Using a Pelham in Open show on Green pony hunter?

Im not sure why, probably because in general adults are better riders than the little kids and I guess its just assumed that they shouldnt need all that bit for a little pony. Maybe its,"if you need to use all that bit, maybe you need to do some re-training" who knows

The proper reins to have on a pelham are a regular braided rein on the snaffle and a smaller(width) flat smooth curb rein. Makes for less bulk in your hands.

Actually, both reins should be smooth. The curb rein being smaller than the snaffle rein, but both smooth non-braided.

(At least that is what I was taught.)

I use a pelham with my pony over fences/out on the xc course, and I was taught the smaller, smooth one was the curb and the larger braided was the snaffle...but maybe there's really no "proper" way, maybe it's just preference trainer by trainer?

On another note, I heard someone mention here they use a slow twist snaffle rather than a pelham...what are the pros and cons and which is considered the less "harsh" bit? My pony goes very well in her tom thumb (english) pelham and has no issues with it, but sometimes I get negative remarks from people who only ride in snaffles with their horses.

HITS, the only thing we are differing in opinion on is the snaffle rein being braided or smooth.

Yes, the curb rein is smaller.

I think most people use a braided rein for the snaffle rein because that is what they have.

You're probably right ;) And for my other question, I think I'll just start another thread so I don't hijack the OP's here! :)

A famous eventer/trainer of years gone by - Bruce Davidson? Tad Coffin? - recommended the braided rein/smooth rein combo for eventers under the logic that if you've slipped your reins or lost your reins over a big drop, it makes it easier to sort them out in a hurry. Good advice, and advice I've used. I showed a jumper and an eventer in that combo with a three ring snaffle.

However, the classic traditional hunter look is two *smooth* reins, one normal width, one skinny. But of course, I remember when hook stud reins were radical, and real hunter people had everything sewn in because it was a cleaner look.

Other than a Corinthian Class (I may be the only person left alive on the planet who remembers them) I don't think anyone cares.

What they do still care about is how the horse goes in the bit, how he moves and how he accepts contact. Don't worry about the rest.

By "curb rein" I mean the rein that uses the leverage action.

As in when riding with 2 reins you have the rein that uses the snaffle type action and one that uses leverage.

But ether way I have decided not to ride her in the show as we will not be far enough in training to make it to a show. Considering we literally just started riding last week, and it will be her first show, I don't need to have her do anything sorta new and I am just going to focus on halter events(considering I will be showing 3 ponies at that event, well 1 mini and 2 ponies, I will be to busy to continually work with her and also it will be a closed show where everything is stabled throughout the week.)