The Shires Hard Rubber Mouth Pelham is a classical, supportive leverage bit designed for horses that prove too strong or heavy in a standard snaffle but possess sensitive mouths. It acts as a highly popular, modern alternative to traditional vulcanite designs, combining structural Pelham shanks with an unjointed, curved mullen bar. The hard rubber composite allows less internal mouth movement than soft rubber alternatives, giving the rider a slightly more direct and effective action while maintaining a thick, gentle profile that prevents scraping or bruising.
Key Specifications:
- Mouthpiece Design and Material: Solid, unjointed mullen mouth (a straight bar with a slight forward curve) in high-density, heat-treated hard rubber moulded over a stainless steel inner core.
- Mouthpiece Thickness: Thick 19mm profile (providing a wide, soft surface area across the bars).
- Cheekpiece Style: Traditional stainless steel Pelham shanks with an integrated lip-strap loop.
- Cheekpiece Height: Scales proportionally—115mm (for 4.5" sizes), 130mm (for 5" sizes), and 140mm (for 5.5" horse sizes).
How it Works:
- Even Pressure Distribution: Because the mullen mouthpiece is unjointed, it cannot collapse or slide laterally. It applies a uniform, blunt pressure across the tongue and lower bars of the jaw, completely eliminating the painful "nutcracker" squeeze on the palate or lips associated with jointed bits.
- Comforting Material Warmth: The heavy-duty hard rubber coating is significantly warmer to the touch than bare stainless steel. This helps sensitive or cold-backed horses settle smoothly into the contact, though riders must ensure the horse salivates effectively to prevent dry friction rubs on the rubber surface.
- Single Rein Compatibility: For simplified control, it can be fitted with leather Pelham roundings. A single rein attaches directly to the rounding strap, automatically engaging a pre-blended mix of mouth contact, poll pressure, and curb leverage simultaneously.
- Dual Rein Mechanical Action: This bit is primarily engineered to be ridden using a traditional two-rein system to isolate clear signals:
- The Snaffle Rein: Attached to the large central ring, it delivers a direct, unassisted contact that functions similarly to a mild hanging cheek snaffle.
- The Curb Rein: Connected to the bottom ring, it activates the shanks as a lever. When engaged, it pulls the top forward to create downward poll pressure while drawing the double-link curb chain snug against the chin groove for strong braking control.
This bit is not legal for British Dressage (BD) or FEI Competitions but is widely permissible for Showjumping and Cross Country phases.