Fager Mattias Sweet Iron Baby Pelham

The Fager Mattias is a double jointed sweet iron bit designed for horses that need tongue relief, but without the instability or pressure often created by traditional jointed mouthpieces.

It features Fager’s upward locking function, allowing the bit to create space for the tongue while reducing excess movement through the centre. This makes it particularly suitable for horses with a lower palate or sensitive bars that still benefit from a more stable feel in the contact.

Unlike many lock up designs, the Mattias does not lock forward. This avoids the rigid, straight bar sensation and instead maintains a softer, more elastic connection, allowing the horse to stay responsive without feeling restricted.

The joints are angled away from the tongue, creating a smoother and more even pressure distribution. This is ideal for horses that can be reactive in the contact, helping to maintain a quieter, more consistent feel through the reins.

Sweet iron promotes salivation and acceptance, supporting horses that need to soften and work more confidently into the contact.

This style is particularly well suited to horses with a fuller or more sensitive tongue, especially those that tend to open the mouth, pull against the contact, or become unsettled in more traditional designs.

Baby Pelham Sidepieces

The Baby Pelham combines the action of a snaffle and curb, offering additional influence without needing to move to a stronger, more severe bit.

With shorter shanks, it provides a milder leverage effect, applying gentle pressure to the poll and chin when the curb rein is engaged. This can be helpful for horses that lean, become heavy in the hand, or need support to rebalance without increasing mouthpiece severity.

The fixed cheek design also improves stability, keeping the mouthpiece quieter in the mouth and supporting clearer communication.

Best suited to riders with an independent seat and sympathetic hands, allowing the curb action to be used with precision rather than constant pressure.