Tom Thumb Mullen Mouth Pelham Bit  E-mail this product to a friend

The Tom Thumb Mullen Mouth Pelham bit has a mouthpiece that is a straight bar of stainless steel, without any joints or ports. In the mullen mouth, the bar has a slight bow to it, curving gently to allow some room for the tongue. The stainless steel mouthpiece provides an alternative taste to steel or copper. Comes in a 5" mouthpiece with 3 3/4" cheeks.

**Action: The mullen mouth and straight bar are fairly similar in action, placing pressure on the tongue, lips, and bars. The mullen provides extra space for the tongue, instead of constantly pushing into it, resulting in more tongue relief, and making it more comfortable, but the mullen does not have as high of a port as a curb, thus does not offer full tongue relief. This bit is generally considered a very mild mouthpiece, although this varies according to the type of bit leverage (snaffle, pelham or curb), and improper use may make it harsh, since the majority of the bit pressure will be applied on the sensitive tongue.

**TIP: A pelham works on several parts of a horses mouth, depending on which rein is applied.

• The bars: applied by the mouthpiece, and directly related to the length of the shank of the bit. The curb chain and a high port can also increase the pressure placed on the bars of the mouth.
• The tongue: applied by the mouthpiece, with the pressure related to the thickness and type of mouthpiece.
• The roof of the mouth: only applicable if the mouthpiece of the pelham has a high port, or if it is jointed.
• The poll: severity is directly related to the length of the upper shank in relation to the lower shank. All pelhams apply at least a little pressure on the poll.
• The chin groove: pressure applied by the curb chain when the curb rein is used.
• Side of the jaws: a pelham may add some pressure to the sides of the jaw due to its length.