Just a little rant. Disgusted.....

marmalade76

marmalade76

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...at the amount of people about who cannot fit a curb chain properly!!

Saw two with twisted curb chains at a BS comp at Hartpury at the weekend and another two out with the hunt yesterday (and none were kids)!!

If you don't know how to fit things properly, don't use them, it's not fair on your horse! :mad: :mad:
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
no idea of what a lip-strap is, or what it does, and if you gave them one they would wonder where and how to fit it! :rolleyes:
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Why doesn't common sense exist any more? I remember overhearing a comment while tacking up "he doesn't need a lip strap, his lips are fine" I wonder what she thought it did.

Anyway, why would you put on a twisted curb chain - you wouldn't put on a bra with a twisted strap. My recent favourite however was turning up at a riding school to have a bridle shoved in my hands by a helper who said "I cant do it, its all twisted, I don't understand where the noseband goes..!" Had to bite my tongue really hard :eek:
 
timefort said:
Why doesn't common sense exist any more? I remember overhearing a comment while tacking up "he doesn't need a lip strap, his lips are fine" I wonder what she thought it did.
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LOL!

It wasn't so much that they were completely twisted, more that they weren't flattened enough or hooked on the right way - they could have done with a couple more turns to flatten them, if that makes sense!
 
what does a lip strap do? genuine question. dont worry i use a snaffle bit so my ignorance is acceptable (hopefully)
 
Believe it or not, I once saw a fellow livery put a pelham in her cobs mouth - upside down. She'd attached the cheek pieces to the bottom rein rings.

Interestingly, I bumped into an ex-work colleague a couple of weeks ago whose daughter qualified as a vet about 2 years ago, and she had been telling her mum that she was appalled by the lack of knowledge she was seeing in owners during call-outs. Thoughts anyone?
 
fatpiggy, I think I can go one better. At PC Camp a few years ago, on competition day, child, mother and the instructor were all stood about scratching their heads, unable to work out why the pony was suddenly so resistant and evasive.


After watching for a few minutes, wondering whether somebody would work it out, I went over and pointed out that the (ported) kimblewick was on upside down. Poor pony must have had a very squished tongue. :rolleyes:

J&C
 
sally87 said:
what does a lip strap do? genuine question. dont worry i use a snaffle bit so my ignorance is acceptable (hopefully)
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Don't worry - I've hunted in doubles, know how to fit them and have my basic Stage III quals (not that that's saying much) but I never did know what the lipstrap was for either.
 
All just goes to show how little proper education is now appreciated. I have seen almost every bit at one time or another fitted upside down and indeed back to front, on DIY yards. Owning horses is so much easier now than when Pony club and riding Schools were the entry. So few bother with qualifications before considering ownership. Hence, the level of some of the questions on forums......:confused::mad:
 
sally87 said:
what does a lip strap do? genuine question. dont worry i use a snaffle bit so my ignorance is acceptable (hopefully)
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Will try to help :)

A lip strap does a couple of things...
1. It helps to prevent the horse from chewing at the sides of the shanks of a curbed bit.
2. It helps the curb chain sit flat - and can prevent the chain from coming off.

Its very bad practice (etiquette) to use a curb bit & chain without having a lip strap, eg a Pelham or a double bridle.
The only time you wouldn't have one is on a kimblewick as there is no fixing for one and the bit has stnandard rings or 'D' for the rein to affix to

The way to fix the curb chain for a fixed, floating or swivel shanked pelham, is to hook it on the off side, let it hang straight, then thread through the bit ring, run into the chin groove then through the bit ring on the near side & then hook on.
Then thread the lip strap through & do up.
If using a pelham & the curb is used like this (through the bit rings), it is much more mild than being used like you would in a double bridle.
When using a double bit, the chain sits along the chin groove and it does not go through any bit rings.
A double ringed curb chain is not as harsh (IMHO) as a single linked chain, with the leather option being the softest.

Have attached a small pic (1st I found) which shows the lipstrap affixed, hope this helps?

 
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JessandCharlie said:
fatpiggy, I think I can go one better. At PC Camp a few years ago, on competition day, child, mother and the instructor were all stood about scratching their heads, unable to work out why the pony was suddenly so resistant and evasive.


After watching for a few minutes, wondering whether somebody would work it out, I went over and pointed out that the (ported) kimblewick was on upside down. Poor pony must have had a very squished tongue. :rolleyes:

J&C
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I too once saw a girl put in a Kimblewick upside down.
 
forestfantasy said:
Just ridiculous, it's basic training! I learnt this at riding school level!
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You are right, it is, but not everybody has had the benefit of that and come into horses as complete novices. If they, and their horses, are lucky then they have sympathetic, tactful, and helpful Yard Owners or friends to point them in the right direction. It makes it quite disheartening to ask for advice if you feel that you are going to be ridiculed for wanting to learn.

I use these curbstraps, practically impossible to go wrong with these. Not correct for English tack in the showring but for everyday use very useful. We also use 'bit straps' (all leather) for snaffle bits on breakers, or for novice riders.

pg%20149%20-%20curb%20straps%20and%20bit%20accessories.jpg
 
Enfys said:
You are right, it is, but not everybody has had the benefit of that and come into horses as complete novices. If they, and their horses, are lucky then they have sympathetic, tactful, and helpful Yard Owners or friends to point them in the right direction. It makes it quite disheartening to ask for advice if you feel that you are going to be ridiculed for wanting to learn.[/IMG]
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I wouldn't dream of ridiculing someone for asking advice and i am very happy to give it if someone asks. What i do find annoying is people not asking and just doing 'what they think' and ultimately fitting something wrong or causing the horse discomfort.

Also - amazing range of curb straps!
 
Enfys, I agree up to a point, but would you buy a helicopter if you'd had only had one of those pleasure trips as a birthday present? I firmly believe that everyone should have a minimum level of knowledge before they take on a horse - for their own and the horse's health and safety. I've personally known people who bought them without knowing how to tack up, what and how much to feed - even where the local feed merchants was to be found. None of us could ever claim to know it all and we can all find something knew to learn but when you are spending more of YOUR free time sorting out other peoples' horses and problems than you are on your own, then you get a bit fed up of it! One person asked me in all seriousness whether she could buy a pony for her 6 year old son and keep it in the back garden of a 1930s semi. I suggested if nothing else the neighbours might complain.
 
I know where you are coming from.....someone who works with OH brought their kids to see daughters pony......then obviously decided they were going to buy one for their children:confused: This is from a couple who have difficulty getting out of bed to get said children to school so gawd knows how pony would have fared if it had come to fruition....I practically ran screaming to the hills......

IF total novices have a good reliable informed YO willing to help and advise fair enough but what happened to riding lessons, then PC- hanging around at yards all day- getting to know enough basic knowledge prior to popping out and buying one....because you can and you fancy one?:confused:

Jeez.....no-one ever knows everything- that's certainly true ...but there is a dreadful lack of knowledge about basic stuff.....feeding for a start...

I'm another one who has seen bits on back to front/upside down- and hanging down so loose you may as well not bother......

*scratches head*
 
poppymoo - The problem with children going to learn at Riding Schools these days is I'm not sure how many will let children on the yard to learn. I worked at one where insurance dictated children under 14 could not help out.

The only way for children under 14 years to get near horses to look after them was therefore for parents to buy one or take one out on loan etc.

How many of those with curb chains etc on wrong have been ill informed by someone "knowledgable" and so as far they know, it is correct? Of course, there are still going to be some out there who are right regardless of how you try to tell them.
 
forestfantasy said:
I wouldn't dream of ridiculing someone for asking advice and i am very happy to give it if someone asks. What i do find annoying is people not asking and just doing 'what they think' and ultimately fitting something wrong or causing the horse discomfort.

Also - amazing range of curb straps!
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No, I wasn't suggesting that you did:), just that some less tactful, patient people can say "Oh for goodness sakes, it's easy! Anyone can do it!" (But not if they haven't done it before perhaps) I've heard that many a time, and it only takes a couple of knockbacks like that (especially with an audience) for some less confident people to become reluctant to ask. It's happened to me at a new yard and I never asked that person anything ever again because I was made to feel about 2" high and completely foolish :(

Because I virtually had to learn to ride again five years ago I asked some extremely dumb questions and made some serious cock-ups (still do) along the way. My friends were/are very patient and find me highly amusing, especially as there is often a language/terminology barrier as well. You should have heard the hilarity when I first attempted to tie a cinch! :D
 
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timefort said:
My recent favourite however was turning up at a riding school to have a bridle shoved in my hands by a helper who said "I cant do it, its all twisted, I don't understand where the noseband goes..!" Had to bite my tongue really hard :eek:
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Certainly when I was a helper at a riding school (40 years ago :eek:) we were unpaid and started with no knowledge, we learnt as we went along. So it wouldn't have been surprising if when I started I hadn't "understood how the noseband goes" until someone showed me.

Surely, everyone has to learn? Why would you have to bite your tongue? :confused:
 
timefort said:
My recent favourite however was turning up at a riding school to have a bridle shoved in my hands by a helper who said "I cant do it, its all twisted, I don't understand where the noseband goes..!" Had to bite my tongue really hard :eek:
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So then, did you emerge from the womb knowing how to bridle a horse correctly? :) and of course, I am sure, on that occasion you did sort it out and explain what/how/why you were doing. :)

I can put a double bridle together and put it on a horse without making a pigs ear of it (well bully for me eh?:rolleyes:) but give me two knitting needles, a ball of wool and a pattern without telling me how to cast on, pearl one knit one etc, then at the end of the day I'd still be none the wiser.
 
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