My petite mare seems to be bothered by the noise the excess chain on the curb chain makes. Are there legal alternatives to a curb chain that you know of? If nothing else I can remove the excess chain links, but wanted to see what other options might exist. Thanks!
Can’t you use a leather strap?
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From DR121:
- For Federation Third and Fourth Level tests same as (2) above, or a simple double bridle (bridoon [snaffle] and bit [curb] and curb chain, cavesson noseband only). The curb “chain” can be made of metal, leather or a combination. A lip strap and rubber, leather, or sheepskin cover for curb chain are optional.
so you can use a leather curb “chain” or a cover might help with the noise.
I remember reading in a book the advice that when you KNOW the correct measurement for the curb chain to cut the extra links off. Of course this only applies if you just use that curb chain on one horse.
More detail from DR121
11. Curb chain (metal or leather or a combination). 12. Lip strap.
13. Leather cover for curb chain.
14. Rubber, leather or sheep skin cover for curb chain.
- Curb chain hooks are required and can be fixed or not fixed.
The simplest would be to cut off extra chain.
I really like the Walsh leather-covered curb chains (black or brown). You may still need to cut off extra links.
Did you try to cover the chain already to see if she stopped acting “bothered”? I am merely curious to know how long she has been in the curb and whether you have taken steps to know for a fact that she doesn’t seem bothered it without the noise.
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Melissa beat me to it. I have the leather covered ones and they are great, even for my super sensitive guy.
Get a lip strap too - that will help stabilize the curb chain a lot.
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I use this curb on a driving glory bit for my sensitive ponies. They really seem to like it.
https://www.drivingessentials.com/product_popup.php?ID=51433
I’ve also cut the extra links off my metal curb chains and I have wrapped them in latex for the sensitive boys as well.
How do you attach to glory bit strap to curb hooks?
You don’t attach them to hooks at all. You do the straps up where the hooks would be.
USEF Dressage rules indicate that they must attach to hooks.
Then that leather curb would not work. They are legal for driven dressage. I’m not aware of USEF ridden rules as I guess the driving rules are different 
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Thank you for the ideas! She has been working in the double bridle on and off for three years. She is great in it until the chain makes a bit of noise, and then I can tell she is surprised by the noise and a bit tense for a few steps. Just trying to help my girl out by looking at other potential options to help decrease the sound of the chain. I will cut off the extra links, that seems like the easiest first step.
Thanks all!
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I have this gel curb chain guard for my horse & he loves it. It also softens the action of the curb chain. It is a hassle to get the chain into it, but you only have to do that once!
https://www.dressageextensions.com/acavallo-gel-chain-guard/p/10923/
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That is exactly what I should try, thank you!!
