Weymouth Bits, Pelham Bits & Accessories

How does the pelham work?

A pelham combines the function of a weymouth bit with that of a loose ring bit and is mainly used in advanced showjumping. It consists of a jointed or mullen mouth bit with shanks that are firmly connected to the mouthpiece. In addition, a curb chain, similar to that of a weymouth bit, is attached. However, a pelham is used without a bradoon.
Just like a weymouth bit, a pelham has a leverage effect with points of action on the jaw, chin and neck. When the reins are shortened, the lateral upper cheek bar turns forwards and thus acts on the neck, while the lower bar tilts backwards. From an angle of 45 degrees between the cleft of the mouth and the lower pelham shank, the curb chain comes into play to limit the onset of leverage. This prevents the pull from becoming too great and the horse from getting behind or leaning on the bit.
The length of the side pieces plays an important role for the reaction: Short shanks initiate a faster reaction of the horse, but do not have as hard an effect as long shanks. Conversely, long shanks have a delayed effect, but more pressure can be exerted on the horse's neck. A quick reaction is important in the showjumping course, which is why a pelham with short shanks is advantageous. This is because they also take the pressure off the horse's tongue and neck more quickly as soon as the rider gives way with the hand. This is especially important before the jump, so that the jumping process does not lead to a mistake. That is why you will only find pelhams with short shanks up to 6 cm in our online shop.

How is the pelham correctly fitted?

A pelham has two rings into which the double pair of reins is buckled. Thanks to the pelham roundings, which act as a connecting piece between the higher and lower ring, it is also possible to ride with only one pair of reins.
First of all, the pelham should be bought in the right size so that the sides fit tightly against the horse's lips. Therefore, pelhams such as eggbutt bits or full cheek bits, which also have fixed side pieces, are chosen 0.5 to 1 cm smaller than a loose ring bit. This is the only way to ensure that the pelham lies quietly in the mouth.
A pelham should always be ridden with a curb chain, which limits the pull on the neck from an angle of 45 degrees between the mouth gape and the lower jaw. The length of the chain should therefore be chosen so that this case occurs. As the lower bones of the horse's jaw are very sensitive and lie directly under the skin, a curb chain with padding is recommended so that the chain links do not press directly on the bones. You can find a curb chain pad made of leather or rubber in our bit accessories.

How is the curb chain correctly fitted?

A weymouth bit and a pelham should always be used with a curb chain, which is attached to the bit by means of a hook. This limits the pull on the neck and prevents the horse getting too much behind the bit. A curb chain should be buckled in such a way that the shanks can be at a maximum angle of 45 degrees to the cleft of the mouth. If you buckle the curb chain too tightly, the bit can be turned more than 45 degrees, which will eventually squeeze the tongue and cause pain to the horse. Ideally you should pad the curb chain with a leather or rubber pad. When buckling the curb chain, make sure that it is not twisted, otherwise it will be very uncomfortable for the horse.

What size should the weymouth bit be?

For the size of the weymouth bit you can orientate yourself on the bradoon bit, which must always be used with a weymouth bit. The bradoon is the same size as a loose ring bit, but should be narrower in width (10 to 14 mm). Finally, the weymouth bit is chosen 0.5 to 1 cm shorter so that the side pieces fit snugly against the horse's lips. At the same time, make sure that the side pieces do not pinch the corners of the mouth.
With a weymouth bit, the length of the shanks plays an important role in their effect. Short shanks up to 5 cm have a short lever, which exerts less pressure on the neck and the lower jaw. However, the effect is faster and more direct. With shanks of 7 cm it is the other way round: The effect of the weymouth comes on later, but exerts more pressure on the neck and lower jaw.

Which weymouth bit for which horse?

Horses react very differently to weymouth bits, which is why the decision for the suitable weymouth bit goes the way of trial and error. Which weymouth bit is the correct one for the horse depends on the horse's anatomy, his/her satisfaction with the bit as well as the sensitivity of the rider's hand.
The longer the lower shanks of the weymouth bit are, the stronger the effect they can have. That is why especially weymouth bits with long shanks should only be used on a well-trained horse and by an experienced, sensitive rider. If the horse is only being converted to a weymouth bit, a weymouth bit with short shanks can be used.
Room for the tongue also plays a role in the decision-making process: Horses have different fleshy or thin tongues. A pronounced port increases the acceptance of the weymouth bit, especially for horses with a fleshy tongue.

How do I measure the size of the weymouth bit?

When measuring the horse's mouth to determine the correct size of the weymouth bit, you proceed in the same way as with all other bits. Both the bit size and the width of the bit are important and must be adjusted to the horse's mouth.
To determine the bit size, place two fingers between the horse's mouth. If you feel a slight pressure on your fingers, a bit size of 14 to 16 mm is recommended. If your fingers still have room to move upwards, 16 to 18 mm is fine for the weymouth bit.
For the bit width, you can use a fitting loose ring bit as a guide, which will determine the size of the bradoon. The weymouth bit should then be chosen 0.5 to 1 cm smaller than the bradoon, as the weymouth bit lies at the point in the horse's mouth where it is narrower. In order to achieve an optimal effect, the sides of the weymouth bit should be close to the corner of the mouth.