Curb chain hook dangers

[4horses]

Had a close call this morning. I put the bridle on and the hook to the curb chain caught my mares cheek. I tried taking the bridle off, but it was still stuck. Thankfully my mare is not a panicky horse. It took me about 5 very scary minutes of manipulation to get the hook out of her cheek. No blood so it appeared to just catch the skin and thank god she didn’t panic. I was terrified we would end up with a fish hooked horse.

I put the bridle away and we had a lovely ride in a rope halter. She seemed happy to get some exercise and we did lots of trotting and cantering. I checked her cheek again after the ride. It seems okay. First time riding in the rope halter and she was just as responsive as in the bridle. What a goid girl.

The bit is a kimberwick. If i close the hook with pliers, would that help? I don’t want this to happen again as that could have gone very very wrong.

So don’t forget to check the hooks on your curb chain!

[Bluey]

Have never heard of that, but good point to be extra careful.

Maybe you can close it and just be super careful when bridling or taking bridle off, so it slips over the lip.
Or try bending the hook forward and a hair out, enough for the chain link to still fit in, but the sharp open end to be on the outside of the hook body, not lined up with it, where it is easier to snag.

[springgreypony]

Wow, I have never heard of that either, but good for both you and your horse for staying calm.
If you can make it dull with pliers that may work, but I would probably buy a new one and/or see if you could get some sort of refund from the company, as that’s dangerous.
Good luck, and I hope you and your horse are alright!

[supershorty628]

I used tiny carabiners instead of the hooks on my mare’s bridle. That way you can close it off and don’t have to worry about that.

Glad it worked out okay.

[NJRider]

I have also seen there a horse is rubbing their leg wearing polo wraps and the hook snags on the wrap and can cause of problems.

[cayuse]

Had this happen to me once years ago. One of those freak things. The off side hook was pinched closed but somehow I managed to hook the horse with the near one. Maybe you could pinch it closed enough so that the curb chain barely fits over it, that way it is too tight to hook a lip? I think that’s what I did after the incident.

[Bluey]

@irish_horse

Glad your horse was sensible, scary! My horse caught the hook on a loose piece of water trough (at a state park). Luckily he is a calm boy about that stuff and I got him to lower his head to release. I tried tightening the opening but was a bit paranoid! Found a curb chain with little carabiner snaps, best thing ever!

Interesting, have not seen those before, thank you.

[NaturallyHappy]

@irish_horse

Glad your horse was sensible, scary! My horse caught the hook on a loose piece of water trough (at a state park). Luckily he is a calm boy about that stuff and I got him to lower his head to release. I tried tightening the opening but was a bit paranoid! Found a curb chain with little carabiner snaps, best thing ever!

to both you and Supershorty- THAT is a stroke of genius!

[Xanthoria]

We always used to put electrical tape over hooks for safety out hunting

[trubandloki]

@irish_horse

Found a curb chain with little carabiner snaps, best thing ever!

Oh my gosh, thank you for the link.

[Bluey]

Open hooks on a moving horse are not really safe.
Many curb chains have small leather and buckles straps on both sides.
Takes a second longer to fasten than a hook, but they will stay put and not as apt to snag on something:

https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Trail_Gear_by_Weaver_Brahma_Webb_Chain_Curb_Strap/descpage-WBFLCS.html

I know a fellow that his endurance horse ran off with him when he shook his head and the curb chain flipped off the open hook.
That horse was known to bolt badly and he was retraining him when that happened.
Luckily no one was hurt.

[jawa]

I use quick links for my curb chains. I would post a link, but the site isn’t cooperating.

[Bluey]

@jawa

I use quick links for my curb chains. I would post a link, but the site isn’t cooperating.

Site is awful today, stable for five to ten minutes, then blank.
If you posted something, it sits there with that little yellow irritating “working” tab running, then all blank again.
When some time later, after several tries over half an hour, you happen to get in again, that post is there.

Hope this link works for your suggestion.
Those quick links come in all sizes, a little bitty one could work, no pointy edges to it:

https://www.tulsachain.com/quick-link.html?utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=adwords&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjfWJjb_L6gIVi8DACh2KjAAOEAQYASABEgKrV_D_BwE

[4horses]

Thanks everyone! I’m definitely going to get that fixed! It just amazes me that I have used that bit for over 10 years on different horses with no issues. For whatever reason, the size of her lips, or the angle of the hook, was just enough to catch her lip. It just shows how quickly accidents can happen, even when your intentions are good.

[jawa]

I stopped using the curb hooks a few years ago after I noticed the hook catching the side of the horse’s jaw when the curb was in action. The lip getting caught and others having the end get caught on other objects just reaffirms my dislike of them.

@Bluey, thank you for the post. The site was being too aggravating to keep trying to post the link.

[c0608524]

I had an embarrassing close all with hooks on Pelham once. Got off at the same time the horse swung his head around… got caught on the seat of my pants and tore them wide open. Luckily horse was calm (that day) and they ripped away. Also lucky I wasn’t wearing a thong and had nice undies on… and it was just myself and a buddy at the barn. Could have been way worse.

[lizathenag]

the stars must be aligning
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/f…g#post10691029

[lifeishorsesarelove]

The curb chain hooks have never made sense to me. The western style chains with the leather strap and buckle on each side are far preferable IMO.
I ride in a snaffle when I ride English, but perhaps the hooks could be swapped out for quick links and then use a buckle strap or a regular chain on the quick link.

[B_and_B]

I’d never even thought of this. For the first time ever one of my horses (as opposed to horses I’m grooming or exercising) goes best in a bit with a curb chain. He is the sort to rub on everything and has issues with being bridled, last thing I need with him is a hook in the wrong spot. I think I’ll look at options. Thanks!