I own a lovely 15.3 hh thoroughbred mare who I am in the process of training for eventing competitions. I started riding her in a french-link eggbutt snaffle but have now transitioned her into a mullen mouth pelham because she is a very forward and strong horse.
She has been great with the pelham, going on the bit and waiting before jumps instead of running at them. I've been using the pelham (sometimes with the curb rein tied up) for flatwork and she's been doing beautifully.
My trainer has now told me (and I have double checked) that the pelham is illegal for dressage events. I am now looking for a new bit to use in dressage. My trainer had me work her in a buche (b-ring?) bit, but my mare was very tense and heavy in the bridle. I now work her in a mullen mouth loose ring, which she appeared to like and respond too, but she has now taken to throwing her head up and fight my rein contact. She is basically another horse wearing this bit and I'm becoming frustraited with her
Thanks!
Answers:
Aurora
Its just too easy to sit on a mullen mouth! The neck gets strong, the jumps fall. Too easy to get heavy. Its not a great idea to tie the curb rein, then your merely using the pelham as a curb bit with one rein. That gives you strong control but not shape or a softer mouth. List of bits link:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/category.as...
If she is strong on the french link,and passed the first levels, it might be time for a Bradoon and Weymouth combo for dressage ( only). I'd lighten her up off the Mullen with a>> low port dee or a correctional low port dee. %26lt;%26lt; You might really like that one for Cross Country phase.
The bradoon IS the legal option with a weymouth. Its upper level stuff if your ready for it.( can be scored harshley if not). Since you will switch back to a french link for the show jumping last,the weymouth is a good bet.*
Pellhams do not utalize two reins independantly thus are illegal ( cruel and innacurate).
Your competing in three very different events, and correct for the event bits make a huge difference.
I reccomend taking her back to a basic bit like a snaffle, and working out her issues slowly. Get her light and responsive. be patient, it will payoff! If you get her goo and light, you can show her in whatever bit you want! (thats legal) Good luck!
The baucher bit was what I was going to suggest at first, but since you've already tried that I have to think about it more. Pelhams are illegal, as are kimberwickes, or anything with a port or shank unless you're riding in a double bridle.
Have you tried a KK bit? It's a very soft bit but maybe she's throwing her head up because your hands are not soft enough. Make sure you ride her back to front, using leg to activate her hind end and ride her into the bridle. Many riders try and force the head down with their hands to get a frame and the horses respond in the same manner as your mare.
Go back to the snaffle.. It's light on the mouth.
In some organizations, a pelham bit is allowed in upper levels, but only on ponies who lack sufficient space in their mouth for a double bridle.
Try using an adjustable snaffle.
Rubber Jointed Mouth Gag Snaffle.
Rubber Jointed Eggbutt.
Barrel D-Ring.
If the eggbutt works most, try using a variety other than the plain snaffle. (Center down through 2nd link)
You can use a double bridle. If your hands are soft and sensitive enough, double bridles are legal. I don't know how advanced you are in your dressage training but I use a double bridle to really manipulate the horse's engagement and movement. Talk to your trainer about this option and whether your horse is ready. I find it a very good option and it is often espoused by the purist classical riders who are far more talented than I.
In another note, those that are opposed to the pelham, and surely other bits, are often misguided. The pelham has a very apt time and place. Today modernists find the snaffle to be the end-all bit. While the snaffle is appropriate in most cases, I disagree entirely with their universality. These things were invented with good reason and as it stands, the era in which they were created we were far more horse-dependent than in the modern era where they are more luxury than necessity. Furthermore the Victorians believed the pelham to be proverbial "child's play" in contrast to the double so to say its cruel seems a bit harsh. They also found the snaffle to be only appropriate for green horses, green riders and in very few instances fox hunting, but never ever for a finished horse.
By the by, thanks to a previous post with the BC Tack shop Link, what a great selection!
This is going to sound silly, but have you had her teeth floated in a while? Sometimes the heaviness and head throwing come from a hook or something with their teeth. The head throwing is a red flag that you might want to get her teeth checked asap!
If her teeth are not the issue, you might want to try some exercises that make her back off of the bit and wait for you to ask her to surge forward. Circles and figure 8s with lead changes usually do the trick. Ground poles also help to get the horse backed off of the bit.
Also I was thinking that you might be hanging on the bit, try letting her go (loosing the reins) and control her movements with your seat and leg-easier said than done especially with an eventer. I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK
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