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Post by bhpride on Jun 15, 2007 13:21:28 GMT 1
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Post by Zuzan on Jun 15, 2007 13:23:12 GMT 1
Dbl reins are more of a "handful" but it is a question of getting used to it.. I can't really explain how to hold them.. could show you but don't have a picture Have a look here it might give you some idea .. the relevant bit is actually for a proper double bridle where there are 2 bits but the reins are should be used in a similar manner for a pelham sustainabledressage.com/tack/bridle.php#kandar
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Post by bhpride on Jun 15, 2007 13:26:36 GMT 1
That website looks very good, will read through it now, thanks
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Post by jen1 on Jun 15, 2007 13:45:15 GMT 1
ive never wanted to experience a pelham dont like all the clap trap in there mouths,HOWEVER, having trained my lad to seat aids and leaning i dont need to use the bit for steering or stopping, i bought one for showing, and tryed it i was amazed at the lightness and finess it added, he went very very up hill, i fitted the curb quite loose he seemed to like it, that said he is almost as good in his natural halter, if this pony is unschooled, maybe a dually might start to give the basics, if he is schooled to be responsive everywhere a pelham may not be needed as an everyday bit,
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Lisanw
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Post by Lisanw on Jun 15, 2007 13:46:41 GMT 1
Hi OP. I think you'd find some really useful info on the Pelham and its use with double reins on Heather Moffett's site (enlightened equitation) - might also be worth a look for you because of your interest in the classical approach. HTH
Lisa.
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Post by bhpride on Jun 15, 2007 13:55:10 GMT 1
Thank you, will do
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Post by Lisanw on Jun 15, 2007 13:55:26 GMT 1
Totally agree with Jen1 - the steering and stopping should come from weight aids/seat, but you still need to be able to ask for relaxation of the jaw and e.g. bend to the inside. I think a non-jointed Pelham with two reins is excellent for this as you can be so light on the reins, literally just vibrating them to ask for softening and you can use the curb lightly as required, but with two reins can differentiate between curb and the snaffle actions. Much prefer lightness with a quick response to nagging with a bit that the horse isn't giving a quick response in. An elastic curb is milder than a curb chain but still gives a precise response. And double reins aren't as scary as they seem - quite easy to pick up (excuse the pun) even if you havent before.
Lisa.
Lisa.
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Post by heather on Jun 16, 2007 11:06:14 GMT 1
Hi All, In my experience the pelham is an incredibly useful and much maligned bit The snaffle is not nearly as mild as most people imagine. If a horse is trained correctly in a snaffle from day one, there should not be a problem, but if the horse has been badly ridden in a snaffle, very often the nerve endings in the mouth are deadened. Any bit is only as mild or severe as the hands on the end of it. The pelham used correctly achieves relaxation of the lower jaw with very light rein aids, and allows the horse to learn to carry himself. This is the big difference between French and German schools of dressage/equitation. The French school in which I have mostly been taught, requires relaxation of the lower jaw first. If you have tension in your own jaw, it will set off a whole chain reaction of tension in the neck, chest wall, and even back and abdomen, and this is the opposite of what we want in the horse! I find that a horse will resist far more in the snaffle, and set his jaw against it. The curb- we often use only an elastic curb chain- acts on a reflex point in the curb groove which produces an involuntary relaxation of the jaw, and the horse lowers his head of his own accord. Once the jaw is relaxed the rest of the horse is free to work 'through' his body without resistance. I used to be slagged off on various internet forae, especially dressage ones, for my use of the pelham. When Albion boss, Paul Belton, himself a very good classically trained ( by Ernst Bachinger of the SRS) rider, together with Klaus Balkenhol, developed a slightly different pelham for use as an intermediate bit between snaffle and going on to a double, it all went mysteriously quiet! ;D Personally these days, I favour the Portuguese working equitation pelham. It doesnt have a ring for the snaffle, more like a small D built into the cheek, and it gives a more