Easing The Bite Of The Curb Chain
- July 27, 2015
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- Jan Swan Wood
Posted in: Featured, Horse Care, Horse Supplies, Horse Training, Ranch Life
Keeping bridles put together for varying horses and their level of training can be a challenge. Having a well equipped tack room is great, but not everyone has everything they need just exactly when they need it.
Over the years, I have occasionally found myself with more curb chains than curb straps for my bridles. Some horses can need the curb chain to begin with, but as they soften up over the course of the day, they will not need the more aggressive chain element of the curb.
When in a pinch for a less severe curb strap, I have utilized something that nearly everyone has a ready supply of, the worn out glove. I will cut the best finger off of a leather glove, lined or unlined, cut off the tip and slide the tube of leather over the curb chain.
It will naturally ride where the curb makes contact with the jaw of the horse, but will cushion the chain, giving the curb less bite and more surface area.
Place the glove finger over the curb chain and rebuckle it onto the bit.
One of these will take up little or no room in a medicine bag on your saddle, or can be kept on a saddle string or strap and not be in the way until you need it. How it looks on your bridle is of little concern when it benefits your horse.
The soft glove leather lays smoothly against the jaw of the horse.
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Posted in: Featured, Horse Care, Horse Supplies, Horse Training, Ranch Life
About Jan Swan Wood
Jan was raised on a ranch in far western South Dakota. She grew up horseback working all descriptions of cattle, plus sheep and horses. After leaving home she pursued a post-graduate study of cowboying and dayworking in Nebraska, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota....