Obviously on a double bridle!
I have a sensitive TB whom I will be starting in a double and was wondering if I had to use a chain or if I could just use a curb strap?
Also, is it legal to put a pad under the curb chain?
Thanks-
Erica
There are curb chain covers just for this kind of situation…some are made of leather, some are made of rubber–high and low-tech versions abound.
But you must have a curb chain, whether plain or covered.
It actually is a little confusing in the USEF rulebook.
It says use a curb chain in the text of the rule, but on the page with the pictures, it says:
11. Curb chain (metal or leather or a combination).
then separately it lists:
12. Lip strap. (that’s the smaller strap that holds the curb chain in place from below - my addition
13. Leather cover for curb chain
14. Rubber cover for curb chain.
So it looks to me like a curb “chain” can actually be leather! (ie a strap)
You can use a leather or rubber cover on the curb chain. As noted above, the lip strap is leather and is optional, doesn’t take place of curb chain. Most people do not use lip strap. Leather or rubber covers should help in case of sensitive horse.
But what about where it says
“Curb chain (metal or leather or a combination)”.
Since the covers are listed separately, to me it looks like the “curb chain” can actually be leather!
Best bet of course would be to call USEF (don’t know how much it’ll help, though).
http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Curb-Chain/dp/B000RA8TX
is a link to a leather curb chain that apparently is legal (I asked a knowledgeable TD)
the chain basically is inside the leather, with a few open links at either end to attach to the curb hooks.
This is quite different from the Western type, where the chain is in the middle, under the chin and the leather buckles on either end to the bit.
http://www.tacktraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=770
I dont know about legality, but that type would not work on a dressage curb, as the leather would break down rather quickly from salvia–and there is no good way to attach the leather straps to the curb bit hooks.
I have a leather curb strap with a few links of chain at each end for adjusting the length. It also has a metal ring in the middle of of the leather to feed a lip strap (leather or chain) through which would be attached to the little loop half way down the side of the shank of the curb. All legal.
A rubber curb chain cover works fine on a narrow uniform link chain, but not on one with graduated size to the links.
Lip strap with a snaffle bit…yes, I saw one at a show that I TD’d. Nothing surprises me any more.
Theresa
why would someone use a lip strap on a snaffle bit ?
How would someone use a lip strap on a snaffle bit ?
It went from one snaffle ring under the chin to the other…something about helping keep the bit from pulling thru the mouth.
Theresa
i don’t think it would prevent the bit from pulling thru the mouth. the chain would just wind up in the mouth unless it was very tight, then the chain would be very unpleasantly tight on the lower jaw when the snaffle moved up further in the horse’s mouth.
I have seen a plain leather strap (like a flash strap) used as described with a snaffle bit. It is a very western thing to do. Many of us have history in different types of riding and will carry some things over to their new style.
I think I have seen it on racehorses as well.
I always figured on western horses it was to get them used to something being under there. I use it on other people’s horses because it “looks right” to people seeing a young western horse (and it’s not like there’s anything WRONG with it). I don’t use it on my own horses because I don’t see that it does much, so why have another piece of leather to clean? :winkgrin:
I can see it would help with not pulling the bit through the mouth because it would keep the rings pulled together somewhat, so make it harder (though certainly not impossible) to pull through. A better solution in a dressage horse would be a flash/drop/figure eight, though (western horses don’t traditionally wear cavessons, so don’t have those options). Though I do wonder what a horse is doing at a show if it is so green (or poorly trained) that pulling the bit through the mouth is a danger…
