The JHL Cambridge Mouth Pelham is a specialised leverage bit engineered to combine the functions of a double bridle into a single, neat mouthpiece. It pairs traditional Pelham shanks with a "Cambridge" mouthpiece—a slim, unjointed bar featuring a distinct, medium-height central port. This design is highly favoured for strong horses that have large tongues or small mouths, as it offers a neat alternative to bulky jointed bits or thick mullen mouthbars, allowing horses that back off the contact to gain extra confidence.
Key Specifications:
- Mouthpiece Design and Material: Solid, unjointed bar with a medium-height tongue port (Cambridge mouth) in high-grade, high-polish Pro-Steel stainless steel (tasteless, rust-resistant, and highly durable).
- Mouthpiece Thickness: Slim 14mm profile (leaving plenty of vertical room in the mouth).
- Cheek Height/ Shank Length: Approximately 130mm to 140mm depending on the bit size.
How it Works:
- Tongue Relief Port: The defining feature of the Cambridge mouthpiece is its central arch. This arch spans over the middle of the tongue, relieving direct pinching or clamping pressure on horses with thick tongues. Instead, the bit evenly transfers the rider's initial hand aids onto the less sensitive bars of the lower jaw.
- No Nutcracker Effect: Because the mouthpiece is completely unjointed, it cannot collapse or fold upward in a "V" shape. This keeps the bit flat and stable, entirely preventing painful pinching of the lips, bars, or the roof of the horse's mouth.
- Single Rein Optional Setup: For riders who struggle to manage two reins, it can be paired with leather Pelham roundings. The single rein attaches to the loop of the rounding, automatically applying a proportional blend of mouth contact, poll pressure, and curb chain engagement simultaneously.
- Dual Rein Mechanical Action: Designed to be ridden with two reins to isolate different pressures:
- The Snaffle Rein: Attached to the large main ring, it delivers a direct, unassisted contact to work the corners of the mouth.
- The Curb Rein: Attached to the bottom shank loop, it acts as a lever. When engaged, it pulls the bit back to exert downward pressure on the poll (encouraging head lowering) while drawing the curb chain tight against the chin groove for strong braking power.
This bit is not legal for British Dressage (BD) or FEI Competitions but is widely permissible for Showjumping and Cross Country phases.