When Should I Start Riding My Horse In A Curb Bit?

  QUESTION: When should I start riding my horse in a curb bit?

  ANSWER: The answer is simply when your horse can neck rein or yield away from pressure of your outside leg and the rein on his neck. If you feel like you are still dragging your horses’ head or his nose is pointing to the outside of your turn, you are not ready for a curb bit.

  The most common fallacy about a curb or shanked bit is that will give you more control of your horse. Remember, one rein for control and two reins for communication. By using one rein you can disengage the hindquarters to control a horse that wants to run away, who is not focused on the task at hand, or for teaching and refining. One mistake I often see is people trying to use one rein to pull their horses head around with a curb or shanked bit. Once you commit to using a shanked bit you lose all lateral (side to side) flexion. A shanked bit is not designed to move laterally, not even the ones with a broken mouthpiece. The curb bit was designed for a horse that did not require lateral flexion. A curb bit is for vertical flexion and requires less pull on the reins for communication. The curb works on the back of the chin by the chin strap, the top of the head, and finally on the mouth.

  Personally I try to discourage the use of a shanked bit with a broken mouthpiece. When you pull on the reins, the mouthpiece breaks in the middle and will put unnecessary pressure on the roof of the mouth and the tongue. It is also an assumption that lateral flexion can still be attained because the mouthpiece is broken. Since this bit has shanks, it is a leverage bit and not designed for lateral movement. Yes you can still pull the horses head around, but I guarantee it will not be pretty and your horse will not like it very much. This is because it confuses the horse, are you trying to get him to back up or put his nose down and the top of his head out. I have watched this happen many times and the horse and the rider become very frustrated with each other because of it. If you need more control of your horse, go back to a snaffle, a rope halter, bosal, or a side pull and wait until you have prepared them for the curb. It will benefit both you and your horse in the long run.

  If you are using a curb bit and your horse is not ready for it, you are setting yourself and your horse up for disaster. Instead of setting yourself and your horse up to fail, set it up to succeed. There is no law that says you have to ride in a curb bit. If there is one (some groups and organizations require the use of a curb bit) and your horse is not ready for this bit, don’t participate. I would rather see a person not go to an event or activity because they know that either them and or their horse could possibly be hurt. All due to everyone doing what everyone else is doing.

  Keep building on the relationship between you and your horse. As it grows you will see amazing results. One day your horse might even say to himself, “I hope this day was as fun for you as it was for me”. See you on the horsemanship trail!