ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: trail riding in a pelham

Re: trail riding in a pelham

cameron wood (wood.cameron@acd.net)
Sun, 10 Aug 97 18:27:09 PDT

----------
>
> I ride my Arab gelding in a pelham on training and endurance rides. He
> is 9 and i have owned him since he was a weanling. I showed him in
> dressage for years before starting LDs last fall. He had been ridden
> only in a snaffle his entire life, but after making the mistake of doing
> our first endurance ride in a snaffle :-) i dug out my pelham from my
> old saddleseat days and he has been wearing it since. I likd it for the
> same reasons. On a ride, I start out heavy on the curb, then gradually
> we switch to 50/50, then at some point, i am able to tie up the curb
> rein altogether. I really like it, because it give me just the amount of
> bit I need, when I need it..not too much when I don;t need it. I do not
> mind the double reins, but I come from a show background and am used to
> it. One thing -- I keep my horse's mane short (like a hunter) because i
> do find that the mane gets in the way...
>
> cyndi craig
> donerail farm
> alvin, tx
> cyndi.craig@chron.com

I ride in a bit similar to this with my 8 yr old arab gelding. I got him
at 5 with lots of problems --- he is very strong and likes to pull, and
will run through any bit. I've worked hard on this but have never gotten
him completely over the need for contact.

The bit I use is called a "wonder bit" --- it is a sweet iron, broken
mouthpiece (like a snaffle) with short shanks in a gag style. I also ride
with two reins -- one on the snaffle ring and the other on the curb. The
curb rein is a short rope rein that I can drop on his neck when I go to the
snaffle rein (a traditional english braided rein). This bit works for
him, and he respects it .... like any other bit it can be quite severe if
used with hard hands but with a soft touch it is a great communication
tool. If I pick up the curb rein he knows it immediately, and has learned
to DROP his head, round his back, and get ready to respond to my next aid.
The curb doesn't come into play right away, as the shanks "slide" a bit
before the curb strap and headstall are engaged. It may LOOK like an
insrument of torture, but unless you crank on it it's a very subtle
instrument.

I envy those of you who have horses who are trustworthy enough and of a
mellow enough temperament to compete in a halter or sidepull, etc. I have
a 4 yr old whom I ride in a bosal -- no problem. But sometimes it just
ain't gonna happen, and you have to find what works for your team and go
with that.

Happy trails,
Shannon W. and Yaled (Try riding ME with a bosal. mom.....he he!)
and Khomytt (what's a bit?)

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