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Horse Care and Comfort

chin strap

By:

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA

Date:

2012-Apr-20 at 04:16PM

This might sound like a silly question, but I need to know. I have always used a curb bit, until now, now I am using a snaffle and am not sure where the chin strap goes, or even if it does. Do you put a chin strap on a snaffle, and if so, does it go in front of the reins or behind them? I have seen it done both ways, and left off altogether, so I am confused.

Maisy 2012-Apr-20 at 05:18PM

Hi, I've never used a curb bit only snaffle. And I have never had a chin strap on. And I've also never seen a snaffle with a chin strap. So basically, as far as I know a snaffle doesn't go with a chin strap. Hope this helps

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA 2012-Apr-20 at 05:38PM

Thank you. I appreciate the input. I borrowed a bridle for Princess when I changed from the curb because it wouldnt adjust small enough with the snaffle, and the one I borrowed had a chinstrap but the guy we got Emmett from said the chinstrap should be behind the reins, not in front of them, and Jim just called and I asked him to check the cowboys snaffles and he said they were just having a discussion about that the other day because one of them didnt have a chinstrap and the others did. They arent there today so he cant find out. This is getting interesting.

Kicki -- Sweden 2012-Apr-22 at 04:36PM

When using a snaffle bit the chin strap is only there to prevent the bit-rings to be pulled through the horse's mouth.
So they aren't really necessary, more of a preference of choice.
As far as I have been taught (and I made some extra checking on the Net before writing this) is that the chin strap should fit loosely in the chin groove behind the lower lip. If they are attached to the rings of the bit, they should be fastened below the reins, so they don't interfere with the action of the reins.
.
Found a pic here:
http://www.equisearch.com/uncategorized/snaffle-bits-and-chin-straps/

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2012-Apr-23 at 02:59AM

A good discussion. When training Tricka I used a fairly loose chin strap which I attached to the rings of her training bit below her reins so that the bit wouldn't pull through her mouth. This seems to be the main reason for using them on a snaffle bit. More recently I have been using a dropped nose band so have removed the strap.