The Pelham and the Liverpool bit

The Pelham along with various version of the Pelham has been adapted for driving, for use with a bridoon, as a double bridle. There is the Liverpool and the Liverpool slide, an example of that is shown here.  They have a variety of mouth pieces, straight, curved, sometimes with a serrated pattern on one side.  Driving bits have a a bar attaching the lower canons so that the horse can’t interfere with each other by grabbing the bit. The Pelham has a variety of ports. A mild port would be low, and then a slightly higher one medium pressure and then a high port severe. As when the rein is pulled this alters the action of the port to touch the bars at the top of the horse’s mouth.  However the Western bits have a port called a cathedral which will have a cherry roller in it, however the Western horse works on loose reins, a mere touch and the horse responds. The Pelham was the bit of choice back in the 50’s and 60’s and most people rode their horses in them with a dropped noseband. (not a flash) The one at the right top is a Liverpool slide bit,  below that is a ported Pelham, next to that a linked Pelham and the one above that has a serrated mouth piece. The hooks are for the curb chain and this sits in the groove behind the mouth piece and is a very useful request indicator for the horse. 

wwwBit-ported-pelham-_4124

Provenance: South Hatch Museum, The Pitt Collection