Pelham vs "Hunter Gag" for Heavy-Headed Pony

[Ceylon_Star]

I have a drafty large pony (Morgan/haflinger) who needs a little help getting his head up when little lesson kids ride him, that won’t require switching when they take him to local (BC, unrated, maybe bronze) hunter shows. Normally I’d go with a Wilkie/beval to help this sort of thing, but would rather not have to switch out of it just for shows. He’d be much happier keeping things consistent between home and away. My thoughts are either a D ring with hooks (“hunter gag”, legal in Canada in the hunter ring) or a pelham, but I’ve always been told pelhams are for lowering the head, and he needs help lifting it, not lowering it, so I’m not sure. Plus I’m reading conflicting things about pelhams and their action with different mouthpieces, and it’s making my head spin

He is getting schooled by more competent riders a couple times a week, so hopefully the slowly-getting-heavier-in-front improves with time and fitness and he can go back to just a snaffle. He’s coming out of a nearly 7 year career as a therapy pony where he was really only required to walk/trot as slowly and smoothly as possible, mostly on a lead, and going back to a hunter/jumper program is definitely using different muscles than he’s been used to, haha! But until he’s a little more refreshed, I do need to keep these kids safe and also keep him happy in the process.

Can someone help me understand the difference in action/“severity” of a double jointed, Mullen, or barrel mouth/Myler style pelham? Single joint is not an option due to his mouth shape (big tongue, low pallette), but he prefers lozenge link mouthpieces for his snaffles so my gut is leaning towards that likely being the direction to go for consistency sake? He is also good in a Myler style mouthpiece where the sides swivel independently, but is less thrilled with a regular Mullen due to all the tongue pressure they cause. He had EOTRH surgery in 2022 to remove all his incisors, and his tongue sits slightly more forward now than before, making it take up even more vertical space under the bit “seat”.

I’ve always been taught that you don’t want a jointed mouthpiece on a curb bit, but I’ve read articles that claim that a jointed pelham has less poll action than a Mullen or Myler style mouthpiece, and less poll action should be better for lifting, right? More poll action would just encourage him to lean on the bit more, I’d think?

So then maybe the hunter gag would be better? It works a little bit more like the Wilkie in the sense of the bridle and rein having fixed points on the rein, and while the ring is fixed to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece swivels independently, which is kind of what the Wilkie cheeks do?

Switching up the mouthpiece on a snaffle to something harder to lean on isn’t really a thing with this guy. He takes great offense to things like slow twists and traditional “ball bearing” Waterfords. A Waterford made of multiple lozenges, like the Stubben and Trust waterfords might work, and I have a 5" Stubben in my trunk, but he’s a 5.5". Would it be worth a try despite being too small? I thought about trying something with rollers that might be harder to lean on, but only see them in the middle of the bit for the tongue, or on single jointed mouthpieces. Do unjointed or double jointed bits with rollers on the bars (instead of just on the center link) exist?

OR (yes, another one. I really am this indecisive, haha!) do I try to track down horse-sized grass reins/Daisy reins (pony size are too short) and use those at home until he has some more refreshing under his belt?

I’m probably overthinking things way too much, but I know he’s sensitive, so striking a balance between enough hardware to help the kids without being so much bit he just backs off and shuts down is tricky.

[Willesdon]

Could you ask the horse? Try a variety of bits and see what he tells you. Horses often like bits that we humans think are unsuitable.

[findeight]

Pelham is a curb with chain or strap under the chin and adds leverage…and another rein, one for the snaffle action, one to add the curb if and when needed. Snaffles do not have a curb chain/strap or rein.

The jointed, barrel and mullen mouthpieces can be found on either snaffle or curb bits. There are a number of other features but thats the short answer. Individual horses go best in whatever they find the most comfortable, measure mouth width to be sure any bit is not pinching because its too narrow or wallowing around the mouth because its too big,

Generally speaking, with lesson horses or ponies, KISS is the best answer. Give the students one rein. School the horse/pony with more bit or a add a curb rein only in the hands of a competent rider.

If he’s heavy, there may be other causes that need to be addressed before adding more metal to the mouth to hold him up. Back issue, saddle fit and hocks are the most common along with riding mistakes. Have you had his hocks looked into? They will dump on the forehand to keep weight off sore hocks. Sometimes we ride them more at a show, they get tired and try to stay off the back end.

Look into why he’s becoming heavy and see what you can come up with. Bits are notorious for not really fixing issues long term.

[Against_All_Odds2]

What about a verbindend?

[spurofthemoment]

Do you or anyone else have any insight on the action of a Verbindend in general or the action vs a Myler Level 1? I’ve been thinking of trying the Verbindend with my guy (OTTB), who leans and gets heavy at faster gaits + is either confused by the cues OR is resisting my cues to control his shoulders. He also tightens his lower jaw over fences. But based on looks alone, it just seems like a lozenge version of the Myler level 1.

Not trying to derail - hoping to gather some info that will also be helpful for OP’s situation.

[173north]

I like a pelham for a horse that needs a little lift in front - but only with two reins, and with a rider educated enough to use both reins separately, so not a good choice for lesson kids.

Have you thought about a Kimberwick? I’m not sure if it’s show legal for you but it’s a classic “pony” bit. Less strong than a Pelham, might give you more ‘whoa’ than the d ring with hooks depending on mouthpiece and how you set up the reins/hooks.

Also, FYI - skip trying the 5" Waterford if he wears a 5.5" normally. You typically want to size up in a Waterford for correct fit, so the 5" will be way too small for him to be comfortable / for you to get a read on if he likes the bit.

[Against_All_Odds2]

I’d say it’s a bit sharper then the myler level 1. It’s designed to get them up and holding on the bit.

[IPEsq]

The Myler level 1 is pretty even pressure across the tongue and bars. It’s just got the swivel versus a fixed mullen. The Verbidnend has stronger action on the tongue when engaged. It is also shaped a little bit away from the bars. I have ridden one downhill horse who just loved the Verbindend. Good lift while still feeling like a normal snaffle for him. I have ridden more horses that hated it and had very strong opinions. In contrast, those that didn’t like the Myler tended to just duck a little behind the contact. Definitely worth a trial run to see what the horse thinks. I don’t know that I’d use a Verbindend for the average lesson rider though.

[mroades]

Every single haffie I have know goes great in a kimberwicke…just sayin

[CBoylen]

Same. We’ve got three halfies in our lesson program. They need the curb chain but the kids don’t handle two reins well. Kimberwicke is the ticket.

[findeight]

Piling on here, Kimberwicke is usually the last bit on my list BUT….in certain situations it is a good choice. This is one of those situations, it makes sense. Good to have in your bit box and you can use it with out without the chain.

[red_mares]

@Ceylon_Star

OR (yes, another one. I really am this indecisive, haha!) do I try to track down horse-sized grass reins/Daisy reins (pony size are too short) and use those at home until he has some more refreshing under his belt?

This isn’t that hard. It’s just a side-check; It’s used in driving, saddleseat, and harness racing. You can get just a bridle crown with rings for a check rein and clothes line rope & a couple little snaps (optional, you can just tie it to the bit) ( works fine. The work check we use has a half dozen knots in the back end and a double ended snap to adjust it.

If you want a “real” one, check out Chimacum, Freedman’s, Schneider’s, Fennell’s or Shelby tack. HorseLoverz & Equestrian Collections have a bridle crown with just the rings on it.

https://chimacumtack.com/product/bridle-crown-straight-with-side-check-rings/