Changed to a Pelham

[loopylou]

I have changed my bit from a french link with cheek bars (forgotten proper name, LOL) to a pelham, my instructor decided we would school him in the pelham as well.
Suddenly he has got even worse cantering on his right rein and when he did on Monday, my instructor said he was a bit stiff through his off side hind quarter.
I am going to get the chiropractor out to see him, but do you think that part of the problem is that he is now having to use his hind quarters to move in the new bit rather that leaning on the bit which he use to do all the time. So suddenly he is feeling muscles he didn't realise he had, LOL.

As i said i will get him checked out, but since being in the pelham he is starting to work from behind rather than leaning on the bit most of the time.

[SuzieP]

He's probably finding that a different head position is making him use muscles he hasn't used before. The head is very heavy and even a small change in position can affect the balance. If he's been using you to help him hold his head up as well, this will be making a big different to him. You do right to get his back checked out though......

[loopylou]

Thanks Sue

[bevbob]

When I had Bobs in a pelham (Just for hacking) I found I just had to 'think' canter and trot and it worked!! it was quite an amazing difference. I havent used it for a while as hes gone back to hanging cheek french link.
Sorry just felt like I wanted to share that bit of info LOL! he could well be stiff from using extra muscles as Sue says.

[loopylou]

Thanks Bev,

I had a lesson today, and when he did strick of on the right leg, my instructr said he wasn't looking stiff this evening. I will still get his back checked, but i think a lot of it is using different muscles.

[julie]

Have a look at Heather Moffat and her book Enlightened Equitation as she advocates re schooling using a pelham and using the curb chain as a massage tool!

[SuzieP]

I think Heather would like to see the pelham become dressage legal wouldn't she?

[admin]

suziep said:

I think Heather would like to see the pelham become dressage legal wouldn't she?

That's a tough one.

I really like the pelhem as a bit, but I see it used sooooo badly at times. It makes it too easy to pull on the curb rein and get the horse to go into a false outline. I know - I do this at shows - keep a consistent tension on the curb and ta-da a nice head carriage from Tilly - except her butt is still in the next county and I can feel that she's not pushed her back up like she does when she is working correctly. At least I KNOW that I'm cheating. I really don't think a lot of people do.

I know a good judge should be able to tell if the horse is working through correctly, but I see so many who appear not to. Placing horses with appaulling self carriage, but the nose on the verticle (who have that real draw reins "look") over and above horses who are working nicely, but maybe just don't have that head carriage right yet.

If everyone was being taught by Heather Moffett then it'd be a good idea, but we're not and I think it would do MUCH more harm that good if these were made dressage legal.

Rant over

Olivia

[SuzieP]

I agree, Olivia. I received a comment on a dressage score sheet that my horse showed nice paces, but needed to "come onto the bit". I'm a novice at such things, but somehow I didn't understand this. It doesn't seem to hang together somehow.....or does it?

[julie]

What level dressage was that at ??

[SuzieP]

It was P7 and P18, Julie. Bea does have nice, even paces and is obedient to the leg. He works under himself well when he's warmed up, but finds it very hard to drop his nose consistently onto the verticle. We're working on it, but it's a long, slow process. He can do it at walk and now in trot, but hopeless at canter!

[harveydales]

Well, I agree with Olivia about the use of Pelhams in dressage, or for anything come to that. They are great when used properly as Heather teaches but I see many people round here using them incorrectly and often with just one rein and couplings.

I think the standard of judging has gone up dramatically...round here anyway. People can no longer get away with the forced in nose and hindquaters in the last county. I must have done at least 100 tests with Harvey over the years and can honestly say there have been only 2 occasions when I felt we were marked unfairly.

Sue - I HATE that term "on the bit"! It caused a lot of confusion and misunderstanding and I think it is no wonder some people start trying to physically force the horse's head in when they read comments like this. But obviously you know where Bea is in his training and are working on the correct lines.