another kimblewick question

[gwniver]

Do you need to ride with a curb chain or can you do without

 

[FfionWinnie]

My instructor said to, so the hooks don't move about. I just use a loosely attached elastic one.

 

[gwniver]

This. One has no hooks

 

[FfionWinnie]

Well don't think you need one then, where would you attach it anyway?

 

[somethingillremember]

The curb chain stops the bit rolling forward too far , so it should have one as a Kimblewick works with leverage .

 

[Eriskayowner]

A kimblewick without a curb chain is completely pointless as it works on poll pressure provided by curb pressure.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

It's not completely pointless if your horse likes the mouthpiece and you don't have the spare cash to buy a similar mouthed snaffle. The hooks rattling around isn't an issue IMO, but if it bothers you or your horse OP, you can use pliers to open them up and take them off.

 

[Tnavas]

Do you need to ride with a curb chain or can you do without

No you don't have to use the curb chain - it just makes the bit work in a different way.

With a curb chain there is a slight rotation and some poll pressure. Without the chain you have a variation of a Baucher (hanging cheek) snaffle.

Often its the shape of the mouthpiece that the pony prefers - no joint, often a Cambridge mouthpiece taking pressure off the tongue and placing it more clearly on the bars.

And just to be pedantic - please can we call it by its correct name 'KIMBLEWICK' - not kimberwick that's the Americanised name - no doubt from a misunderstanding of the pronunciation decades ago.

 

[PapaFrita]

Horses have no idea how a bit should or should not be fitted. Use it whichever way suits your horse.