How to fit a lip strap?!

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spotty_pony

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As title. I have bought a lip strap to attach to my boy's Universal gag for Hunting. I thought it would be pretty self explanatory but can't seem to work out how to attach it to the bridle! I *think* it is meant to attach to the cheek piece rings? but I seem to be getting in a muddle with it and now I've undone the buckle I can't work out what goes where. Any photos/explanations welcome!!
 
That Shires photo is alarming ?

OP, when three ring snaffles became a thing, and people were sending their children out hunting unaccompanied and they were flying about out of control, we quite frequently took off their flash straps and repurposed them as curb straps ? So you could either use a flash strap yourself or get a curb strap as posted above. Not a lip strap though.
 
OP, if you use a curb strap on your 3 ring or american gag I would advise putting a prolite gel pad on the strap and if the horse is sensitive in the poll, another pad on the head piece.

If you analysis how the action of the bit is changed by the addition of a curb strap you will see how much force is put through bridle, the shape of the gag will not allow the curb strap to lie in or act on the curb groove of the jaw, the strap will be higher up the jaw bones and there is little flesh where the strap will sit. Nasty rubs can occur and I speak from experience. The mechanics of the gag changes completely with a back strap on.
 
AdorableAlice said:
OP, if you use a curb strap on your 3 ring or american gag I would advise putting a prolite gel pad on the strap and if the horse is sensitive in the poll, another pad on the head piece.

If you analysis how the action of the bit is changed by the addition of a curb strap you will see how much force is put through bridle, the shape of the gag will not allow the curb strap to lie in or act on the curb groove of the jaw, the strap will be higher up the jaw bones and there is little flesh where the strap will sit. Nasty rubs can occur and I speak from experience. The mechanics of the gag changes completely with a back strap on.
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So it's a curb strap - yes I've bought the wrong thing then! Hmm AdorableAlice that's interesting. Not sure I want to give it a try now! Just reluctant to change bits as he goes well in his Universal (and has done for 10 years!) The problem I have is that I can't use any sort of flash/grakle/drop, etc because said horse has an unusually large tongue so I am very limited. Do you think a cheltenham gag is an option or would this be no different to the Universal? He just gets little too onward bound and bold in a group and I just need a few extra brake for hunting so I don't finish feeling like my shoulders have been pulled out of their sockets! He has a pelham with double reins for showing but as he tends to go on his forehand when strong I don't feel this will help in this situation.
 
spotty_pony said:
So it's a curb strap - yes I've bought the wrong thing then! Hmm AdorableAlice that's interesting. Not sure I want to give it a try now! Just reluctant to change bits as he goes well in his Universal (and has done for 10 years!) The problem I have is that I can't use any sort of flash/grakle/drop, etc because said horse has an unusually large tongue so I am very limited. Do you think a cheltenham gag is an option or would this be no different to the Universal? He just gets little too onward bound and bold in a group and I just need a few extra brake for hunting so I don't finish feeling like my shoulders have been pulled out of their sockets! He has a pelham with double reins for showing but as he tends to go on his forehand when strong I don't feel this will help in this situation.
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I am rather old and have no idea what a Universal is. My go to for horses running on their heads would be a waterford and a lot of transitions to get him listening. They can't lean on a waterford if you don't fix your hand. Waterfords come in all versions, snaffle, fulmer, wilkie and 3 ring.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I am rather old and have no idea what a Universal is. My go to for horses running on their heads would be a waterford and a lot of transitions to get him listening. They can't lean on a waterford if you don't fix your hand. Waterfords come in all versions, snaffle, fulmer, wilkie and 3 ring.
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A Universal is a type of gag made my Neue Schule. It has many options as you can use it with rounding and a curb chain and turn it into a pelham or you can use it as a gag. Said horse is actually rather well schooled, just forgets it sometimes when excited. ;) I've owned him for 11 years and he always wants to please - just a little too enthusiastically at times! I actually thought earlier about trying a waterford - I used to hunt my other horse in one so I will give it a go and see what he thinks to it. i've just ordered a Universal gag with a waterford mouthpiece so if he likes it that might be a good option! Thanks :)
 
spotty_pony said:
So it's a curb strap - yes I've bought the wrong thing then! Hmm AdorableAlice that's interesting. Not sure I want to give it a try now! Just reluctant to change bits as he goes well in his Universal (and has done for 10 years!) The problem I have is that I can't use any sort of flash/grakle/drop, etc because said horse has an unusually large tongue so I am very limited. Do you think a cheltenham gag is an option or would this be no different to the Universal? He just gets little too onward bound and bold in a group and I just need a few extra brake for hunting so I don't finish feeling like my shoulders have been pulled out of their sockets! He has a pelham with double reins for showing but as he tends to go on his forehand when strong I don't feel this will help in this situation.
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I would use his normal bit and a kineton noseband. This does not put any pressure on his tongue and when it comes into play it is on his nose.
 
I second the kineton noseband idea. Worked a treat with my horse who can get very strong but is a sensitive soul and flips out if I put anything other than a snaffle in his mouth :)
 
neddy man said:
On the shires photo it's not fitted properly.
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Lol had to go and check OMG they got the chain over the bit how wrong can they be

Though I would try one out first, as I was told the Kineton noseband for my mare so had to buy one, used once and it was worst with it so lost pennies when I sold it
 
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spotty_pony said:
So it's a curb strap - yes I've bought the wrong thing then! Hmm AdorableAlice that's interesting. Not sure I want to give it a try now! Just reluctant to change bits as he goes well in his Universal (and has done for 10 years!) The problem I have is that I can't use any sort of flash/grakle/drop, etc because said horse has an unusually large tongue so I am very limited. Do you think a cheltenham gag is an option or would this be no different to the Universal? He just gets little too onward bound and bold in a group and I just need a few extra brake for hunting so I don't finish feeling like my shoulders have been pulled out of their sockets! He has a pelham with double reins for showing but as he tends to go on his forehand when strong I don't feel this will help in this situation.
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I tried many things for my mare tranz angle universal, baucher,3 ring gag(totally useless), pelhams, copper mix lozenge pelham, kimblewick, which wasn't too bad, people suggested I tried,kineton, one try and found it did nothing. Then I saw a fellow nextdoor rider whose horse always was head high and strong, though my mare not major strong unless sponsored ride, but she does not like the chain in the chin groove and throws her head back when jumping so jumps too high at he pressure.

I found out what she had from guy next door and this is what she used, and horse goes well https://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=2418 .
Never thought I would pay that much for a bit, BUT I had done twice over with other bits combined. Now the Kimblewick mouth piece she goes well in so I took a MAJOR gamble and bought this one https://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1053 . First ride was promising, and hacked out with it and then did our first sponsored ride with it. It was amazing and sold all the other bits. The advantage of this is the strap fits higher up the jaw and not in chin groove so mare really happy.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Curb strap. Never used one but they are commonly seen.



View attachment 39421
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Sorry to sound stupid but how is this photo above correct? Unless this is a complete optical illusion the curb strap is on the wrong side of the bit. The mouthpiece in this photo shows that the horses mouth should be behind it not in front of it due to the curvature. If you were to fit this bit to the chin strap instead of to the mouthpiece the mouthpiece would be in back to front if that makes sense. Or have I completely lost the plot???

It should fit like this:
1576674778318.pngThe lip strap on this photo is the same side as the curb chain which is behind the chin.
 
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Yes, you mean a curb strap for a universal (although it is a misnomer as it won't fit in the curb groove on a universal) - above pictures show how to fit it. Lip strap is used with a curb bit and goes through the loop on the curb chain to stop it turning over (although they are entirely unnecessary if the curb chain is fitted correctly but they are correct eg for showing).
 
hopscotch bandit said:
Sorry to sound stupid but how is this photo above correct? Unless this is a complete optical illusion the curb strap is on the wrong side of the bit. The mouthpiece in this photo shows that the horses mouth should be behind it not in front of it due to the curvature. If you were to fit this bit to the chin strap instead of to the mouthpiece the mouthpiece would be in back to front if that makes sense. Or have I completely lost the plot???

It should fit like this:
View attachment 39458The lip strap on this photo is the same side as the curb chain which is behind the chin.[/QUOTE


we had already said that the shires pic was wrong, it couldnt have been any worse
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You see when he is strong he doesn't put his head up, he tends to become too round and deep and on the forehand so I'm not sure if a Kineton would just make him bury his head even more. I jumped him today in his universal and he was keen and although controllable had a tendency to drop onto forehand if not balanced correctly. First time jumping in nearly three months and he was fantastic, popping just under 110cm. This was in the school though so not really an accurate test as he's far stronger across country. I think I'll dig out my Waterford snaffle and try hacking him out and taking him for a canter somewhere and seeing what brakes we have..! And then give the universal waterford a go when it arrives.
 
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