direct snaffle action, but with the benefit of the curb too. Pelhams should NVER be used with roundings- it completely negates the separate action and ends up as pure brakes, nothing more. I have posted these pics before, but this is a nine year old Lusitano/TB mare that had no schooling, on the day she arrived. She resisted a snaffle and simply went like a giraffe, with head in air and brachiocephalic muscle braced on the underside. This is her in the pelham, one day later And just nine months later And Richard Maxwell here training with me a few weeks ago, with his rescue horse Jo. The difference in Jo's carriage when in a snaffle and changing to a pelham, Max could hardly believe. See how light the contact is, and Jo in beautiful self carriage. Jo's trot which Max had difficulty sitting to, ( not surprising, Jo is over 17hands and when not really working through his joints, would be like sitting on a pogo stick!) suddenly became so much softer and springier almost instantly, and the grin went right round the back of Max's head! ;D. Watch out for this pair- they could go a very long way in dressage, if we can persuade Max not to go eventing for the rest of his days! Heather
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Post by julz on Jun 16, 2007 11:10:50 GMT 1
I occassionally ride Seamus in a pelham, and he likes it!! he goes softer and lighter very quicly and a good 20 min schooling session is far better than 40 min bad schooling sesh, where all you're doing is asking for horse to work, and all he's doing is inoring/leaning against you..IMO.
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Post by bhpride on Jun 16, 2007 11:15:57 GMT 1
hmm will I rode her yesterday for the first time and it was quite dangerous, she was very nervous and bolted when i went to do my stirrups (gave me the shock of my life) so I'm going to start on the ground and build a bond, get her used to handling her everyday sticking to a routine and basically re-start her.
Once she got walking, she was more settled she responded to the seat brilliantly and was listening to me once I closed my legs around her and was forward going, we managed some trot to walk nicely, she's certainly got potential but a lot of work on the ground will be required to help her confidence first. She was also napping.
My Section D was much stronger than her but I kept her in a snaffle - once she was schooled and the power harnessed, strongness was not an issure. Under absolutely no circumstances am I going to use any bit that's stronger.
She was strong at times but this I feel is due to fact she's had no schooling and this will sort it self out the more she's schooled. but I'm so unsure of what type of pelham she has and I don't want to ride in double reins as I've never done so, I'd rather stick to a snaffle..once the schoolings come together I think she'd be absoutely fine - she needs leadership, schooling will help the nervousness but there's a long way to go.
Bear with me, I had a good look at the pelham last night so I'm going to find a picture to post so I know exactly what type it is
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Post by bhpride on Jun 16, 2007 11:20:15 GMT 1
Ok this is it - or very, very similar - but her bit has no chain used, what can you tell me about this bit? thank you
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Post by bhpride on Jun 16, 2007 11:28:18 GMT 1
Heather - I'm glad you mentioned that as will, she was leaning a lot and fixing her jaw at times
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Post by julz on Jun 16, 2007 11:30:57 GMT 1
looks like a mullen mouth or straight bar pelham with curb chain..... the one i use is a mullen mouth, and also have the mullen mouth snaffle, for everyday wear for Seamus
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Post by bhpride on Jun 16, 2007 11:40:58 GMT 1
Thanks Julz - can this particular type it be used without double reins? And do you think it would be better than a snaffle bit? Thank you
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Post by heather on Jun 16, 2007 11:42:31 GMT 1
Yep it is a mullen mouth- but using it without the chain merely turns it into a snaffle, bhpride, and you lose the effect of the relaxation of the jaw! If you are unsure about using a chain, the elastic curb we find the best. Putting a rubber or gel cover on the curb chain deadens the action and I find a leather one also tends to slow down the reflex response. The elastic one is very mild but just seems to work best. I also use a Portuguese curb chain which has larger links in the middle coming down to smaller ones either side, and is also very mild in action, but with slightly more definition than the elastic.
Heather
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