Pelham

Like the curb bit, the pelham is a bit with leverage. In contrast to the curb, the pelham is used without a bridle. It is ridden with two pairs of reins, one of which is strapped into the upper ring directly on the bit and the second pair of reins into the lower ring. So up to a point it is supposed to be like a combination Curb and Underlay bridle Act. However, it is too high for an optimal curb effect and too deep in the mouth for an optimal bridle effect.

Real and fake pelham

The real pelham is an unbroken bar bit and is used without a bridle. When used correctly, two pairs of reins are ridden.

The fake pelham has a broken mouthpiece and is used with a pair of reins in the subtree. It looks very sharp and comes very close to the effect of a bare curb.

Is the Pelham something for me?

As with any bit with leverage, you should ask yourself beforehand whether you and your horse are at the right level of training to be able to use this bit properly. Although the pelham is often used with strong horses, it is not a long-term solution for adequate training, as it overcomes problems rather than solving them.