Curb chains... Well I never!

[Tobiano]

Maesfen's point makes sense to me. I have never seen them done up this way - though obviously many people see it as correct.

 

[Vickijay]

I normally put it on the other way. I put a picture on FB and was told by a friend that it was wrong and should be going through the bit ring. Then my friend who is a master saddler commented and said I was doing it correctly in the picture and that putting it through the bit rings effects the action of the bit which some people use for extra control.

So god knows what your meant to do, either I guess, but I carry on doing it the behind the bit ring rather than through.

 

[touchstone]

I find that there tends to be less curb action with it through the rings, it doesn't really seem to come into play if the snaffle rein is used.

A quick shameless google stated that years ago the hooks were forwards facing, so there was less chance of it pinching the horse's face and it would be fitted behind the rings; nowadays the hooks are nearly all backwards facing when the curb should be fitted through the bit rings (I'm still trying to work out what difference it would make though.)

 

[webble]

Thats how I was taught to do it twenty years ago. Maybe times/fashions have changed?

 

[Nari]

No. If you think about it, any time you change direction with it fitted like that it will come into action when you don't actually need it; in other words each slight touch on the bit through the reins will affect the action of the curb chain whereas when you fit it so that it sits behind the chin it only comes into use when you need it. I an ideal world you wouldn't need the curb action for every aid you give through the reins but every time you use the bit if it's fitted as shown it will have an effect which isn't correct.

I know what I mean even if I haven't explained it properly!

This is exactly what I thought!

 

[jennywren07]

Not quite the same but jen once got the snaffle ring of her rugby Pelham caught on the curb hook and managed a fast canter to halt on a half halt so im guessing that using it through the rings makes the action harsher?

I was always taught to do mine up behind

 

[katherine1975]

I was taught to put the chain through the bit rings about 30 years ago at pony club.

 

[Marydoll]

I dont put mine through the rings, ive always done it the other way and its worked just fine so i wouldnt change it now.

 

[Spotsrock]

Always taught to do it like that

 

[Todmiester]

Got to say that is wrong, if you had a double in would you put the cha in through the bradoon? No you wouldn't so why put it through the snaffle part of the pelham.

 

[kerrieberry2]

I rode with a Pelham and curb for yrs and can't remember doing it that way! but Ive not used it for about 5yrs now, so I might be wrong, but sure I used to do it on the inside!

 

[Spring Feather]

Here's the Pony Club video of how to do the curb chain up. I ride western for half of my time in the saddle and when using western curb chains/straps they are never put through the rings on the bit, always directly attached.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7WdK5nrVNFk

 

[wench]

Think that's how my aunt taught me many years ago. Mind I've had no need to use a curb chain for years (only used a leather one)