easier than most people think to learn how to work the two reins.
[QUOTE=Due’s Mom;7155305]
Those are for lipstraps which keep the curb chain in place and quiet. I use them on all of my pelhams.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your response, but I meant the tiny holes that are lower, between the mouthpiece and the curb rein.
[QUOTE=RL;7155453]
Thanks for your response, but I meant the tiny holes that are lower, between the mouthpiece and the curb rein.[/QUOTE]
Due’s Mom was correct. Those are for a lip strap, and you will find them on most pelhams and English curb bits. Here is a curb bit from a full bridle with a lip strap in place http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/SaddleSeatCurbAll.jpg/220px-SaddleSeatCurbAll.jpg
They keep the curb chain from bouncing or jingling if you ride with a loose curb chain.
[QUOTE=RL;7155453]
Thanks for your response, but I meant the tiny holes that are lower, between the mouthpiece and the curb rein.[/QUOTE]
But that is what they are for…
[QUOTE=RL;7155453]
Thanks for your response, but I meant the tiny holes that are lower, between the mouthpiece and the curb rein.[/QUOTE]
Those tiny holes ARE for the lipstrap, as Due’s Mom said. All pelhams should have one on them, either of leather or a thin chain.
I’ve had to use a Pelham on the flat a couple of times and I can give my mare a looser rein since the bit has a bit more bite. If you leave the curb rein a little looser so that you primarily using the snaffle, and are able to pick up the curb for when she gets strong. You can just drop the curb rein and loosen the curb chain and you practically are just using snaffle. I’ve never jumped in a Pelham, but my trainer says with my kimberwicke and really any leverage type bit, you can play with their mouth a few strides out, and release good so you don’t tug on their mouth with a more snippy bit over the jump, but that could make your problem even worse by making your horse scared you will pull on their mouth to and over the jump, which can result in throwing head up, which can result in jumping funny, which can result in hurting their back, and also it probably is uncomfortable for the horse if its trying to jump while you are pulling on is mouth.
(Started rambling but hope its handy) :3
[QUOTE=Renae;7155462]
Due’s Mom was correct. Those are for a lip strap, and you will find them on most pelhams and English curb bits. Here is a curb bit from a full bridle with a lip strap in place http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/SaddleSeatCurbAll.jpg/220px-SaddleSeatCurbAll.jpg
They keep the curb chain from bouncing or jingling if you ride with a loose curb chain.[/QUOTE]
AHH, ok, I have always used “lip strap” and “curb strap” interchangeably – now I know! And now I also know why some curb chains have an additional ring in the center. Thanks!
Do you have any photos of a curb chain and lip strap combo in use?
^^ I am no stranger to the dressage and eventing scenes and I have never noticed a lip strap in use. Are they more commonly found among saddleseat (or western?) rings? H/J?
Lip straps are not used on western bits at all.
They are not in style in saddle seat, you will seldom see them.
If you look closely at old pictures from the 50s or 60s you will usually notice them.
I greatly prefer to use a lip strap because it keeps the curb chain from potentially riding up. It also plays a small role in keeping a horse from grabbing the shank of the bit in their mouth. However, they are not commonly used anymore, although I have a hard time believing it is fashion because it is pretty hard to see unless you are right next to the horse’s face. People stopped using them consistently about 20 years ago around here. Many people don’t even know what they are anymore.
OP, when you first use the pelham in a lesson, your trainer should be able to go over different methods of holding the reins and how to adjust them with your hands. You can ride with both reins at differing levels of tension at any given moment once you become proficient. Just be aware you have a lot more leverage then you used to, so really concentrate on a soft following release over jumps so you don’t end up cranking the horse’s mouth. Go over pictures and video if at all possible to help yourself see what the trainer is telling you to do.
FWIW, I am not fond of broken pelhams or snaffle mouthed pelhams. I do not like how they act when I engage the curb rein. I greatly prefer a solid-mouthed pelham, even one with a port to offer tongue relief (ports that are wide enough will slide over and around the tongue and will not hit the horse’s palate as long as they are not taller than an inch or so). I do however like myler-style pelhams because the mouthpiece is more solid and doesn’t fold together. But horses like strange things, so use whatever works best for that particular animal.
Another function of the lip strap is to retain a curb chain should it come off the hooks/hook. Useful if out hunting, which is where most English saddlery comes from.
I have lip straps on all of my pelhams. I actually had a horse jump so hard that he jumped off the left side of the curb chain! Without the lip strap that could have gotten a bit ugly!
