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Discussion on Do you use a curb strap with a snaffel bit?
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 3:38 pm:
I think we western riders pretty much assume you always use some sort of curb strap or chain with any bit.
My paint gelding will be three this spring when I start him. I will continue riding western, but I don't want to use a snaffle instead of the traditional western bits. I just don't know if I should add a curb strap. It seems to me an English rider told me the nose band takes place of the curb strap in English. Is that true?
That doesn't make sense to me. I know John Lyons doesn't use a nose band and I don't think he uses a curb strap either.
Also, does anyone know where a person can see how some of these different bridles look on the horse? i.e. side-pull, basal, hackamore. If you look in Stateline, they only show pictures of the tack
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 3:47 pm:
I meant to say that I DO WANT to use a snaffle.
Sorry.
Teresa, you can edit your post for up to one hour after you have posted. Just push that little edit button in the header of your post.
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 7:42 pm:
Teresa, I believe that the curb chain with a snaffle bit is just used to steady the rings and keep them from flopping around too much. You can even use a piece of twine or leather to lightly link the snaffle rings under the chin. There's no curb leverage involved. I don't know if you plan to show or just ride for recreation, but all the modern trainers (Lyons, Parelli, etc.) stress riding only in a simple snaffle. You note that Lyons uses slobber straps, which probably weigh down the full cheek rings and steady them somewhat. I'm not an expert, but this is what I've heard and seen about snaffle bits and chains.
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 9:52 pm:
I was on a big saddle club trail ride a few months ago with my neighbor. I watched him adjust the reins on a fellow rider's snaffle bit to bring the curb chain more into play. What he did was move the rein ends from in-between where the bridle attached and where the curb chain attached to the bottom of the order so that the curb chain was in the middle. If this is unclear, let me know and I'll try to explain it a little better. It seemed to help the other rider a bit. My neighbor has been riding western for longer than I've been alive! 
A curb chain used with a snaffle with smallish rings can also help keep the rings from going through the horse's mouth if you have to make a hard pull on a direct rein in a western bridle.
~Sharon
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 11:17 pm:
A true snaffle is not a leverage bit and does not have a curb strap. The nose band or cavasson is used to encourage the horse to keep his mouth closed on the bit. It has no type of leverage action like a curb strap.
John Lyons uses a full cheek snaffle - I have a set of his reins and they are very nice, but the slobber straps don't really change the way the snaffle works. I also like eggbutt snaffles because there is less possibility of pinching the corners of the mouth.
I'm not sure where you can find pictures of the different bridles actually on horses though 
Suzy
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2002 - 3:03 pm:
Hi there.
If you go to some of the websites that sell bridles I think you can find some of there advertising pictures have horse "models".
Try Greenhawk?
I don't think you'll see many snaffle bits accompanied by chin straps however as its technically not neccessary. I have seen them used on younger horses however, as a safty precaution. Just a plain leather chin strap adjusted so that it fits the horse comfortably under the chin (allow about 2 finger spans between the jaw and strap) will stop the horse from opening its mouth and allowing the bit to slide through, as a response to direct rein pressure. This strap has no affect on bit leverage and should not bother the horse in any way, just there to help prevent trouble, kinda like the seat belts in your car.
D.
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